What Does The Field Symbolize In Catcher In The Rye

Throughout the book “The Catcher in the Rye” written by J. D. Salinger there were many symbols such as the red hunting hat, the ducks, and the Allie’s mitt, just to name a few. ln this paper I look into why the rye field is symbolic and how it contributes to the actions of the main character and the theme of the story. The symbol though is that Holden wants to protect children from having a fall from innocence. One symbol within the book is the rye field. To me I believe that the field represents the innocence of children. Holden wants to be the person that keeps the children from losing their innocence. We all must grow up, and by growing up into an adult, Holden believes that children lose their innocence. Growing up into an adult is the exact thing that Holden is afraid of himself.

He purposely tries to be immature in order to avoid the harsh reality of the adult world and to preserve his own innocence. For example when he orders the hooker while in the hotel and he does not do anything with her, all they did was talk. And after that he ended up getting punched in the face by the pimp. I don’t think that was a very friendly welcoming into the adult world for Holden. Another example is Holden’s childhood friend Jane. When she started to talk to Stradlater it hurt him. He realizes that Jane was no longer a child yet he remembers all of his memories with her and it hurts him to think of what she and Stradlater are doing. He knows that she no longer possesses her innocence due to maturing. It hurts Holden because in life he tries to protect people from losing their