His desire to protect children from the inevitable transition into adulthood reflects his own experiences and how he was exposed to the corruption of adulthood through his relationship with others. A common theme throughout the novel is the inability of characters to truly understand the complexities of Holden's character. Holden is at his own precipice; he is experiencing the sensation of going over the cliff. Holden is searching for his own catcher in the rye and that is why he is portrayed as being critical in his interactions with others. Holden's impatience with others and overly critical assessments are not unwarranted because he has run out of time to find his own savior.
