Change is to become different, and everyday, something changes, whether it is the weather, the age of something or someone, or even the government. One must learn that change occurs in everybody's life and in order to grow one must accept change. J.D. Salinger's book named The Catcher in the Rye provides an excellent example of change. The Catcher in the Rye's main character, Holden Caulfield has a difficult time in accepting that life is all about change and discovery. He shows these traits by going back to the elementary school, the museum, the idea of adults being phonies, being alienated from everyone, and the idea of him being the catcher in the rye. He later learns that change is good and that he must accept it in order to grow, he discovers …show more content…
Nobody’d move. You could go there a hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish… Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you. Not that you’d be so much older or anything. It wouldn’t be that, exactly. You’d just be different, that’s all (Salinger 135). Holden loves the museum because it stays the same, nothing moves or changes, and that’s what he wants his life to be like nothing ever changes and he never grows up to become an adult. He also thinks that certain things need to stay the same forever. This idea of change also relates back to Holden being the catcher in the rye and protecting the children from growing up. Holden goes back to his old elementary school and sees something that enrages him. ...It was exactly the same as it was when I went there. While I was walking up the stairs, though, all of a sudden I thought I was going to puke again….While I was sitting down, I saw something… Sombedy’d written F**** you on the wall. It drove me damn crazy. I thought how Phobe and all the other little kids would see it (Salinger …show more content…
Again in the museum Holden discovers the same word written on something. It is clear that Holden does not like this word. ...I was the only one left in the tomb then. I sort of liked it, in a way….Then, all of a sudden, you’d never guess what I saw on the wall. Another “F**** you”(Salinger 224). Once again, this word changed one of his safe places. They are his safe places because they never change, but now that someone and the word has changed his safe place isn’t his sanctuary anymore which enrages him. After many struggles of trying to overcome his problem with change and growing up, his kid sister, Phoebe and the carousel spin him into the direction of learning that change occurs in everybody’s lives and everyone has to grow up. It is recognizable that the carousel has taught Holden to understand change and everyone has to grow up. “All the kids kept trying to grab for the gold ring, and so was old Phoebe, and I was sort of afraid she’d fall off the goddam horse, but I didn’t say anything or do anything. The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you