What Does The Red Hunting Hat Symbolize In Catcher In The Rye

In the best works of literature, authors use symbolism in order to expand their themes. Symbolism acts to provide a better, deeper interpretation of the work of literature for the readers. This invokes the reader to continue reading a novel. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye contains many aspects of symbolism that develops the themes of the childhood vs. adulthood and isolation vs. companionship. Salinger uses the symbols of Holden’s red hunting hat, the museum of natural history, and the ducks in the Central Park lagoon in his novel. Holden’s perpetual reiteration of the symbols reveals their importance. In The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger uses Holden’s hunting hat to symbolize his desire to be different from society to extend the

These quotes reveal Holden’s ambition to be unique, but also his self-consciousness about the hat. Thus, Holden’s red hunting hat mirrors his need for isolation in place of companionship. When Holden does not wear his hunting hat around people he knows, it shows this isolation: “I knew I wouldn’t meet anybody that knew me” (122). Even more, the red color of the hat is the same color as Allie and Phoebe’s hair. Holden may associate this with innocence and purity that he believes Allie and Phoebe represent, therefore him wearing the hat allows him to connect with them. Subsequently, when Holden gets into a fight with Phoebe, he realizes that she lost some of her childishness and innocence. In particular, “All she did was, she took off my red

Salinger contains the symbol of the ducks in the Central Park lagoon to embodies youth to develop the theme of innocence. “I was wondering if it would be frozen over when I got home, and if it was, where did all the ducks go” (13). To begin with, Holden’s pursuit of figuring out where the ducks go is pure and childish. His search for the ducks shows his curiosity of youth. Eventually, Holden comes across two cab drivers whom he repeatedly asks about the ducks. As a result, both men become frustrated with Holden’s foolish and childish question. Subsequently, a drunk Holden walks to the Central Park lagoon in exploration for the ducks. In that case, “What is was, it was partly frozen and partly not frozen” (154). This informs the reader that the pond is transitioning between states similar to Holden transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Although Holden wants his life to freeze in time and stay the same, the ducks reveal the need to adapt in order to survive. As a consequence of Allie’s death, Holden became afraid of the idea of change and loss. Furthermore, the ducks leaving for the winter and returning every spring proclaims that change isn’t always permanent, allowing Holden to gain a new perspective about life. The ducks in the Central Park lagoon represents youthfulness related to the theme of innocence in The Catcher in the