Holden Caulfield Symbolism In Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger is a heartfelt depiction of the challenges teenagers may face. From the stressfulness of school, the difficulty of making friends, to the hardships of understanding and adapting to adulthood. After failing out of four prep schools, and losing contact with loved ones, the main character, Holden Caulfield, is lost and confused. To better express the feelings of Holden, Salinger strategically places a variety of symbols throughout the novel. Most notably, Holden’s red hunting hat, Allie’s baseball glove, and the ducks in central park. Despite the significance of the baseball glove and the hunting hat, the ducks in Central Park have the most direct importance to Holden and hold the greatest symbolic meaning

of all the symbols in the novel.
The ducks are a second thought to many, but to Holden, the ducks have a special type of meaning. In an attempt to better find and stabilize himself, Holden acknowledges and looks to the ducks for help and understanding. Asking and thinking about where they are taken multiple times. Furthermore, he even contemplates how they are taken care of when the pond freezes over. Symbolically this means, Holden is really just asking what to do in tough times, and how to adapt and grow up. However, in a more literal meaning, this also simply demonstrates Holden’s caring mannerisms toward animals. Despite his kindness, Holden is still struggling with his life and is frightened about becoming an adult. He then is able to, obliviously, draw a parallel between himself and the ducks.
In order to properly develop the ducks’ as a symbol and express their relevance, Salinger has Holden ask about them twice and include them another two times.

The timing in which Salinger includes the ducks is interesting and clever. Moreover, Holden mentions them from the very beginning of the book clear until the end. As each time he discusses or thinks about them, he is progressing in his journey toward adulthood. Potentially the most important time is when Holden meets with Mr. Spencer about school and shares his thought with the readers, “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”(Salinger 16). This timing is especially important because it shows that Holden is actually thinking about his future despite his lack of effort and performance in school. He is attempting to figure out what to do and how to grow up. To help him further understand this he simplifies it and compares it to animals, which is something that kids typically have in interest in. It shows that he is trying to close the gap from childhood to adulthood, but he just does not know how to do it

successfully.
The ducks' symbolism is further developed when Holden shares his thoughts with his cab driver.

He asks,“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” (Salinger 67). The timing is important in this example because Holden has already begun his journey toward adulthood and is looking for advice. Also, Holden asks the question to an adult, which symbolizes he is trying to piece together evidence and construct a plan from an adult’s perspective and experience. Which is a smart thing to do since he is heading into adulthood and working on becoming self-sufficient. As well as the importance of the timing, the adult’s occupation can also have some importance. He asks the question to his cab driver, whom of which is generally not the smartest of people. This also highlights Holden’s lack of awareness and understanding of his surroundings. Rather than asking a question to a smart and successful adult, he asks his cab driver. Since Holden is blown off and scolded by the cab driver, this shows that most likely the cab driver is unable to provide Holden with the proper advice he is looking for. Similarly, with Holden’s question about ducks, and his journey to adulthood, the reader and Holden never find a true answer. However, much like the ducks’ struggle in the winter time, the seasons will eventually change and times will get better. This is seen at the

end of the book when Holden seems to take a step in the right direction. He says, “I felt so damn happy” (Salinger 233). Despite the rain, Holden is spending valuable time with Phoebe and seems to feel almost like a father figure to her.
J.D Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is a depressing depiction of what a teenager's journey to becoming an adult may look like. Even with Holden’s difficult times toward adulthood, the reader is left with a glimpse of optimism at the end. Although the ducks may not have directly led Holden to his apparent happiness at the end of the book, they definitely had an important, symbolic impact on his journey. As well as better helping him express his feelings and instability.