The Preservation of Innocence
            
            
            
             Catcher in the Rye is one of the most interesting books that I've read this year. Although Holden's
            
             language is very vulgar, it makes the book more real and interesting. I didn't see it when first reading
            
             the book but Salinger uses his characters as symbols or his characters have a function as to what he
            
             feels. The three major characters that he mentions the most are Allie, his brother, Phoebe, his younger
            
             sister, and Jane Gallagher, a friend. These characters have a great function in the book, the function
            
             of innocence.
            
             The first character I would like to tell you about is Allie, Holden's brother. Holden adores Allie and
            
             is very distressed about the premature death. It is easy to say that Allie's death was the beginning of a
            
             downward spiral in Holden's life. According to Holden, Allie was one of the most lovable people ever.
            
             "You'd have liked him... He was terrifically intelligent...But it wasn't just that he was the most
            
             intelligent member in the family. He was also the nicest." As Holden gets more and more upset
            
             throughout his days in New York, Allie is a reoccurring thought. Holden seems to use Allie as a sort of
            
             medicine. Thinking of Allie both comforts him and upsets him. On his last day in New York, there is
            
             even a point when Holden walks on the street talking aloud to Allie. "Allie, don't let me
            
             disappear...Please, Allie. 'And when I'd reach the other side of the street without disappearing. I'd
            
             thank him." Holden feels guilty about some things with Allie. One particular instance that Holden
            
             dwells on is a summer day when Allie wanted to accompany Holden and a friend on the bike ride.
            
             "Allie heard us talking about it, and he wanted to go, and I wouldn't let him. I told him he was a
            
             child." Now Holden replays th...