The loss of innocence is a prevalent theme throughout Holden’s thoughts. He often associates the presence or loss of this innocence with age, memories, accomplishments, and change. Holden seems to associate aging as the loss of innocence, since with age comes change. When Holden reminisces of his childhood field trips to the Museum of Natural History, he makes an emphasis on the unchanging exhibits of the museum. He explains that it would make him depressed to visit the scene of his positive memories again because nothing would be the same about the experience. He would be older, with different emotions, no companions, and the disappointment of being expelled from yet another school. This would taint his memories of the environment he remembers positively, by including the loss of innocence he is experiencing at the moment.
Holden does not simply attach this theme to an area however. He displays a preference in age as well. When thinking of his sister Phoebe, Holden boasts about how bright and cute she is, and how promising of a future she has. He associates innocence with her due to her young age and potential for accomplishment. Holden regards his deceased brother Allie in a similar manner. He could never lose his innocence since he died at a young age. However, Holden considers his brother D.B. negatively. Since D.B. is graduated from college, and became a successful writer in Hollywood, Holden views him as having lost his innocence through “selling out” and becoming accomplished.
Holden does look back a lot at his past and remembers how easy it was when he was younger. I agree with your statements about Holden not wanting to go into the Museum because he had positive memories from his childhood there. I feel he is jealous of his kid sister since she is still young and she hasn’t made any mistakes like he has. Also I feel like he wants to go back in time and change everything he did wrong and hopefully his future would look a little bit brighter. With his attitude, it seems nothing can be fixed and whatever he does next is another mistake to him that makes him depressed and lonely. If he stop goofing around he could make himself a better life, but with him not wanting to go back to positive memories, it seems it is impossible for him to do that.
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