The Catcher In The Rye

Innocence is lost as adult experiences are gained.

By Zach Burbano, Kayleigh Macchirole, Michael Stever

Holden Caulfield

• The main character in the novel was Holden Caulfield. His name is very symbolic. During the novel Holden is trying to hold on (Holden) to his innocence by not falling. His last name Caulfield has the word caul in it. This is referred to as the baby’s protection and in a way of keeping innocence and is even at sometimes called “Christ’s nightgown”. This also shows Holden trying to keep his innocence.

Falling Motifs

Falling- many instances were mentioned where he almost falls, and then he eventually does fall

• “It was icy as hell and I damn near fell down.” • “Some stupid guy had thrown peanut shells all over the stairs, and

I damn near broke my crazy neck.”• “Every time I came to the end of the godamn curb, I had this

feeling that I’d never get to the other side of the street. I thought I’d just go down, down, down, and nobody’d ever see me again.”

• Mr. Spencer said : “I have a feeling that your riding for some kind of a terrible, terrible fall.”

• “when I was coming out of the can right before I got to the door, I sort of passed out. I was lucky though. I mean I could of killed myself when I hit the floor, but all I did was sort of land on my side. It was a funny thing, though. I felt better after I passed out.”

Catching Motifs•When Holden had to write a paper for Stradlater he

chose Allie’s baseball mitt. This shows a motif of catching. Allie never needed this mitt in a way because

he never fell because he never grew up but Holden wants to keep it because he does not want to fall and

he just wants to be caught. On the mitt, are poems written in green showing Allie’s everlasting innocence. •Also, Holden wants to be the catcher in the rye so he can figuratively use the mitt to catch people, who need

help. •“If a body meet a body coming through the rye.”

•This quote is heard by Holden from a little boy. Then Holden told his sister that he kept picturing a lot of

kids playing in a field of rye and he was the only one

there to catch them before they fell off a cliff.

The City•The city is a place where experience

is plentiful.

•In the city many people loose their innocence and gain adult

experiences because there is so many people and there is always

something going on.

Smoking and Lying• “the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.”

• “quite a heavy smoker”.• “At the end of the first act we went out with all the other jerks for a cigarette.”• “Finally, I got up and went out in the living room and got some cigarettes out

of the box on the table and stuck some in my pocket.”• “Rudolf Schmidt”• “Old Ernie” I said “he's one of the most popular guys at Pencey.”• “I have to have this operation.”

Holden was a liar and a smoker. These are signs of adult experiences and loss of innocence because he acts like he is an adult.

Sunny• Sunny wore a green dress when she went to Holden’s

room. The green dress is a sign of her innocence.

• Sunny is young, we can tell this by:– “like fun you are” -sunny

– “I Don’t smoke”-sunny

» These two quotes show that she is not any ordinary prostitute. It shows how young she is and how she says things a child would say.

– She had a “tiny little wheeny-whiney voice.”

» This shows that she has a small voice like a small girl.

– “She started jiggling her foot again-boy she was a nervous girl.”

» This quote shows how inexperienced sunny is.

Allie

• Allie died as a young child. When he died he still had his childhood innocence. This innocence will be with him forever because he will never be able to have an adult experience.

The Museum of Natural History

• The displays at the museum of natural history are frozen in time. For this reason they will never lose or gain innocence.

• The mummies in the museum are preserved so whatever innocence they had left has been preserved with them.

James castle

• James castle died at a young age. He still had a lot of his innocence. By jumping out the window he lost some of his innocence because it was an adult experience and something a child would not do, and the innocence he has left will be with him forever because he will no longer be able to gain adult experiences.

The Carousel• Holden doesn’t ride on the carousel because he no

longer considers himself a child, but as an adult.• When Holden is at the carousel he realizes that he can

not catch people and that sometimes you have to let them fall.

• “The thing with kids is, is they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but its bad if you say anything to

them.”• This means that people have to learn from their own

mistakes. • The carousel also represents the circle of life. The circle

of life shows that at some point in everyone's life they lose their innocence and gain adult experiences.

Red Hunting Hat•The red hunting hat provides protection,

which Holden wants to provide for the younger kids.

•Red is a symbol for him trying to be the savior.

•He was trying to preserve the innocence of others

•The red hunting hat also gives Holden protection from the rest of the world and its

experience.•While Holden was In Phoebe’s room he gave

her his hat. He did this so it would give her the protection it gave him.

The lagoon

•Holden cares for the ducks, like he would for any child. He worries about

their safety, health, and their well being. •The fish in the lagoon are preserved in

the lagoon when it is frozen, and they are literally frozen in time. Their innocence is preserved, which Holden is always

trying to do.

Phoebe•Phoebe is Holden’s younger sister. •Holden wants to protect Phoebe’s

innocence, so he gives her his red hunting hat to provide protection for her.

•Phoebe still has her childhood innocence, but will eventually lose it as she grows up.

•Phoebe’s Alias- Weatherfield.–She is using the alias to preserve her

innocence. Holden has aliases because he is trying to preserve his innocence.

When Holden sees her alias, he realizes that an alias will only prolong childhood. Adulthood will eventually come, even if

you try to hold on to it.