Holden, from J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, spends most of his time trying to preserve the innocence of children, which is the major theme of the novel. Towards the end of the novel, Holden visits Phoebe's school to give her a note. While he was in the school, Holden saw the statement f-you written in pencil on the wall. Holden erased it and kept going. On his way out of the school, Holden found another f-you sketched into the wall. Holden attempted to scratch it out but was unable to. A third and final time Holden found an f-you written in red crayon inside a tomb in the museum. Holden did not even attempt to erase the statement. These events reveal Holden's constant attempt to protect children and keep them innocent. At first Holden tried to protect the children by erasing the f-you statement in the school. The second time Holden attempts to protect them but is unable to. Finally Holden comes to a realization that he cannot protect the children from the f-you's, which symbolize the ugliness in the adult world. After Holden realizes that he cannot protect the children he becomes 'better' emotionally. In the last few chapters of the novel Holden is with Phoebe in Central Park. While Pheobe is on a carousel in the rain, Holden finally realizes that he cannot
Holden, from J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, spends most of his time trying to preserve the innocence of children, which is the major theme of the novel. Towards the end of the novel, Holden visits Phoebe's school to give her a note. While he was in the school, Holden saw the statement f-you written in pencil on the wall. Holden erased it and kept going. On his way out of the school, Holden found another f-you sketched into the wall. Holden attempted to scratch it out but was unable to. A third and final time Holden found an f-you written in red crayon inside a tomb in the museum. Holden did not even attempt to erase the statement. These events reveal Holden's constant attempt to protect children and keep them innocent. At first Holden tried to protect the children by erasing the f-you statement in the school. The second time Holden attempts to protect them but is unable to. Finally Holden comes to a realization that he cannot protect the children from the f-you's, which symbolize the ugliness in the adult world. After Holden realizes that he cannot protect the children he becomes 'better' emotionally. In the last few chapters of the novel Holden is with Phoebe in Central Park. While Pheobe is on a carousel in the rain, Holden finally realizes that he cannot