Catcher In The Rye Childhood And Adulthood Essay

Throughout the novel, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden stays in a limbo between childhood and adulthood. He prolongs his stay in this state because he he does not want to grow up, however, holden is growing to old to be a child again. Holden is afraid of the adult world, he does not want to grow older even though he has been for some time. There is evidence that Holden is both in childhood and adulthood. Holden does not act like kids his age, nor does he believe he is phony, like adults. Holden tries to protect kids from growing up and he even blames adults for all of the issues he has. As much as holden may not want to, he has no choice but to grow up.
Holden makes decisions and does actions many other high schoolers do not do. This puts holden farther away from adolescence and farther into the adult world. Holden, as a sixteen year old, smokes cigarettes. Although, back in the 1940’s it was more common, kids usually did not smoke. Holden also drinks or at least attempts to. At one point, in the lavender room, he asks the waiter for an alcoholic drink, because he is underage, the waiter refuses. Holden goes on to try and convince him to slip a little rum in his soda, but he would not budge. Again, bringing holden farther into the adult world. Finally, Holden hires a prostitute
He likes to think that he is none of those. Children, on the other hand, are seen as the opposite in the eyes of holden. Children are innocent, kind, and they are not afraid to be who they are. Adults trick Holden and make him upset. For example, the elevator pimp swindled him out of five dollars and ended holden with a punch to the stomach. Holden searched for something wrong in every adult he liked, so that he would not like them anymore. He would go on, talking about how much he liked a teacher, then describe how bad he smelled or how he would go on a big lecture. Holden does not want to become something he does not