Abstract: In Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, the protagonist Holden is deeply involved in the illusory dream of guarding children's innocence, eternity and world purity. He fantasizes that he is the catcher in the rye who tries to prevent children from falling into the adult world, but ignores the irreversible natural trend of children's growth. Under the combined effects of absurd and distorted external environment, resigned personality defects, ambiguous goals of struggle and lingering death complex, Holden gradually turns from rebellion to destruction.