Holden's Mitt Symbolism

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The Catcher 's Mitt In life human 's tend to hold special objects that symbolize, represent them or their progress in their journey. They feel the presence of someone in the object and therefore keep it as a form of connection. In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield a 16yr old teen is looking for guidance in his life, feeling alone and trying to find his true meaning and destiny. He has a lack of trust to adults because he believes that they are "phonies". Since he can 't look for guidance in adults he looks for it in his brothers Allie and D.B. and his sister Phoebe. Those are the only people who he really expresses his feelings and shares a special connection too. Allie 's mitt is a symbolizes more than …show more content…
Holden believes that the majority of the people are "phonies", and because of this lack of trust he has always decided to keep his feelings to himself. Just like Allie 's mitt, Holden 's feelings stay hidden most of the time making him seem like an older boy without many concerns, just living life for himself. When in reality he is lacking true friends which he can express his feelings to and trying to live life like Allie would. In a way he wants to live life for himself and Allie. Since Allie died young he feels the responsibility to live to what Allie 's expectation would have been and wants to feel his presence in himself. Holden carries the glove at all times with him, just like his feelings the only things is that he only takes them out when he feels a connection toward the other person who he is with. One of the only times that Holden brings his inner feelings and writes them on paper is when Stradlater, his roommate at Pencey Preparatory asks him to do a composition and write about something in a very descriptive way. He thinks about an object which could be described very deeply and realizes that Allie 's mitt is meant for this. He spends a good time talking about the different quotes that were written with green ink on the mitt. When Stradlater comes back, he shows him the paper and having no idea how personal it is so, he asks him what …show more content…
Holden holds this precious symbol very close to his feelings and heart because it represents so much to him. Holden will never be able to forget and live a life without thinking of Allie, and his mitt is a form of memorializing Allie. Whenever he feels lonely or sad he thinks about how great and intelligent Allie was and hopes that he will learn from him and be like him one day. Allie has influence Holden so much that not even Phoebe understands. When Phoebe asks Holden to tell him one thing he truly liked, he thinks really hard but comes to the easiest conclusion of Allie. Phoebe responds by saying, "Allie 's dead- You always say that!" (171) Holden interrupt her by saying," I know he 's dead! Don 't you think I know that? Just because somebody 's dead, you don 't just stop liking them, for God 's sake." This shows how much respect and honor Holden holds up to his little brother Allie. Holden was affected by Allie 's death so much that if anyone ever says anything bad about Allie he gets very sentimental and emotional. Having Allie 's mitt with him makes him feels more secure and gives him a physical connection and reminder of Allie his greatest

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