J.D. Salinger wrote and released “The Catcher In The Rye” in July 16, 1951. The story is about a young boy who had many problems, especially the fear of change and growing up. Holden Caulfield is a 16 year old boy who has been expelled from school four times. Salinger uses symbolism to show Holden’s thoughts and feelings and to describe his personality too. Salinger does this because Holden is not mature enough to see these things for himself. Holden is going through a very hard time in the story. Also, Holden saying that he is depressed, reveals his feelings through his behavior and the things that are important to him. The three symbols that explain Holden’s feelings are: Holden’s red hunting hat, Allie’s baseball mitt, and the Ducks in the lagoon. These symbols represent Holden's fear of growing up and becoming a “phony” adult.
The Red Hunting Hat is mentioned many times …show more content…
He says, “I put on this hat that I’d bought in New York that morning. It was this red hunting hat, with one of those very, very long peaks” (Salinger, 17). He thinks the hat looks good on him. It makes him look different because it is not the type of hat that people wear in the city. This is true because Holden feels different from other people, the red hunting hat symbolizes this difference. The hat is worn for hunting, but Holden is wearing it for other reasons. Holden doesn’t want to be like other people, he thinks that most people are phonies and that they are not doing or saying what they are really feeling and that they are living their lives to fit in with other people and not doing what they really like. He usually wears the hat when he is by himself , it gives him comfort and reminds him that he is different. Holden doesn’t want
The Red Hunting Hat is mentioned many times …show more content…
He says, “I put on this hat that I’d bought in New York that morning. It was this red hunting hat, with one of those very, very long peaks” (Salinger, 17). He thinks the hat looks good on him. It makes him look different because it is not the type of hat that people wear in the city. This is true because Holden feels different from other people, the red hunting hat symbolizes this difference. The hat is worn for hunting, but Holden is wearing it for other reasons. Holden doesn’t want to be like other people, he thinks that most people are phonies and that they are not doing or saying what they are really feeling and that they are living their lives to fit in with other people and not doing what they really like. He usually wears the hat when he is by himself , it gives him comfort and reminds him that he is different. Holden doesn’t want