Holden Caulfield Loss Of Innocence

Living in such a cruel world exposes children to the lies and corruption of the adult world. Being stripped of one's innocence that prevents one from letting go of childhood. In the novel Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, the author explores the life of a troubled teen, Holden Caulfield, who has grown up too quickly. Holden has undergone many traumatic experiences, from his brother, Allie, dying at a young age to having little guidance growing up in such a cruel world. Holden suffers from depression and anxiety, leading him to disconnect himself from his family and with whom he surrounds himself. Holden uses alcohol and violence to escape his problems, which does not work in his favor. Holden gets expelled from boarding school, and after

While talking to Phoebe, Holden angrily yells, “I know he's dead! Don't you think I know that? I can still like him, though, can’t i? Just because somebody’s dead, you don't just stop liking them, for god's sake– especially if they were about a thousand times nicer than the people you know that’re alive and all.”(Salinger 189). Holden’s difficulties growing up relate to his anxiety about what he is leaving behind. His emotional level became stuck when his brother Allie died. He believes that if he grows up, he will leave his brother behind. In Holden’s eyes, Allie was perfect. He was kind-hearted and innocent, which Holden misses the most about him. Allie never grew up, and Holden does not want to mature without him. At the novel’s end, Holden proclaims, “Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody”(Salinger 234). Although Holden's narration throughout the novel indicates his dislike for most people he interacts with, Holden misses all of the people he said he did not like. Holden’s carefree persona is an act to mask all the complexities in his mind. He knows deep down his mistakes, failing out of school, and disconnecting himself from the world, will affect more than his life at 15. Everyone else is growing up and living their lives the way they intended. So although Holden is thinking of them, they probably are not thinking of Holden. The rest of the world was moving on but without Holden. Salinger shows how Holden’s fear of being forgotten contributes to his challenges of growing