Theme Of Catcher In The Rye

Throughout many hardships in his life, Holden Caulfield has remained unsteady and vulnerable to the things happening around him. His grades are low and his emotions are high, but he still tries to shrug it off. Although this main character might seem like he has little sense left in him, there are a few certain scenes that show his incredible soft side towards innocent people. This is where the book gets its title. Each different setting displays reasons why this is a good title for the book. The scenes consist of his little sister’s bedroom, the hotel room, and the museum.

The only scene where the words “the catcher in the rye” are actually said is in Holden’s little sister’s bedroom. He is talking with Phoebe about what he wants to be, and he gives an out-of-the-ordinary response: “I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in a rye field…I have to catch everybody if they start going over the cliff” (Salinger 224). The reason that this scene is important to the title of the
After a long couple of days, Holden decides he needs to talk to his sister, so he makes a note for her to come to the museum. Phoebe wants to come with him when he runs away, but Holden put a stop to it: “’Please Holden, Let me go. I’ll be very, very, very- you won’t even’ ‘You’re not going!’” (Salinger 267). Even though Phoebe begs for him to take her, he will not take her because she would lose her home, her happiness, and her innocence. Once Phoebe heard this she was distraught, but Holden knows that this was the best choice for her, even though she does not like it. Holden knows that she would lose her innocence and that is truly the most important thing in her life. It proves that the title is applicable to the book. Although it was tough he still does what he has to do so that his sister keeps her innocence, and that truly shows how much he cares for this subject and his