How Does Holden Present The Catcher In The Rye

Within The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden’s childhood and past are depicted containing happiness, hope, and optimism(shown in yellow containing Jane ,with the game of checkers, Allie,and Phoebe). Holden thus clings to his childhood as a source of his happiness, as he views his current reality(depicted in purple) with cynicism and pessimism. (represented by the piano for his pessimism towards “phony” musicians, and by Sally’s “phony” conversation with George) Holden, however, isolates himself from his past for fear of tainting it(represented the the cracking glass case turning purple in response to Holden’s touch) because he wants to preserve the happiness which he draws from his childhood(represented by the containment of his
As Holden explains, “I act quite young for my age sometimes.” He also wants others to hold on to adolescence like he does(represented by his hand on the glass reaching for his childhood). This is shown when he tells Phoebe he wants to be “the catcher in the rye”. In which he would protect the kids playing in the field of rye and he would “catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff.” The field of rye where the children play is symbolic of childhood and youth, while falling off the cliff represents entering the mature world of adulthood. Thus, by wanting to catch the children, Holden’s viewpoint of the adulthood and growing up is revealed, as he wants to protect the children, and himself, from the harsh reality(Allie’s death, loneliness, broken record, failure) which is adulthood by holding on to one’s childhood. Holden’s wish to protect the children from “falling” into adulthood is also shown when he prompts Phoebe to ride the carousel after she retorts “I'm too big.” Phoebe riding the carousel represents her staying in the world of adolescence, and thus is the reason Holden “felt so damn happy all of sudden” when he saw her on the