But I couldn't find any.. You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South? What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff I mean if theyre running and they dont look where theyre going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. He finds the adult world corrupted and poisonous. That's all I'd do all day. And besides, I dont think I could ever do it with somebody that sits in a stupid movie all day long. When Holden was speaking to his younger sister, phoebe, he explained to her what he really wanted to do with his life. Maturity explained July 17, 2013 By Casey Lee "The mark of an immature man is that he wants to die. liverpool v nottingham forest 1989 team line ups; best crews to join in gta 5. jay chaudhry house; bimbo bakeries buying back routes; pauline taylor seeley cause of death I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is a timeless coming-of-age novel, first released in 1951. The primary concern of Catcher in the Rye is the loss of innocence. Popular pages: The Catcher in the Rye Full Book Analysis SUMMARY Character List CHARACTERS Holden Caulfield CHARACTERS Themes LITERARY DEVICES Appearances QUOTES Full Book Quiz QUICK QUIZZES Take a Study Break QUIZ: Is This a Taylor Swift Lyric or a Quote by Edgar Allan Poe? Complete your free account to request a guide. For the first time, he evaluates himself and questions his judgmental mode of life. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. The whole arrangements designed for men who, at some time or other in their lives, were looking for something their own environment couldnt supply them with. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's aroundnobody big, I meanexcept me. and corresponding bitterness seem somewhat strange, given his circumstances: Theres a word I really hate. This adds a faint note of hope that is amplified by the revelation at the end of the novel that Holden is telling his story from a place of safety and calm, implying that for Holden the ducks have finally returned. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. She kept telling him to sit still and behave himself. I asked her if shed care to have a hot chocolate or something with me, but she said no, thank you. Holden doesn't even. Instant PDF downloads. One time in particular, I remember. The Catcher in the Rye is an iconic novel that highlights the struggles of teenagers through the story of Holden Caufield. his nodding, compliant veneer. I really am. [W]hile I was sitting down, I saw something that drove me crazy. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. What is The Catcher in the Rye About?. You dont like a million things. No game. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. "And I have one of those very loud, stupid laughs. Holden feels sorry for leaving him but quickly shifts his attention to something else. Or they thought their own environment couldnt supply them with. That's the trouble with growing up, you lose some things - like innocence, but gain others - like the privilege of ordering a scotch and soda. I dont blame them. Something always happensI came quite close to doing it a couple of times, though. Something went wrong, thoughI dont even remember what any more. Its full of phonies, and all you do is study so that you can learn enough to be smart enough to be able to buy a goddam Cadillac some day, and you have to keep making believe you give a damn if the football team loses, and all you do is talk about girls and liquor and sex all day, and everybody sticks together in these dirty little goddam cliques.. I think, even, if I ever die, and they stick me in a cemetery, and I have tombstone and all, itll say Holden Caulfield on it, and then what year I was born and what year I died, and then right under that itll say Fuck you. Im positive, in fact. Salinger's masterwork, 'The Catcher in the Rye.' 3. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. He just keeps falling and falling. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliffI mean if theyre running and they dont look where theyre going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. Renews March 10, 2023 And Im standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. They really can. Catcher In The Rye. The Catcher in the Rye. Holden struggles with growing up and facing reality. In this book, Holden grows and learns how to get along with society, but the reality is not always so optimistic. And then you've got to start going there. "Yes I do. Holden decides that he's ready to call Jane Gallagher. silent ridiculing and cursing of Spencer that Holden hides beneath And though he himself refuses to acknowledge this, readers see that its just as futile to resist growing up as it is to prematurely posture as an adult. Thats all Id do all day. I shoot people in this hat.. I said. Join today and never see them again. He learns more about the intriguing, empathetic, and infinitely possible side of the world. Indeed, even when he does connect with adults, they always say or do something to bother him, and he begins to hate their phoniness. I dont know why. Id just be the catcher in the rye and all. You cant ever find a place thats nice and peaceful, because there isnt any. Holden sees maturity as inherently badgrowing up leads to corruption and phoniness, and finally death. Sometimes its hard to concentrate. There had been a debate about "the great American novel", or lack of it, since at least when Mark Twain was writing and I think both these books, a generation apart as they are from Twain's time and from each other, were, at least in part, a very deliberate tongue in . Yet he takes an atypical approach to help Holden. And Im standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. Continue to start your free trial. Youll learn from themif you want to. I said no, there wouldnt be marvelous places to go to after I went to college and all. A 16-year-old who is highly critical of the adult world, Holden covets what he sees as the inherent purity of youth. This, it seems, is most likely why he idealizes childhood so much, since he has so much trouble actually playing the role of a mature adult. Similar to Holden, these teenagers pretend to be okay when the flourishing world frustrates them. Chapter 25. She said she had to meet her friend. The Catcher in the Rye is a portrait of a young man at odds with the process of growing up. