Girls

Throughout the novel Holden is always paying special attention to girls. He has one soft spot for Jane. When he arrives in NYC Holden tries to woo two older ladies at a bar. Later he calls Sally, an old acquaintance, and hires a prostitute by the name of Sunny. This interest in the opposite sex shows part of Holden's internal battle over innocence. While innocence is something he treasures he gives into desires that are not innocent. 


"When a girls looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she's late?"


"That's the thing about girls.  Every time they do something pretty, even if they're not much to look at, or even if they're sort of stupid, you fall half in love with them, and then you never know where the hell you are.  Girls.  Jesus Christ.  They can drive you crazy.  They really can."