In The Catcher and the Rye, written by J.D Salinger, we are introduced to Holden Caulfield , the 17 year old narrator and protagonist of the novel. In the beginning of the story Holden is at a resting home in California. Holden tells the readers what happened to him over a two day period in the previous December. In this essay I will identify a theme from this story and explain how it is developed in the novel.
In my opinion an important theme of the Catcher in the Rye is the painfulness of growing up. Many people interpreted this novel to be a coming of age novel, due to the fact that it talks about issues teenagers go through. Readers can relate to Holden Caulfield because of his disdain to the process of maturity. For example, in chapter 16, Holden's thoughts about the Museum of Natural History establishes Holden's fear on change and how overwhelmed he is of complexity. Holden wants everything to be easy to understand and a fixed, An example of this is the statues of Eskimos and Native Americans in the museum. Holden doesn't really understand whats going on around him. He acknowledges this fear with his confusion on sex, “sex is something I just don't understand. I swear to God I don't”.

Holden invents a fantasy that being an adult is a world of superficiality and phoniness. Holden also feels that childhood is a world of innocence, curiosity, and honesty. In my opinion, Holden's view on childhood and adulthood are immature and foolish. Holden conceptions are very shallow and are proven shallow by his former teacher Mr. Andolini and his little sister Phoebe. Holden has a dream about being a catcher in the rye. He envisions childhood as a peaceful field of rye in which children play and rum. Adulthood, in Holden's fantasy, is equivalent to death, or a fatal fall or the edge. Holden's beliefs on childhood allow Holden to alienate himself from the real world, by using him cynical attitude and sarcasm as a protective armor.

A symbol of Holden's disregard to growing up, is his curiosity to where the ducks in Central Park go for the winter. The reader is revealed to a more youthful side of Holden. This is surprising because Holden, for a majority of the book acts like a grumpy old man who is angry at the world. In my opinion Holden's pondering on where the ducks go for the winter, signifies where he want to go in life. Holden, in my opinion, in confused about his future and what he wants to with his life. This is an important moment, because Holden clearly lacks the willingness to apply himself and make decisions in aspects of his life. The ducks in the pond are very symbolic in many ways. The ducks prove that the things some of us hold dear to us, can vanish. Holden knows hows this feels due to the death of his younger brother Allies whose death was very hard on Holden. Holden is traumatized and is made aware of the delicacy of life, and is horrified by the idea of change and disappearance. Though, unlike Allie, the ducks vanish, but come back every year. This symbolizes change that isn't permanent but seasonal.

In conclusion, Holden Caulfeid is a very relateable character. What Holden goes through, may people have faced in their adolescent stage. Many teenagers have felt isolated, alienated, depressed, angry, confused, and resentful. In other words they were struggling. The difference between most people and Holden is the fact that they made an effort to leave this stage in the past and apply themselves, while Holden jokes over the fact that he should apply himself. In the end, Holden, is in an existential crisis. To a great extent, Holden is numb to the pains and joys of life. He is unable to come to terms of Allie's death. Holden never had anyone other than Phoebe to express a brotherly love, so whenever someone does end up showing Holden affection he rejects it.