The Catcher in the Rye - The title

The title of this book was first mentioned when Holden hears a little kid singing "If a body catch a body coming through the Rye." Hearing that instantly made Holden just a little happier. He always gets happier from children but he also got happy hearing that. The lyrics the kid was singing are words from a poem written by Robert Burns. Later on in the story this poem is mentioned again. Holden is talking to Phoebe later on and they discuss the poem. Then later on Phoebe asks her brother what he would like to do when he grows up. Holden gave his sister a crazy answer. He says he would like to be the catcher in the rye. Cough, cough, the title of the book. What Holden meant is that the kids could be playing around in the rye just minding their own business. The kids should be able to have all the fun they want with out worry. If one of the kids got too close to the edge of a cliff they were playing on, Holden would be there to catch them. He can protect him. I think Holden likes the idea of this because Holden is constantly worrying throughout the book over silly small things. Holden doesn't want other people to feel like him and worry all the time. He wants the kids to be able to have fun and not have to worry whether they will fall or not. But, not only worrying about falling but worry about anything in general. Holden knows how awful it feels to be worried all the time. He wants to help people not feel that way. He wants to protect kids who still have their whole life ahead ahead of them. Holden wants the kids or anyone to have a happy worry free life. That is why he would want to be the catcher in the rye. So he could prevent pain of falling and prevent the kids from worrying if they would fall or not.