Symbols in The Catcher in the Rye - 967 Words

Symbols in The Catcher in the Rye In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger many symbols are used to show a deeper meaning for the people, objects and places Holden Caulfield comes in contact with during the story. Holden is often unable to connect to or make relationships with other people, and his encounters usually end with him alone and feeling insecure. Holden deals with these insecurities by looking for the phoniness in others. But his failures are something that he cannot truly run from, no matter how often he tries. Holden sees the innocence of childhood and dreams of protecting that innocence by being a catcher in the rye. But sooner or later Holden will realize that eventually children grow up. In The Catcher in the Rye†¦show more content†¦I saw it in the window of this sports store when we got out of the subway, just after I noticed I’d lost all the goddam foils† (17). Almost right after buying the hat and losing the foils Holden uses it to hide from his mistakes. Holden’s hunting hat makes him unique from others, making him, in a sense, separated from other people. He is also insecure about his hat and won’t really wear it around some people. Holden shows this when he says, â€Å"I took my old hunting hat out of my pocket while I walked, and put it on. I knew I wouldn’t meet anybody that knew me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (122). Holden likes being different, but he also desires to be like others. He enjoys trying to connect with other people, but every encounter seems to go poorly for him. The red hunting hat connects to the novel as a whole because it symbolizes Holden’s inner struggle for both companionship and isolation. In the Catcher in the Rye these symbols represent problems that Holden faces throughout the novel. Scarred by his brother’s death, Holden has always found comfort in the purity of children. Even Holden’s hunting hat is red, like the color of Phoebe and Allie’s hair. Holden has developed this image that children are innocent and pure, and he is disturbed by the fact that they cannot remain that way forever. When he saw the swear words on the school wall, he never thought of the possibility that one of the students could have written them there .Show MoreRelatedIn â€Å"Catcher in the Rye† by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield’s red hunting hat a symbol. A symbol600 Words   |  3 PagesIn â€Å"Catcher in the Rye† by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield’s red hunting hat a symbol. A symbol represents and idea, belief, image or object. This hat helps us see and witness Holden’s journey from childhood to adulthood. Holden Caulfieldâ€⠄¢s red hunting hat is a symbol that represents the struggle between isolation and human contact, protection, link to innocence and growth as his story unfolds. Though it is a bumpy ride, its a ride we will all take. Though Holden seems like he hates society,Read MoreSymbols And Images Of The Catcher Rye : What s The Holden s Head? 1758 Words   |  8 Pagesin The Catcher in the Rye: What’s in Holden’s Head? In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, many symbols and images relate to the main character, Holden. Many of these symbols represent how Holden sees the life around him and what kind of person is Holden Caulfield. Such symbols include the red hunting hat, the ducks in Lagoon Lake, the museum, broken glass, a carousel, catcher in the rye, cigarettes and smoking, Allie’s baseball mitt, and the Little Shirley Beans record. These symbols are essentialRead MoreF. Salinger s The Catcher s The Rye 1614 Words   |  7 Pagespsychopaths shelves, also the best novel read in class. The Catcher in the Rye is a novel commonly found on psychopaths’ shelves and no one has ever found out why. It is a remarkable novel that has been banned in the past but is also studied today in schools around the world. In Mr. Capilongo’s grade 9 AP English class, three novels were read following the theme of â€Å"The teen experience†: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, and The Chrysalids, by John Wyndham.Read MoreSymbolism In Catcher In The Rye712 Words   |  3 PagesCatcher in the Rye essay Essay question: Analyse how symbolism was used to develop the key ideas in the written text. In the novel â€Å"Catcher in the Rye†, author J.D Salinger uses symbolism to create and portray key idea to us as the readers. The key ideas he portrays are; Holden Caulfield is the guardian of youth and that Holden is a broken record that no one wants to listen to. Throughout the novel, author J.D Salinger often mentions a red hunting hat worn by Holden and the way in which HoldenRead More Comparing A Separate Peace and The Catcher in the Rye Essay example1500 Words   |  6 PagesComparing A Separate Peace and The Catcher in the Rye The coming of age novels, The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, and A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, both interpret the lives of adolescent boys journeying through their conflicts and inner confusion to reach the level of maturity. Salinger and Knowles both discern the literal ways a typical teenager grows up with the help of literary elements such as plot, setting, character development, conflicts, irony, symobolismRead MoreAnalysis Of Characters And Themes Of The Catcher Rye 1537 Words   |  7 Pages Analysis of Characters and Themes in The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger was born in 1919 to a wealthy Manhattan family. He grew up in the same social conditions as Holden Caulfield does in The Catcher in the Rye. The last thing Salinger cared about was being a successful student because he was very lazy, without care for his responsibilities and tasks. Salinger flunked out of many prep schools, and his parents sent him to a military academy named Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, where he graduatedRead MoreComparison and Contrast of a Separate Peace and Catcher in the Rye1515 Words   |  7 PagesComparison and Contrast Essay A Separate Peace and The Catcher in the Rye The coming of age novels, The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, and A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, both interpret the lives of adolescent boys journeying through their conflicts and inner confusion to reach the level of maturity. Salinger and Knowles both discern the literal ways a typical teenager grows up with the help of literary elements such as plot, setting, character development, conflictsRead MoreTheme Of Symbolism In Catcher In The Rye1080 Words   |  5 Pages10 Hour 2 6 December 2017 The Catcher in the Rye: Prompt 3 In the novel, Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger uses a variety of symbols to support the thematic idea that maturation and the loss of innocence are an inescapable rite of passage for all of humanity. Three significant symbols that signify the importance of alteration and losing one’s purity to become more suited to live in the real world are the ducks in the lagoon of Central Park, the â€Å"Catcher in the Rye†, and the carousel and the goldRead MoreUse of Symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye and The Great Gatsby820 Words   |  4 PagesUse Of Symbolism In The Catcher In The Rye and The Great Gatsby There are many writers like James Joyce, Patrick Kananach and Thomas Moore who use symbolism to convey and support indirect meaning in their writings. J.D. Salinger and F. Scott Fitzgerald both use symbolism in similar ways. In both The Catcher In The Rye and The Great Gatsby, the authors used symbolism to convey emotions and reality. In The Catcher In The Rye, J.D. Salinger uses Holdens red hunting cap, the exhibitsRead MoreJ.b. Salinger s The Catcher s The Rye 1319 Words   |  6 PagesJ.D. Salinger’s Use of Symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger is well known for his works. His most famous being The Catcher in the Rye. Two other of his famous works include Nine stories and Franny and Zooey. J.D Salinger is also well known for his sense of humor that he includes inside of his books. The Catcher in the Rye has become an essential work to be studied in academic literature and its course of study. This book entails many uses of symbolism throughout the