How Does The Red Hunting Hat Symbolize Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger features a boy named Holden who gets kicked out a school. In the Catcher in the Rye Salinger uses many different objects to symbolize Holdens anguish and happiness. Most of the objects being symbolized, have a deep meaning to Holden. A meaning that goes back to his childhood.
One of the things that Salinger uses as a symbol in this book is a red hunting hat that Holden carries around with him all the time. Holden has had this hat since his childhood, and when he offers to give it to Phoebe it`s a big deal. “ Then I took my hunting hat out of my pocket and gave it to her” (Salinger 180) “ This is a big deal for Holden, because since he`s had this hat since he was a child, this obviously means a lot to him. So I believe that giving it to Phoebe shows that he wants her to hold on to her childhood. …show more content…
Holden had a child-like curiosity about where the ducks go. “Well, you know the ducks that swim around in it? In the springtime and all? Do you happen to know where they go in the wintertime, by any chance?.....”The ducks. Do you know by any chance? I mean does somebody come around in a truck or something and take them away?” ( Salinger 81+81) When Holden was younger he always wondered where they went, and when they were gone I believe he was sad, because Holden doesn't really like