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The title of the novel The Catcher In The Rye, by JD Salinger, has a
substantial connection to the story. This title greatly explains the main
character, Holden Caulfield, and his feelings towards life and human nature. In
society he has found enormous corruption, vulgarity, harm and havoc. He knows
that the children of the world are ruined by the corruption of adults around
them and, he states later in the novel, his new purpose in life will be to help
save the children from this vulgarity. Holden wants to be a "Catcher in the
Rye." We first hear the title of the novel being used in chapter 16, and in
chapter 22 we have the full explanation of this title. Human dignity is vital
to Holden's existence and the only way to guarantee this on a long term basis is
to assist children in maintaining their innocence from the dangers of adulthood.

In chapter 16 we have the first reference to the meaning of the novel's
title, The Catcher in the Rye. Holden hears a lit...