Catcher In The Rye Symbolism

Often times in literature objects hold significance that helps the reader deepen their understanding of the underlying themes that tie the piece together. In The Catcher in the Rye Salinger uses symbolism such as Holden’s hunting hat, the ducks in central park, and Allie’s baseball mitt all through the novel in order to display important themes like isolation, loss of innocence, and struggling through childhood. Salinger shows the reader about teens journey from childhood and adulthood and their difficulty communicating their feelings and needs.
One of the most substantial themes in the novel is Holden’s alienation from society and likewise has one of the most significant symbols; Holden’s red hunting hat. Holden’s hunting hat represents his

separation and isolation from society and when he turns it backwards it represents him going against social norms and not caring what others think. For example when Holden first introduces his hunting hat by saying “This is a people shooting hat, I shoot people in this hat.”(22) Holden is going against a social norm by talking about shooting people when he first shows off his new hat. When Holden starts his three day journey to stay in New York City he “put [his] red hunting hat on, and turn[ed] the peak around to the back, the way [he] liked it, and then [he] yelled at the top of [his] goddam voice, "Sleep tight, ya morons!"(52) Once Holden leaves Pencey Prep he stays alienated from his peers and when he goes he puts on his hunting hat and insults everyone else there and therefore pushing himself further and further away from being accepted in society. Finally we see Holden’s little sister take his hat and put it on his head for her and the rest of the world to see. "Then what she did--it damn near killed me--she reached in my coat pocket and took out my red hunting hat and put it on my head." (212) This symbolizes how Pheobe accepts Holden for who he is and how he acts and unlike the rest of the world wants him to embrace it. Holden’s hunting hat represents the side of him that goes pushes away from society and goes against its norms but also gives insight on who cares and accepts him.
Destruction of innocence is also another theme and one of Holden’s major conflicts with society. In turn when innocence is destroyed like when he sees “Fuck You” written on a wall it makes him furious. “While I was sitting down, I saw something that drove me crazy. Somebody’d written “Fuck You” on the wall.”(201) Holden gets angry when he sees someone could destroy a child’s innocence with just writing two words. He feels it’s his duty to save children's innocence but it is impossible and he hates how someone would just do it for laughs. Holden wants everything to stay the same and this is clearly seen when he reminisces about the National History Museum. “The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was.”(86) Holden wants children to stop losing their innocence and instead he wishes for them to stay the same forever like how the exhibits stay in the National History Museum. Holden struggles throughout the novel to deal with and preserve his innocence and the innocence of others.
Throughout the novel Holden goes from childhood through adulthood and this is shown through various symbols such as the ducks in central park, the shirley beans record, and Holden’s dream to catch children off a cliff.

A good example of the symbolism is when Holden drops his sister’s Shirley Beans record. “I dropped old Phoebe’s record. It broke into about fifty pieces.”(153) Shirley Beans is a childish song Holden likes but destroys it just like how Holden likes childhood but he destroys it with his actions. Another symbol of Holden’s escape from childhood to adulthood is the ducks in central park. “You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South? That little lake? By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over?”(60) The ducks have to change for winter just like Holden has to change for adulthood. He wonders where the ducks will go and where he will go when he grows up. Even when Holden tells his daydreams to his sister we can see the symbolism of Holden’s descent into adulthood. "Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around – nobody big, I mean – except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff – I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them.”(173) The cheerful field of rye filled with children symbolizes childhood and the bottom of the cliff represents adulthood. Holden tries to save kids from falling into adulthood. Holden is becoming an adult throughout the story yet instead of trying to save his childhood he tries to save everyone who hasn't already from going into

adulthood.
Salinger’s use of symbolism as a means of showing the audience important themes allows the reader to further their knowledge of Holden’s issues and conflicts. Salinger continuously uses symbols like the ducks at central park, and Holden’s red hunting hat throughout journey to symbolize his ongoing struggle to preserve innocence and un-alienate himself from the people around him. Ultimately the symbols in The Catcher in the Rye may be trying to suggest something about the teenage mind and it’s struggles to overcome societal norms and going into adulthood. Teenage years are a difficult time for for plenty of adolescents and Holden’s conflicts and hardships may shed some light on the hardships of teenagers.