What Does The Red Hunting Cap Symbolize In Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher In The Rye by J.D Salinger utilizes symbolism to show how the main character Holden transforms into the character he is by the end of the book. The symbols in the book show Holden's fears, and how he grows into the person he is by the end of the book. The Catcher In The Rye book uses symbols to show Holden's greatest fear which is becoming an average person and live life like everybody in this society he hates so much. The symbolism shows how Holden grows a little bit by the end of the book, but he still is stuck in his ways.

One of the first symbols seen in the book is Holden’s red hunting cap. Holden's hunting cap shows how alienated Holden is, yet it protects him. It also it makes him feel unique and nonpareil. The hat is …show more content…
Holden thinks the short poem by Robert Burns is about innocence and he loves the thought of people being innocent, but in reality the poem is about sex and how casual it is. Holden's dream job is being a catcher in the rye until he realizes what the poem is really about. Also the thought of sex or anything that has to do with growing up really bothers him. The reason that he gets upset with anything that has to do with growing up is because he thinks every adult is a phoney and a follower shaped by society. He loves being with kids for diremption reasons. Number one being he wants to preserve their innocence because that's what he thinks adults have lost and that's one of the reason he hates adults. Reason number two is that children are innocent, kind, and don't know how to act fake.The quote shows how Holden misunderstood the poem and it infuriates him that the innocence is being taking away from the poem.”I'd like most to be a catcher in the rye and rescue children from falling off a cliff while playing in a rye field. in conclusion, the symbol that Holden strives to be ultimately fails, embarrassed and makes him rethink