Salinger's novel, "The Catcher in the Rye," the reader is introduced to Holden Caulfield, a very troubled teenager who is fixated on protecting the innocent from the cruel realities of the world. The very title of this novel is a metaphor Holden uses to explain his obsession. Again, he displays how he protects his own innocence when he turns down a prostitute. One of his favorite places to visit is the museum because it is a place where everything seems to be frozen in time which eliminates his thought of innocence being threatened through change. Holden Caulfield takes on the role of protecting innocence shortly after the death of his younger brother Allie, making this event his motivation for protecting the innocent from all harm. Holden's one true desire in life is to protect the innocence of others as well as his self and he explains how he wants to be "the catcher in the rye." When he is asked by Phoebe what he truly does like and this is his response, ".I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff--I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all"" (Salinger 191). At this moment Holden shows us how he envisions protecting all the children who represent innocence, from falling off the cliff or being harmed. This quote allows us to dive right into Holden's mind and see his simplistic view on his role in protecting the innocent.
Holden is not only the protector of others innocence but his own innocence which he sees as his virginity. His obsession with protecting innocence kicks in when he says, "Look", I said, "I don't feel very much like myself tonight. I've had a rough night. Honest to God. I'll pay you and all, but do you mind very much if we don't do it? Do you mind very much I felt more depressed than sexy, if you want to know the truth"" (Salinger 107).