Confrontations with reality open up the eyes. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of J. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is a troubled adolescent. As the plot unfolds, he confronts with death, conceit and his own romantic dreams. Holden's transformation from a self-absorbed youth to a more open teenager is complete as he becomes one who is willing to face the reality of the world.
Holden is an immature and sensitive teenager who is not conscious of his own actions. Holden's jealousy of Stradlater's date with Jane Gallagher caused Holden to explode. "He had hold of my wrists, too, so I couldn't take another sock at him. I"d've killed him." (43) His overactive temper for such a ridiculous reason shows his immaturity as a teen who cannot determine what is worth fighting for and what is not. Holden runs away from school for he has been expelled for flunking 4 of his classes. Running away from his problems is also very childish. "All of a sudden, I decided what I"d really do, I"d get the hell out of Pencey - right that same night and all." (51) Holden, instead of facing his troubles, he runs from them. He fears and has doubt about things he hasn't even confronted yet. As the story progresses, Holden later begins to realize his own persona. .
As Holden reevaluates his actions, he shows drastic change of a more developed, understandable teenager. As Holden is accompanied by a prostitute named Sunny, He is very uneasy. Holden is trying to grow up which he cannot force upon himself. Holden's tension between his growing aspects of life and his fragile innocence is a big fight for he wants to live in a beautiful world, but the pressure of his emerging sexuality and the demands of his loneliness induce him to encounter with people like Maurice and Sunny.
Holden later understands that maturity is inevitable. Holden comes to terms that he is powerless to rid the world of evil and forever protect both young children and himself from growing up so he will be able to protect their innocence.