Themes in literary works are recurring, unifying subjects or ideas, motifs that allow us to understand more deeply the characters and their world. In The Catcher in the Rye and stand by Me, the major themes reflect the values and motivations of the characters. As its title indicates, the dominating theme of The Catcher in the Rye is the protection of innocence, especially of children. For most of the book, Holden sees this as a primary virtue. It is very closely related to his struggle against growing up. Holden's enemy is the adult world and the cruelty and artificiality that it entails. The idea of innocence is also a recognized them in stand by me, as the main character struggles to overcome the devastating death of his brother as well as his fears and hopes of what the future beholds. The film is about the adventure of the journey, but more importantly it shows how Gordie and his friends cope with the difficulties of growing up in a small town with little hope for a successful future. In both of these works, themes illustrate the struggle of these two characters in their journeys of coming of age and defining their inner values and ultimately, who they are. The impressive development of these main characters can be seen through the examination of literary themes such as the death and mentors found in both the novel and film.
In the catcher and the rye and stand by me, the main character has to deal with the death of a beloved brother. Death represents a wound that cannot be healed fully, indicating a loss of innocence for both of these characters. Holden and gordie struggle to come to terms with the death of their brothers. Death is continually implied by the presence of Holden's younger brother's spirit, even though Allie has been dead for about three years. When Holden fears for his own existence, such as when he feels that he might disappear, he speaks to Allie. He is haunted by the