Essay about From Innocence to Adulthood in The Catcher in...

From Innocence to Adulthood in The Catcher in the Rye Adolescence is a time of existence in two worlds. One world having the desire to be in the adult world, which is filled with all the unknown wonders of the world. The other world is the world of childhood which is comfortable and protected from all the impurities in the world. This sort of tug of war between the two worlds is not only mentally imposed on a being, but physically, socially, and morally as well. With all the mentioned above, often times an adult will discourage an action of an adolescent by saying they are too old to a act a certain way, and then will turn around and say they are too young to do something, like go out late†¦show more content†¦Holden tries to give the illusion that he is older because when he orders the drink, he Orders it fast as possible, because if you hem and haw they think you are under 21 and wont sell you intoxicating liquor. This is the classic example of adolescence when one attempts to act older than his or her age when attempting to obtain alcohol. Up until the age of 21, all young adults want to give the illusion they are older than they are in hopes of obtaining special adult privileges, such as drinking alcohol, smoking, etc. However Holdens failed attempts forces him to realize that his act is fooling no one other than himself. Such an example can be seen when one goes to college bars and can see all the adults that are hanging out there. The people who are there are not fooling anyone as well. Sex is often the most complicated adult subjects, even for adults to understand themselves. The act of sex itself can be talked about immensely, as done in locker rooms or with friends, almost to the point where one could believe in the tales. However the act itself cannot be faked and innocence of such things are quite apparent when the situations do arise. The saying one can talk the talk, but cannot walk the walk describes this sort of situation perfectly. Holdens first experience with a woman who heShow MoreRelatedCatcher in the Rye vs Frankenstein Novel Study Essay1304 Words   |  6 PagesIndependent Novel Study In today’s world, innocence cannot be preserved forever. As humans age, they lose their innocence due to the corruption that exists in society. This is demonstrated in the two novels, Catcher in the Rye and Frankenstein. The two authors, J.D. Salinger and Mary Shelley prove this statement through their use of various literary devices. Key characters in both novels- Holden and the creature- learn through personal experiences that innocence cannot, in fact, be preserved foreverRead MoreThe Innocence of Childhood in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger1262 Words   |  6 Pagespeople, this transition from youthfulness to maturity can be much more difficult than for others. 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Ironically, Holden’s only purpose is to resist maturity; throughout the book he grows and changes minimally, as a result of little to no success. Stuck in the middle of innocence and maturity, he is not able to apply himself to accomplish anything. In The Catcher in the Rye, SalingerRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger1005 Words   |  5 Pagesprotagonist of J.D. Salinger’s clas sic coming of age tale The Catcher in the Rye, entices readers through his hyper-critical scrutinization of the post-war consumer world. The novel itself is acclaimed to be quite autobiographical; the similarities between Salinger and Holden are numerous. Holden is an avid critic of materialistic American ideals, and he aims to preserve innocence in others, and to save himself from falling into the land of adulthood. 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In The Catcher in the Rye, there are several themes that can be found in the words and actions of the narrator, Holden Caulfield. The dominating theme in this novel is the preservation of innocence, especially of children. We can see this throughout the novel, as Holden strives to preserve innocence in himself and others. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden’s outlook in life is either the innocence of childhood or the cruelty of adulthood. He believes that the innocence of childhood is