Holden Caulfield is the protagonist of the novel "The Catcher in the Rye." In the book, Holden hears a quote: "The mark of the immature man is that he is willing to die nobly for one cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he is willing to live humbly for one" (Salinger 188) which he embraces as he matures throughout the story. Holden's views on childhood and adulthood change as he grows through experience. Throughout the story, Holden emphasizes his love for childhood innocence. In one passage he says: “The thing about children is that if they want to grab the golden ring, you have to let them do it and not say anything. » (Salinger 211) This immediately shows his affinity for innocence and not having the boundaries of being and being an adult. The controversy is that he likes innocence; Holden is not and acts far from innocent. His many problems and the resulting lack of help, as well as his many responsibilities, take away his innocence. He appreciates a child's lack of self-awareness, blindness to morality, and sexual innocence with such obsession that he fails to see his own lack of well-being....