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye ", "Like hell it is." SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Why is Holden obsessed with the ducks at the Central Park Lagoon? . character, This serves as a metaphor for Holdens belief that children must be saved from the various pitfalls of growing up. While there, he meets interesting people that he calls phony but in reality reflect characteristics of himself and the appalling qualities of the culture he lives in. $24.99 Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. That's how I nearly fell in. Holden is terrified that nothing lasts, that everythingincluding himselfwill die and disappear like his brother did. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. Up home we wear a hat like that to shoot deer in, for Chrissake, he said. The only thing that would be different would be you.. ", "One thing? "Life is a game, boy. In this way, he receives more goodwill from others. Ill bet I woke up every bastard on the whole floor. She enjoys hanging out with her friends, traveling, and coxing as a member of the crew team. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. I was sort of crying. Her green dress hanging in the closet and all. Thats the whole trouble. Id just be the catcher in the rye and all. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? [] And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. The cars zoomed by, brakes screeched all over the place, his parents paid no attention to him, and he kept on walking next to the curb and singing If a body catch a body coming through the rye. It made me feel better. Please wait while we process your payment. There are many quotes about the "phonies" that Holden meets and his low opinion of them, but this quote in the middle of the story expresses Holdens true problem with it. is needling him about his failures at Pencey; at this point, he Catcher In The Rye Identity Quotes Holden alienates himself from all the changes that occur around him. Failing to see that D.B. They represent a comforting constant, because Holden knows that when the weather warms up again the ducks will return. And even if I could, I'm not sure I'd feel like it." J. D. Salinger author The Catcher in the Rye book Holden Caulfield character explanations intentions communication concepts 02 Share Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. "Up home we wear a hat like that to shoot deer in, for Chrissake," he said. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliffI mean if theyre running and they dont look where theyre going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. Quotes To Inspire You (MLK), 80 Life Gets Better Quotes To Brighten Your Day (Hope), 50 Bad Luck Quotes When You Feel Ill-Fated, Life is a game, boy. Its also another example of something Holden believes to be pure and innocent being corrupted and ruined by adult sensibilities, even if hes not aware of the fact in the story. Previous section Stradlater Next section The "Catcher in the Rye" PLUS Notes See All Notes Since Holden wastes all his time deceiving others and himself and trying to delay his inevitable adulthood, Mr. Antolini has to ruthlessly tear off his mask and force him to face reality. The Catcher in the Rye Quotes 25 of the best book quotes from The Catcher in the Rye 01 Share "I can't explain what I mean. Instant PDF downloads. You dont see what I mean at all. Most kids are. Nobodyd be different. You cant afford to lose a minute. Theme Of Maturity In Catcher In The Rye 837 Words | 4 Pages. Every time they do something pretty, even if theyre not much to look at, or even if theyre sort of stupid, you fall half in love with them, and then you never know where the hell you are. The trouble was, I just didnt want to do it. Its history. Does Holden have sex with Sunny, the prostitute? What he fails to . The novel was intended for adults, it is usually enjoyed by adolescents for its themes of angst and alienation. (1.1k) $6.50. They just think they do. Catcher In The Rye, You cant stop a teacher when they want to do something. No game. She was depressing. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% That little lake? So they gave up looking. "You dont like anything thats happening.". Holden is protective of his youthful qualities and doesn't want to abandon them when he drifts into adulthood. Nothing. That doesnt happen much, though. Catcher In The Rye, Im standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. In this field, he says, there is some sort of cliff, and hes standing at the edge of this cliff. He never amasses enough courage to call up his childhood friend, and he sort of gives [his sister] a kiss (Salinger 179). He clearly identifies with those on the other side of the game, Free trial is available to new customers only. