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Symbols Linking Innocence and Adulthood

In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D Salinger, there are many important symbols
to build the overall theme of protecting innocence as well as reluctance to become an adult.
Holden Caulfield is the protagonist of the story, and he takes the readers through a few days of
his life before he is sent off to some sort of hospital. The Museum of Natural History is also a
large symbol. The final major symbol represented in The Catcher in the Rye is The Little Shirley
Beans Record. These are the most relevant symbols to the theme being supported but there are
many more symbols in the book. In the story, the symbols of the character Holden, the museum
of Natural History, as well as the Little Shirley Beans Record all contribute to the theme of the
protection of innocence, and reluctance to become an adult.
Holden Caulfield may be a person, but he is also a prime symbol that exhibits the theme
of not wanting to become an adult and protecting youth. One of the most noticeable
characteristics is Holdens name, which sounds like, Hold on. Holdens last name is Caulfield
and the first part of his last name sounds like, Call, and in the novel he is always talking about
Jane but never gives her a call. Finally Holden also holds on to many thoughts and ideas, such as
sex, and his past including his old friends. In chapter thirteen, Holden says, Look I dont feel
very much like myself tonight, Ive had a rough night. Honest to god. Ill pay you an all but do
you mind very much if we dont do it? Do you mind very much (Salinger 107)? At this point in
the book, Holden is talking to the prostitute, Sunny, because he likes the idea of sex but does not
actually want to have sex. Also Holden wants to protect his sisters youth and he does not want
her to grow up. The theme is strongly supported by Holden because of his name and his overall
character

Another significant symbol is the Museum of Natural History. Holden has made it clear
to the readers that he strongly dislikes change and in the Museum of Natural History, nothing
ever changes or moves besides the people. The theme of protecting innocence is represented
strongly when Holden says, Her school was practically right near the museum (Salinger 220).
Both of the most innocent places are right next to each other. When Holden sees being
destroyed, he gets angry and sad. At the Museum of Natural History, Holden says, I was the
only one left in the tomb then. I sort of liked it, in a way. It was so nice and peaceful. Then all of
a sudden, youd never guess what I saw on the wall. Another Fuck you. It was written with a
red crayon or something, right under the glass part of the wall, under the stones (Salinger 224).
This really makes him mad because he cares so much about innocence and preserving it. The
Museum of Natural History is an important part of the entire novel because it shows how the
theme impacts Holden so greatly.

The Final symbol relating to the theme of preserving the innocence of children and the
reluctance of becoming an adult is the Little Shirley Beans Record. The song on this record is
about a little girl who was to scared and ashamed to leave her home because her two front teeth
were gone. Like the girl in the song, Holden cannot accept any kind of change very easily. In
chapter sixteen Holden explains, There was this record I wanted to get for Phoebe called Little
Shirley Beans (Salinger 127). Holden is constantly looking out for his younger sister, Phoebe
because Holden wants her to never grow up and have to face the evil things in this world. The
Little Shirley Beans Record is only a small symbol compared to the entire book but it is
necessary to support the theme.

In The Catcher in the Rye, the theme of protecting innocence and unwillingness to
becoming an adult are portrayed through many crucial symbols. The most prominent symbol is
the character, Holden Caulfield because he plays an important role in each of the symbols. In the
setting of the Museum of Natural History, Holden is showing the readers his reluctance to
become an adult and he also wants to protect the childrens innocence. Finally, the Little Shirley
Beans Record also shows how Holden is trying to keep all evil away from children, especially
his sister, Phoebe. There are many symbols throughout the novel but to support the theme of
adulthood and innocence is the character of Holden, the Museum of Natural History and the
Little Shirley Beans Record.

Work Cited
J.D Salinger. The Catcher in the Rye. New York, NY. Little, Brown and Company, July 1951.