The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger, a novel about the period of growth from childhood to adulthood, portrays the disappearance of the immaculateness of 'childhood. The main character of the novel is Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old boy who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the death of his younger brother Allie. The story begins with Holden talking to what is assumed to be a therapist about crazy things that had happened in his life. The novel is a flashback in Holden's perspective that takes place over approximately three days. Throughout the book Holden learns valuable lessons about growing up and moving forward. J.D. Salinger uses the checkers, the profanity on the wall, and the catcher in the rye dream to represent that innocence cannot be preserved forever. Salinger portrays the concept that the loss of innocence is inevitable through the symbol of the lady. At the beginning of the novel Holden is in the toilet with his roommate, Stradlater. Stradlater says he will have a date with a girl Holden knows, Jane Gallagher. Holden mentions how he "always played checkers with her... She didn't move any of her kings" (31). Unlike Stradlater's intentions with Jane, Holden's brief relationship with Jane was very pure and childish. Checkers symbolizes the innocence of their relationship because it is a board game that is learned as a child. Holden remembers where Jane kept her kings, which shows how much he cared for her. He cared so much that he remembered how she played the game that shows their innocent love. After Stradlater returns from his date with Jane, Holden gets angry at him and punches him. Stradlater's lack of respect for Jane pushes Holden over the edge and causes... middle of paper... The cliff represents the loss of innocence and maturation and Holden's goal is to capture or save the children before they fall. the cliff or lose their innocence. Since the children are in a rye field and can't always see where they are going, it is Holden's job to protect them from falling or growing up. Holden ends up realizing that it's just a dream and can't come true. Holden is forced to realize that innocence must be discarded. Salinger's symbols in the novel help the reader understand that growing up is a necessary part of being human and should not be ignored. Holden is forced to accept it, just as he had to grow up, so do all the other children in the world. Holden represents the difficult years between adulthood and childhood and how they affect a teenager. Through Holden we learn not to make mistakes and instead enjoy every period of life.