Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

Holden Caulfield, the main character of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, strives to protect children from the world, and maintain their innocence. Being on the verge of becoming an adult, Holden has lost his own innocence when he learned about the darker side of the world that children are normally shielded from. After realizing how much better the world seemed when he was little, Holden tries to preserve this outlook in younger …

…are not old enough to develop the character traits that Holden hates in adults. Holden fears that as children eventually grow and mature, the world will become worse and worse, and fewer people will remain "pure." The loss of his own innocence is eating at Holden, and causing him to get as depressed as he is. Protecting others from growing up is the only thing that Holden feels will make up for his own loss.