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

theme of innocence and isolation. Holden Caulfield describes it as “This red hunting hat, with one of those very, very long peaks” and “The way I wore it, I swung the old peak way around to the back- very corny, I’ll admit, but I liked it that way” (18).

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

hunting hat- the one I gave her- and practically chucked it right in my face” (207). This symbolizes the loss of innocence in Phoebe and her change in attitude towards Holden. In fact, she uses a harsher demeanor when telling Holden to “shut up” and not wanting to be near him. However, “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 quote justifies the purity of Phoebe when she rides the carrousel. Holden’s red hunting hat exemplifies individualism associated with the themes of innocence and isolation in The Catcher in the Rye.
J.D. Salinger uses the Museum of Natural History to symbolize Holden’s fear of change in order to expand the ongoing theme of innocence and isolation. Holden “knows the whole museum routine like a book” (119), referring to him and Phoebe going there multiple times as kids. These memories of him and Phoebe reveal the innocence and childness of the novel. Therefore, Holden characterizes the museum as a place of childhood and innocence though you continue to grow older:
“The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move...Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you” (121).
The museum presents Holden with a wishful view of life being unchanged and frozen in time. He uses the word “you” instead of “me” at the end of the phrase as an attempt to separate himself from the inevitable transition from childhood to adulthood. Altogether, Holden yearns for life to be like his fantasy world of “Catcher in the Rye”, he desires things to be understandable and simple. When he arrives at the museum he says “When I got to the museum, all of the sudden I wouldn’t have gone inside for a million bucks” (122). This quote divulges in Holden’s emotions towards growing up. Unfortunately, Holden discovers another profanity word in this “nice and peaceful” (204) place of the museum. This reveals the loss of innocence in the museum and the consequences of staving of adulthood. Salinger’s use of the Museum of Natural History illustrates the fear of transformation correlating to the themes of innocence and isolation.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.

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

Rye.
Holden repeats the symbols in The Catcher in the Rye, which reveals their significance. The symbols in this novel include Holden’s red hunting hat, the Museum of Natural History, and the ducks in the Central Park lagoon. Salinger emphasizes symbolism in his novel to evolve the themes of childhood vs. adulthood and isolation vs. companionship. Symbolism contributes to an improved, rooted analysis of the novel for the readers.