The title of the novel "Catcher in the Rye", written by JD Salinger, has a great meaning behind itself. The title of this novel explains Holden Caulfield, the main character, and what he thought of life and of his surroundings. Holden is a person who judges his surroundings by what he sees. In doing so he found corruption, vulgarity, harm, and havoc. Holden believes that children in this world are ruined by corruption of mature citizens around them and believes that his new purpose in life is to help save the children from the crude world. To help save the children Holden wants to be a "Catcher in the Rye." The title of the novel is used very seldom in the piece of work. The first time we hear reference to the title is in Chapter 16, and then again and Chapter 22 fully explaining the title of the book, Catcher in the Rye. Holden's survival is based to the dignity of the human race and the only way to assure Holden's existence on a long term basis is the help children maintain their innocence from the danger of the maturing world around them.
             The first reference to the meaning of the novel's title, The Catcher in the Rye, is in Chapter 16 when Holden notices a little boy singing to himself. As this young child sings a verse to himself it makes Holden "not so depressed anymore" (Page 115). The verse the little boy was singing is as follows: "If a body catch a body coming through the rye." (Page 115)  Holden describes the little boy in tender caring terms "The kid was swell. He was walking in the street, instead of on the sidewalk, but right next to the curb. He was making out like he was walking a very straight line, the way kids do, and the whole time he kept singing and humming." (Page 115) Holden makes note that the child's parents pay no attention to him. This young boy lightens Holden's sprits because to Holden this child
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