An Analysis Of Holden's Red Hunting Hat

Mara Steeber

Ms. Johnson

Honors English

10 December 2014

Title yo

Holden’s red hunting hat is symbolic of his individuality, protection and innocence.

Holden’s outlandish hat expresses his individuality and uniqueness. The statement piece shows his desire to stand out and be different from everyone else. In such situations as when he is taking off from Pencey he 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 ‘Sleep tight, ya morons!’” (Salinger 59). The style is already ridiculous but he still manages make a statement with his comment. (commentary). At the same time, Holden is often self-conscious of wearing the hat itself. Though he claims to wear it purely to his liking, as

he was walking over to see the Museum of Natural History he states “I took my old hunting hat out of my pocket while I walked, and put it on. I knew I wouldn't meet anyone that knew me” (135). Within these two interpretations of the hat, we see Holdens ultimate conflict, his desire of individuality as well as isolation. He so badly wants to stand out in a crowd but his desire to go unnoticed adds to his overall personality. Another example of this “I took my red hunting hat out of my pocket and put it on--I didn't give a damn how I looked. I even put the earlaps down” (88). Holden even knows the earlaps look foolish, stating that at the time he didn't care and how he looked. Though in all actuality, if he didn't care about the appearance he would have worn it without question.
The red hunting hat is also represents protection.

In the beginning of the novel, Holden exclaims “I put on this red hunting hat that I had bought that morning [...] right after i lost the foils” (number here). Here he is telling us that same morning he proceeded to lose the whole fencing team’s equipment he happened to pick up the hunting hat at a local sports store just off the subway. This is no coincidence, the hat has to assume the position of comfort for holden after his failure. The novel takes place around Christmas time in New York City, so the weather conditions are undoubtedly cold. Holden has no sort of paternal guidance and help throughout his journey. The hat is an important protection aspect in getting him by the couple of frigid night he endures. In the same quote from above he states “it was freezing cold, and I took my red hunting hat out of my pocket and put it on--I didn't give a damn how I looked. I even put the earlaps down. I wished I knew who'd swiped my gloves at Pencey, because my hands were freezing” (88). This is only one of the many cases Holden uses the hat out of desperation to stay warm and even alive. At the end of The Catcher in the Rye Phoebe "reached into [Holden’s] coat pocket and took out [his] red hunting cap and put it on [his] head" (212). Holden then stated that his "hunting hat really gave [him] quite a lot of protection, in a way, but [he] got soaked anyway" (213). Holden became extremely happy once Phoebe puts the hunting hat on

his head. But later, he realizes that the hat doesn't help protect him from the rain and realizes that nothing is going to protect him from adulthood forever. In the same way, Holden realizes that he cannot stop children from growing up. This proves that although the red hunting cap is to protect the innocence of the young ones, the protection will eventually come off and won't work anymore, which makes Holden realized that he will have to face this problem one day.
Lastly, the red hunting hat symbolizes innocence. Holden has a sort of connection with the color red and how it relates to Phoebe and Allie. He mentions that both Phoebe and Allie have fiery red hair, making it no coincidence that the hat is also red. This could be one of the factors which caused Holden to become so attached to it. When he visits Phoebe he gives her the hat and says “she likes those crazy hats” (page number). At this point in the novel he realizes he has to move on and accepts that he can’t hold onto his childhood forever. Phoebe is the one who should enjoy the moments of her childhood while they still last.