Holden's Struggles In Catcher In The Rye

J. D. Salinger's The Catcher In The Rye tells the story of Holden Caulfield as he straddles the line between adolescence and adulthood. He travels through New York City for a weekend, observing and criticizing the many faults of the superficial adult world, while praising kids for their youthful qualities like honesty and kindheartedness. He tries to cope with the inevitable transition on his own terms. His personal struggle dealing with his development makes him wish kids who are still pure would not have to go through what he currently is. In fact, after misinterpreting the poem Comin’ Thro the Rye by Robert Burns, Holden often pictures himself “standing on the edge of some cliff with [thousands of] little kids in this big field of rye” (93). It is his
If [he] had a million years to do it, [he] couldn’t rub out even half the [vulgar words] in the world. It’s impossible” (109). To take this further than simply not wanting children to read bad words, Holden associates this with the reality that all the time in the world would not be enough to reverse or prevent children from growing up and losing their childish charm and candidness once they experience the real world, as he has. While Holden has reservations about leaving his childhood behind, he is quick to take part in many adult activities. For Holden, there are times where “there [is not] anything to do but drink and smoke” (46). While Holden is in the process of growing up, he is not yet completely desensitized by the outside world. He still feels the occasional spark of childish curiosity, like when he wonders where the ducks in the Central Park lagoon go for the winter. He has conversations regarding the question with taxi drivers, showing his genuine curiosity for something most adults would easily dismiss. Holden maintains a glimmer of his inner child, while the rest of him is seemingly worn away by the rough edges of adulthood as he grows from a child to an