Throughout the book, the theme of loneliness - abandonment is seen, as he pushes people away when in reality he is only pushing himself away. Holden’s loneliness is derived from his lack of self-protection towards society and how he manages to obtain it by taking his anger out on others.
J.D. Salinger conveys the theme of loneliness - abandonment using the technique of symbolism. This is seen when Holden uses his red hunting hat in the incorrect way, as it demonstrates his difference from society and how is “left-out” from it; “I put my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it”. Holden’s red hunting hat also symbolizes the companionship he wants since the color of the hat is the same color as Allie’s …show more content…
Holden is very isolated and in order to make himself stay detached from society and maintain a high level of self-protection, he lies and attempts to do things that make him feel secure from the rest of society. For example, when Holden was on his way to New York he had the opportunity to call his brother D.B, his little sister Phoebe, Jane Gallagher, and Sally Hayes. But despite his options, he prefers to be left alone, so he ends up calling no one; “The first thing I did when I got off at Penn Station, I went into this phone booth. I felt like giving a buzz. I left my bags right outside the booth so that I could watch them, but as soon as I was inside, I couldn’t think of anybody to call up.” Later in the book, as Holden is in his hotel in New York, he decides to give a buzz to people who he actually isn’t close to. This is a motif in relation to loneliness since he pushes the ones that love him the most away, so he doesn’t have to face his problems. “What I did do, I gave old Sally Hayes a buzz. She went to Mary A. Woodruff, and I knew she was home because I'd had this letter from her a couple of weeks ago.”; Even though he knows his family is home, he decides to call Sally, a girl who he is friends with but who is not even close to been his
J.D. Salinger conveys the theme of loneliness - abandonment using the technique of symbolism. This is seen when Holden uses his red hunting hat in the incorrect way, as it demonstrates his difference from society and how is “left-out” from it; “I put my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it”. Holden’s red hunting hat also symbolizes the companionship he wants since the color of the hat is the same color as Allie’s …show more content…
Holden is very isolated and in order to make himself stay detached from society and maintain a high level of self-protection, he lies and attempts to do things that make him feel secure from the rest of society. For example, when Holden was on his way to New York he had the opportunity to call his brother D.B, his little sister Phoebe, Jane Gallagher, and Sally Hayes. But despite his options, he prefers to be left alone, so he ends up calling no one; “The first thing I did when I got off at Penn Station, I went into this phone booth. I felt like giving a buzz. I left my bags right outside the booth so that I could watch them, but as soon as I was inside, I couldn’t think of anybody to call up.” Later in the book, as Holden is in his hotel in New York, he decides to give a buzz to people who he actually isn’t close to. This is a motif in relation to loneliness since he pushes the ones that love him the most away, so he doesn’t have to face his problems. “What I did do, I gave old Sally Hayes a buzz. She went to Mary A. Woodruff, and I knew she was home because I'd had this letter from her a couple of weeks ago.”; Even though he knows his family is home, he decides to call Sally, a girl who he is friends with but who is not even close to been his