Holden craves the innocence and simplicity of childhood, while at the same time doing a number of “adult” things such as trying to get a drink in a bar and meeting with a prostitute. Eventually, with the help of his younger sister, he comes to the realization that children cannot be protected forever from the imperfections of the adult world. This is not achieved, however, without Holden first driving himself to the brink of insanity.

霍尔顿渴望孩提时代的天真和单纯，同时他却又做着许多“大人”才做的事，譬如试图在酒吧里喝酒，还到过妓院。最后，在妹妹的帮助下，他终于明白了：孩子不可能总受到保护，而远离不完美的成人世界。然而，要不是霍尔顿先把自己推向疯狂的边缘，他也不可能会有这种认识。

(短文节选,本篇始于：《麦田守望者》)