Holden's conflicts One of the greatest writers in American literature, JD Salinger, was familiar with a difficult childhood from experience. He was able to compare his experiences to those of Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of The Catcher in Rye. In this novel, Holden experiences conflicts that most young people are unfamiliar with. The conflicts in Holden Caulfield's life are caused by various forces and circumstances. One of the main conflicts in the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, is the recurring theme of innocence. Holden tries to resist maturing and wants to live his life as an innocent teenager, remaining the same, like the exhibits at the Natural History Museum. As he reflects on the corruption of innocence throughout the novel, he realizes that he cannot remain innocent forever. As he returns home to see his mentally untouched little sister Phoebe, she asks him what he wants to do with his life. Holden answers his question with a quote from a poem called “Comin' Thro' the Rye” by Robert Burns. This poem is about two children having sex in a field, but Holden believes that the poem is about children playing in a rye field. He relates this to what he wants to do in life by stating, “I'm on the edge of a crazy cliff. What I have to do is catch everyone who starts falling off the cliff, I mean, if they run and don't watch where they're going, I have to go out somewhere and catch them. That's all I would do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all that” (Salinger 173). Holden implies that if you fall off the cliff of childhood you become mature, but if Holden catches you, you remain innocent. Holden's views on innocence had a direct impact on how he viewed adults. The opinions I have... in the middle of the paper... it's hard to admit the nenity", Holden is able to openly tell the reader that he is alone and that he can't do anything about it (Olien). JD Salinger's experience with a difficult childhood was instrumental in the making of this novel. Without the knowledge of a difficult childhood, Salinger would not have been able to compare himself to Holden Caulfield was often involved in many issues that tended to bring him down and/or to make him angry. Whether he was flawed in innocence or authority, he was still able to change his way of thinking by the end of the story to create a classic American Bildungsroman. Works Cited Olien, Jessica “Loneliness can kill you . Don't let him." Slate magazine. NP, nd Web. February 27, 2014 Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 1951. Print.