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules.". "You dont like anything thats happening.". His firm belief inspires Holden to become the captain of his life instead of drifting along the mainstream or dropping anchor in place. Sallinger follows teenager Holden Caulfield as he is expelled from his school and spends a few days in New York alone. Salinger's The Catcher is the Rye, the protagonist Holden Caufield emerges from a trying and emotional series of events and does not grow emotionally but remains as immature as he was at the beginning of the novel. J.D. They can ruin you. Salinger investigates the story of a 16 year old boy named Holden Caulfield who struggles to understand what his purpose in life is. They just think they do." - Catcher In The Rye At the same time, though, he frequently tries to present himself as much older than he actually is, posturing as an adult even when its obvious that hes a teenager. This quote demonstrates Holdens own perception of the hat as a disruptive tool, a layer of protective armor that allows him to attack the people he meets, if only in his mind. Game, my ass. I put my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it, and then I yelled at the top of my goddam voice, "Sleep tight, ya morons!" He does not want children to grow up because he feels that adults are corrupt. You cant ever find a place thats nice and peaceful, because there isnt any. He refers to himself in chapter 22 as 'the catcher in the rye', saving 'thousands of little kids' from their impending doom as they start running off of the edge of a cliff. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Discount, Discount Code I didnt want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory. They can drive you crazy. I hate that. Spencer and Mr. Antolinitry to lecture him in ways that only annoy him. It made me even more depressed when she said that. Holden doesn't mind being young, until he is refused alcohol by a waiter. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger is a 20th-century novel that follows Holden Caulfield.Holden is a 16-year-old boy who is struggling with the . Wed have to phone up everybody and tell em good-by and send em postcards from hotels and allIt wouldnt be the same at all. This quote not only gives the novel its title, it explains Holdens fundamental issue in a beautiful, poetic way. and theme. So they gave up looking. Enter your email address to follow this Journal and receive notifications of new posts by email. Youre by no means alone on that scoreMany, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. The result is a powerful sense of the character despite his obvious unreliability and tendency to lie, and the ability to pull almost any quote from the novel and find plenty of meaning and symbolism. lectures Holden about the importance of playing by the rules. Nobodyd be different. The novel was included on Times 2005 list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923. Want 100 or more? And even if I could, Im not sure Id feel like it. Catcher In The Rye. Somers, Jeffrey. She was depressing. Somers, Jeffrey. of the world. . You ought to go to a boys school sometime. However, his attitude seems to change near the end of the story when he realizes that children should be allowed to grab for the gold ring,, to choose their risks, even if their attempts are dangerous. I could puke every time I hear it. Catcher In The Rye, Its not too bad when the suns out, but the sun only comes out when it feels like coming out. Catcher In The Rye, Lots of time you dont know what interests you most till you start talking about something that doesnt interest you most. Catcher In The Rye, And I have one of those very loud, stupid laughs. Catcher In The Rye Quotes Quotes tagged as "catcher-in-the-rye" Showing 1-25 of 25 "I think that one of these days," he said, "you're going to have to find out where you want to go. In American classic, The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger vividly depicts a teenage protagonist who is overwhelmed by the rapid changes around him and his impending adulthood. Itd be entirely different. -Graham S. Below you will find the important quotes in, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 J.D. I know its crazy, but thats the only thing Id really like to be. Study Guide The Catcher in the Rye Quotes Advertisement - Guide continues below Madness Sadness Isolation Wisdom and Knowledge Lies and Deceit Youth Religion Sexuality and Sexual Identity Mortality Innocence Other Back More Navigation Introduction Summary Youth Mrs. Antolini, a.k.a. They never act like people. . The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. He secludes himself on the grounds that he gets kicked out of the considerable number of schools he goes to. At the same time, the ducks are also a sign of hope for Holden. Thats all Id do all day. She was a very nice, polite little kid. Holden sees maturity as inherently badgrowing up leads to corruption and phoniness, and finally death. Holden the narrator and protagonist of the novel, tells the story of his adventures before the previous Christmas when he had been expelled from Pencey Prep School for failing most of his classes. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. Sure I do. It is also probably the best symbol used to show how agonizing growing up is to Holden. Itd be entirely different. Salinger Theme: Growing up Losing ones innocence Having to deal with the struggles of life Struggling with maturity Holden feels the need to prove to others that he is old and mature Holden struggles with being honest and lying Learning profanity J. D. Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye Background. Or they thought their own environment couldnt supply them with. Where is Holden as he narrates the story? As Holden observes the "perverts" at the hotel, he feels conflicted. Wed have to go downstairs in elevators with suitcases and stuff. They really are. I said. Growing Pains: Coming of Age in The Catcher in theRye, View stmarksschoolMAs profile on Facebook, http://www.wsj.com/articles/youth-suicide-rate-rises-56-in-decade-cdc-says-11571284861, http://www.brainyquote.com/authors/friedrich-nietzsche-quotes, Antimatter as Energy: Physics and EnergyConversion, The Ely Speech Prize for The Global Seminar: Signature, The William Otis Smith Prize for English Verse: blue break of dawn, The Shen Prize: The Ongoing Struggle Against the Corrupting Influence of Money in Politics. "Name one thing. I thought how Phoebe and all the other little kids would see it, and how theyd wonder what the hell it meant, and then finally some dirty kid would tell themI hardly even had the guts to rub it off the wall with my hand, if you want to know the truth. One of the most important symbols used by Salinger, is The Catcher in the Rye. Do you have any other inspirational quotes to add? I sort of closed one eye, like I was taking aim at it. Holdens affinity for children is made evident by the way he talks about his little sister, Phoebe. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Nonetheless, social adaptation means neither growth nor surrender, but camouflage in the crowd. Salinger is Holden's chronicle of running away from his boarding school and living on his own in New York City. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Game, my ass. It drove me damn near crazy. The trouble was, I couldnt concentrate too hot. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. The Redmond Prize for English Narrative, presented in memory. He keeps the paper Mr. Antolini gives him, which reads: The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one (Salinger 207-208). Youre by no means alone on that scoreMany, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. You dont like any schools. The man falling isnt permitted to feel or hear himself hit bottom. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Her green dress hanging in the closet and all. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. I sort of closed one eye, like I was taking aim at it. At this point in the novel, Holdens sense of disadvantage The trouble was, I couldnt concentrate too hot. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be" (173). We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? In this last quote, one of the most famous from The Catcher in the Rye Holden describes a dream to his sister he's always carried with him. LitCharts Teacher Editions. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Not you. Catcher In The Rye, The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. If you do, you start missing everybody. Catcher In The Rye, Im just going through a phase right now. ThoughtCo, Feb. 4, 2021, thoughtco.com/the-catcher-in-the-rye-quotes-4690094. Quotes From Catcher In The Ryeif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'therandomvibez_com-banner-1','ezslot_3',154,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-therandomvibez_com-banner-1-0'); Its funny. You don't .". This forms a stark contrast to his reaction to old Spencer. He perceives adults never notice anything (Salinger 12) and never believe [him] (Salinger 42). (including. One of the most important symbols used by Salinger, is The Catcher in the Rye. His sense of helplessness is part of his emotional collapseHolden doesnt want to grow up, but his body is outside his control, which is terrifying to him. The Catcher in the Rye Quotes Showing 1-30 of 710 "What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. In American classic, The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger vividly depicts a teenage protagonist who is overwhelmed by the rapid changes around him and his impending adulthood. Carl's suggestion is significant in two ways. I know its crazy. Catcher In The Rye. Dont have an account? Nobodyd move. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. 1. [Ackley] took another look at my hat []. "Life is a game, boy. But immediately. Tags: Adolescence, Coming of Age, Growing Pains, Mr. Antolini, The Catcher in the Rye, By Divi Bhaireddy, III Form The Ely Speech Prize for The Global Seminar: Signature The Ely Prize in Public Speaking, originally given by a member, By Sophie Chiang, V Form The William Otis Smith Prize for English Verse: blue break of dawn The William Otis Smith Prize for English Verse, By Alden Mehta, V Form The Shen Speech Prize: The Ongoing Struggle Against the Corrupting Influence of Money in Politics THE SHEN PRIZE is awarded, By Madison Hoang, V Form The Coleman Prize in English: Is Atonement Always Attainable? Ive had quite a few opportunities to lose my virginity and all, but Ive never got around to it yet. If Im on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where Im going, Im liable to say Im going to the opera. Holden lives in a metropolis but does not belong to it. Due to his obsession of preserving his innocence, he wishes to be "the catcher in the rye" to protect the children from falling off the cliff. On page 201 of the novel, Holden says "Somebody'd written 'fuck you' on the wall. The ducks symbolize this fear, as they are a feature of his past, a fond memory that is suddenly gone, leaving no trace. "This is a people shooting hat," I said. I said no, there wouldnt be marvelous places to go to after I went to college and all. The Catcher in the Rye Themes Youth Throughout the novel, the reader is given examples of Holden's preference for children over adults and youth over aging. Zip. Ace your assignments with our guide to The Catcher in the Rye! From himself, Holden also learns the importance of compromises. Because of his repeated failure to present himself as an experienced adult, then, he romanticizes childhood, seeing children as pure and innocent because theyunlike the adults in his lifewill readily accept him. Kids always have to meet their friend. All the kids kept trying to grab for the gold ring, and so was old Phoebe, and I was sort of afraid shed fall off the goddam horse, but I didnt say anything or do anything. Nobodyd move Nobodyd be different. 