The Symbolism of Allie Caulfield’s Glove
In J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield struggles to find a way to cope with his grief following the death of his younger brother, Allie. The emotional pain surrounding the loss of Holden’s brother makes it difficult for him to find closure. He lives in the past, where Allie continues to live, and struggles to focus on the future because of these deep emotional scars. The small left-handed fielder’s glove acts as Holden’s anchor to the past and the symbol of his lack of acceptance regarding the death.
At age thirteen, on July 18, 1946, Holden’s world stops spinning when Allie Caulfield died of leukemia. Stricken with grief, Holden does not accept the death of his brother, he clings to everything that was important to Allie and hopes to preserve it, as a way to preserve the memory of Allie. Holden keeps a firm grip on old objects and character patterns, staying the same age he was when Allie died. He says, “I was sixteen then, and I’m seventeen now, and sometimes I act like I’m about thirteen” (Salinger 11). After the day of Allie’s death, his glove becomes a powerful reminder to Holden of his brother and, it grows to …show more content…
Immediately following the death, Holden breaks his hand by punching all the windows in the garage because it is easier to deal with physical pain than emotional pain. Just as Holden carries the baseball glove with him, he carries the weight of his brother’s death. As one analyst wrote, “Holden’s mind goes back to the image of his dead brother which he carries him where ever he goes,” (Rosen 1). It is clear that Holden never received help with dealing with the loss of his brother. Holden never began the healing process after losing Allie; he still holds onto the past because he cannot handle the unforgiving implications of death. Holden’s emotional scars from the past dictate how he reacts to the
In J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield struggles to find a way to cope with his grief following the death of his younger brother, Allie. The emotional pain surrounding the loss of Holden’s brother makes it difficult for him to find closure. He lives in the past, where Allie continues to live, and struggles to focus on the future because of these deep emotional scars. The small left-handed fielder’s glove acts as Holden’s anchor to the past and the symbol of his lack of acceptance regarding the death.
At age thirteen, on July 18, 1946, Holden’s world stops spinning when Allie Caulfield died of leukemia. Stricken with grief, Holden does not accept the death of his brother, he clings to everything that was important to Allie and hopes to preserve it, as a way to preserve the memory of Allie. Holden keeps a firm grip on old objects and character patterns, staying the same age he was when Allie died. He says, “I was sixteen then, and I’m seventeen now, and sometimes I act like I’m about thirteen” (Salinger 11). After the day of Allie’s death, his glove becomes a powerful reminder to Holden of his brother and, it grows to …show more content…
Immediately following the death, Holden breaks his hand by punching all the windows in the garage because it is easier to deal with physical pain than emotional pain. Just as Holden carries the baseball glove with him, he carries the weight of his brother’s death. As one analyst wrote, “Holden’s mind goes back to the image of his dead brother which he carries him where ever he goes,” (Rosen 1). It is clear that Holden never received help with dealing with the loss of his brother. Holden never began the healing process after losing Allie; he still holds onto the past because he cannot handle the unforgiving implications of death. Holden’s emotional scars from the past dictate how he reacts to the