Themes in literary works are central, recurring ideas or messages that allow us to understand characters more deeply. It is a perception of life or human nature that is often shared with the reader. In The Catcher in the Rye, there are several themes that can be found in the words and actions of the narrator, Holden Caulfield. The dominant theme in this novel is the preservation of innocence, especially of children. We can see this throughout the novel, as Holden strives to preserve innocence in himself and others. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden's vision of life is the innocence of childhood or the cruelty of adulthood. He believes that the innocence of childhood is very precious and must be protected from the cruelty and falsehood of the adult world. Therefore Holden has the desire and is forced to protect the innocence of a child at all costs. This is revealed when Holden tells Phoebe that he wants to be the catcher in the rye. Holden tells Phoebe, "What I gotta do, I gotta catch everybody if they start falling off the cliff - I mean, if they're ru....