life, of which no one should be exposed to. Loss of Innocence is the most reoccurring theme in Salinger's writing and is the premise of Catcher. Holden's dead brother, Allie, serves as the symbol of preserved innocence in that, Allie will never see or understand this hell, we call life (DiscAut 2). He is considered a "virgin to society" and the symbol of unblemished goodness (DiscAut 2). Phoebe, Holden's sister serves as Allie's living counterpart and Holden's salvation (DiscAut 2). She is the innocent child in Holden's life whom he tries desperately to preserve. Other characters such as; Ackley the tough guy, "He was exactly the kind of guy that wouldn't get out of your light when you asked him too" (Salinger 21); Stradlater the pig-headed snob, "The reason he fixed himself up to look so good was because he was madly in love with himself" (27); Marsalla, the brainless jock; and Headmaster Thurmer, the pompous schoolmaster all originated from Salinger's experiences at Valley Forge. There he met the ideal stereotypes that fulfill Catcher's examples of phonies(DiscAut 2) and Pencey's motto, "Since 1888, we have been molding boys into splendid, clear-thinking young men" (Salinger 2). Lastly, in the final moments of Catcher, Holden goes to visit his sister Phoebe at her elementary school. He sees vulgarities and other obscenities vandled upon the wall. There he realizes that he has no control over the world and that things do change despite his attempts to preserve them (DiscAut 2). He says, "It's hopeless, anyway. If you had a million years to do it in, you couldn't rub out even half the 'Fuck You' signs in the world. It's impossible" (202). Holde
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