The Loss of Childhood Innocence Have you ever wished that you didn’t waste your childhood by growing up too fast? Well in The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger Holden tries to be the ‘catcher in the rye’ by keeping children from growing up too fast. Holden had a very traumatic childhood, he was sexually assaulted many times, didn’t have a choice in life, and he had to experience the death of his younger brother, Allie. Holden’s childhood traumas is the reason why he wants to be the catcher in the rye. When Holden was younger his younger brother, Allie died of leukemia. Holden took this really hard because they were very close. In chapter 5, it says.” He got leukemia and died… I broke all the windows in the garage.”(39) This shows that
