The Catcher in the Rye: Symbolism Essay

The Catcher in the Rye Essay: Symbolism

Throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger obtain numerous symbols that persist in the book. The symbols I have chosen display Holden Caufields emotions, actions, and way of life. There are three symbols unparticular that are used most regularly in the novel. Ive selected Holdens red hunting hat, the Museum of Natural History, and the Ducks in Central Park Lagoon. All three of these symbols have great significance in this book.

In the novel Holden says I put my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it, and then I yelled at the top of my god dam voice, "Sleep tight, ya morons!" I'll bet I woke up every bastard on the whole floor. Then I got the hell out. Some stupid guy had thrown peanut shells all over the stairs, and I damn near broke my crazy neck. (Chapter 7, pg. 52) The red hunting hat is inseparable from the image of Holden Caufield, with good reason. Its a symbol of uniqueness and individuality as well. Holden also says in Chapter 16 I took my old hunting hat out of my pocket while I walked, and put it on. I knew I wouldnt meet anyone that knew me, and it was pretty damp out. The hat is eccentric and displays Holdens desires to be diverse from everyone else around him, yet at the same time Holden is very self-conscious about the red hunting hat. He always mentions when hes wearing it and he often doesnt wear it if he is going to be around people he associates with. Therefore, the point that the author is trying to make is that the presence of the hat, mirrors the major conflict of the book which is Holdens need for isolation versus his need for companionship. Another detail is that the hats color, red is the same color as Allies and Phoebes hair. Perhaps Holden interacts with it with the innocence and the purity he believes with these characters represents and wears it as a way to connect to them. Holden never comments on the hats significance other than to mention its unusual appearance.

In the book, Holden explains the symbol meaning of the museums displays. One detail he says is "The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobodyd move. . . . Nobodyd be different. The only thing that would be different would be you." (Chapter 16, page 121) Holden also mentions that he is troubled by the fact that he has changed every time he returns to them. The museum represents the world Holden wishes he could live in, a world where everything is simple, understandable, and indefinite. I think the point the author is trying to make is that Holden is terrified about the unpredictable challenges of the world. Hes trying to get across that Holden hates conflict, hes confused by Allies senseless death, and he fears interaction with other people.

Holdens curiosity about where the ducks go during winter shows a more genuine and youthful side to his character. I live in New York, and I was thinking about the lagoon in Central Park, down near Central Park South. I was wondering if it would be frozen over when I got home, and if it was, where did the ducks go? I was wondering where the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over. I wondered if some guy came in a truck and took them away to a zoo or something. Or if they just flew away. (Chapter 12, pg. 81) The Ducks in the pond are symbolic in many ways, they prove that some vanishings are only temporary. Holden, traumatized and aware of the fragility of the life by his brother Allies death, Holden is terrified by the idea of change and disappearances. The Ducks vanish every winter, but they return every spring. The point the authors trying to make is the pond itself becomes a minor metaphor for the world as Holden sees it, because it is partly frozen and partly not frozen. The pond is in transition between two states, just as Holden is in transition between childhood and adulthood.

In conclusion, there are countless symbols in The Catcher in the Rye. I personally thought the red hunting hat, The Museum of Natural History, and The Ducks in the Central Park Lagoon were the most significant and came up regularly in the novel. Each symbol has a different effect on Holden Caufields Life, emotions, and actions.