'The Catcher in the Rye' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices, The Meaning of the Title: 'The Catcher in the Rye', Role of Women (and Girls) in "The Catcher in the Rye", Must-Read Books If You Like 'The Catcher in the Rye', The Catcher in the Rye: Questions for Study and Discussion, How "The Catcher in the Rye" Finally Got an E-Book Edition, Biography of J. D. Salinger, American Writer, 5 Novel Setting Maps for Classic American Literature. I really dont. Thinking that children are still untainted by the phony, hypocritical adult world, he wishes there were a way to somehow preserve the sense of honest integrity that he associates with childhood. He admits to being fascinated, but hes also clearly disapproving. Thats all Id do all day. Something went wrong, thoughI dont even remember what any more. Second, it represents a rare moment when an older male offers real advice, rather than just telling Holden to shape up and play by the rules. Holden takes his proposal into consideration because he feels cared for and understood by him. Hes dead now. Catcher In The Ryeif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'therandomvibez_com-sky-3','ezslot_23',176,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-therandomvibez_com-sky-3-0'); Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. him. More literally, he doesn't want any child being killed through no fault of their own. These famous Catcher in the Rye quotes will give you a different perspective on life and will help you understand the struggles of a teenager. I took it off and looked at it. The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Contrary to other adults in the book, Mr. Antolini sees hope in Holden. If you dont, you feel even worse. Catcher In The Ryeif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'therandomvibez_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_15',170,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-therandomvibez_com-narrow-sky-1-0'); Certain things they should stay the way they are. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. (2021, February 4). I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I said. Why the hell do you say that? The thing that was descriptive about it though, was that he had poems written all over the fingers and the pocket and everywhere. I really dont think I could. . 2. It drove me damn near crazy. Its nice. Catcher In The Rye, This is a people shooting hat, I said. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. It always ends up making you blue as hell. Catcher In The Rye, I like it when somebody gets excited about something. We bring you 10 quotes from the novel to celebrate this exceptional work of fiction. ", "Because you dont. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. "People are mostly hot to have a discussion when you're not.". The 17-year-old protagonist, struggling with dashed hopes and teenage angst, is the perfect literary prototype of a rebel without a cause. Its a phony. Present-day adults not only frequently fail to understand them, but also blame and label them as troublesome millennials, which results in their deserted spiritual world. Ive had quite a few opportunities to lose my virginity and all, but Ive never got around to it yet. Its poetry. Catcher In The Rye, I think that one of these daysyoure going to have to find out where you want to go. The fact that the song Holdens mis-remembersComing Through the Ryeis actually about people sneaking into the fields to have illicit sexual encounters makes Holdens immaturity obvious. The fact that he behaves this way undermines all the negative things he says about adult hypocrisy, since its clear that he himself is often hypocritical, effectively wanting to disparage the adult world while also trying to enter it. But immediately. Somers, Jeffrey. I mean Ive left schools and places I didnt even know I was leaving them. J. D. Salinger's 1951 novel, The Catcher in the Rye, that chronicled the life of Holden Caulfield has, over the years, assumed a cult status. The Catcher in the Rye is an American coming-of-age novel by J. D. Salinger and is considered one of the best pieces of literature of its time. Over the past decade, the youth suicide rate has increased by 56% (Abbott). I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all" (Salinger 191). The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. The Redmond Prize for English Narrative: Do We Ever Grow Up? Consequently, he not only dreams about protecting children from the trials and tribulations of growing up, but also resists his own process of maturation. Mr. Antolini speaks bluntly that Holden is riding for some kind of a terrible, terrible fall (Salinger 206). He tells his sister that he has recently been picturing a group of children running around in a field of rye. Sometimes it can end up there.