Catcher In The Rye Symbolism Analysis

Furthermore, both Salinger and Shelley display an effective use of motifs which also assist in demonstrating the theme of innocence and corruption. The most recognized motif used by Salinger is without a doubt Holden’s red hunting hat. Salinger suggests that the hat is a symbol of Holden’s uniqueness and individuality. The hat is a bit strange, which shows Holden’s desire to be different from everyone else, thus isolating himself from others. It is worth noticing that the colour of the hat, red, is the same as that of Allie and Phoebe’s hair. Perhaps Holden associates his hat with the

Arguably, the novel’s most obvious symbol can be found in the title. Holden discusses and explains with Phoebe that he wants to be the “catcher in the rye”. He imagines himself wearing a giant baseball glove, ready to catch the kids as they ponder and fall off the cliff while playing in the rye. The children in the poem symbolize childhood. Furthermore, the field in the poem represents innocence, the action of falling from the cliff is the fall from innocence. Moreover, Holden symbolizes the protector of children, he protects them from losing their innocence and childhood. Furthermore, it also represents his desire to avoid the harsh reality of the adult life. Ironically, Holden mistakes the meaning and words of the song, much in the same way he mistakes the cause of his torment, it comes from himself, not from others. For example, "I thought it was 'If a body catch a body,'" I said. "Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around – nobody big, I mean – except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff – I mean if they're running and they don't look where

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is the story of sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield’s struggle to connect with people after losing his brother several years before. Holden’s brother’s death caused a barrier in the understanding and connection between Holden and the rest of the world. As a result, Holden feels both alone and in need of security despite being constantly surrounded by the bustling crowds of New York City. Salinger uses and develops the red hunting cap to represent how Holden protects himself in The Catcher in the Rye.

Before Holden’s date with Sally, he decides to walk to the Museum of National History to kill time. He starts to remember back when he had field trips to the museum when he was younger, and admired the fact that nothing ever changed in there. He appreciates how nothing changes and that everything is frozen. He can judge the figures without them judging back. Holden seems to admire the museum for not changing because he seems to hate it when people change and become phony. The museum is a place of great significance to Holden. It takes him back to a time where things were less corrupt and phony. Within his ever changing world the museum stands as one of the few places that help preserve his past. Moreover, it is a cornerstone of safety and security

Symbolism in “The Catcher in the Rye” Symbolism is the driving factor in almost all books and novels. Symbolism unfolds the mysteries of characters that the author wants the reader to try and find out. The author does not want to come out and say what the character is thinking so they use symbolism to hide it. We as readers have to uncover and interpret the symbolism to discover what the author truly wants to portray.

In “Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield’s red hunting hat a symbol. A symbol represents and idea, belief, image or object. This hat helps us see and witness Holden’s journey from childhood to adulthood. Holden Caulfield’s red hunting hat is a symbol that represents the struggle between isolation and human contact, protection, link to innocence and growth as his story unfolds. Though it is a bumpy ride, its a ride we will all take.

“Where has my heart gone An uneven trade for the real world Oh I... I want to go back to

A symbol within any novel is an object applied to represent something along the lines of an emotion, event or idea. One novel jam-packed with symbols is The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger. This novel is about a rich boy who, over the course of five days, wanders aimlessly around Manhattan after being expelled by his third boarding school. One of the most repeated symbols throughout the novel was lying. Every situation he gets into, Holden finds a way to lie about one thing or another, and it tends to be what his own name is, symbolizing that he does not know who he is and still trying to find himself.

Symbolism The Catcher in the Rye Famous Hollywood actor Johnny Depp once said “ As a teenager I was so insecure. I was the type of guy that never fitted in because he never dared to choose. I was convinced I had absolutely no talent at all. For nothing. And that thought took ambition too.”

Hunting Humans There are many ways for authors to develop characters in novels. J.D. Salinger uses symbolism as a significant way to develop the many character traits and feelings of Holden Caufield in his novel, “The Catcher in the Rye”. Many specific objects are used in the novel, but Holden’s red hunting hat, the “Catcher in the Rye”, and the ducks in Central Park hold the most significance for Holden. While out in the city of New York, Holden comes across a red hunting hat that he purchases for about a dollar.

world from a very unrealistic stance. His “catcher in the rye” fantasy highlights his gulf from reality, and indicates a simple, and naïve view of wanting to protect uncorrupted adolescence from being tainted. Phoebe exposes to Holden a living embodiment of childhood. And it is with her that he realizes such actions are irrational. Spiritually and physically, the “fall” is unable to be prevented (Baumbach 2003, p56). By trying to preserve and protect her, he is in fact preventing her inevitable maturation. Phoebe is the Greek word for “protector of children” (Bloom 2009, p185). Within the novel she is Holden’s protector, delivering safety from their mother and an ear for his contemplations. Reiff explains this reversal of roles between Holden and Phoebe as “Now, instead of saving the world by protecting the children, Holden wants to reject the world and shut himself off from evil by becoming a ‘deaf-mute’ in the West. It is Phoebe who rescues him from this total withdrawal” (Reiff 2008, p71). Holden is forced to view Phoebe not as a stagnant being, nor a forever protected, forever-innocent child, but as a human who will inevitable grow and progress. And it is with this newfound knowledge that Holden is able to accept the development and maturation naturally resulting from the growth of an adolescent to an adult.

The Catcher in the Rye is a narrative told by Holden who is a 17 year old troubled boy who believes that everyone in his life is a phoney. He views the world around him in such a negative way. Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger uses symbolism to create the overall themes of the novel. The symbols of the ducks, the catcher in the rye, and the museum aid to create the theme that an individual must shed their innocence in order to conform into society’s expectations. Holden holds on to all of his innocence which makes him such an outcast in the eyes of society.

Will’s Helmet makes frequent appearances throughout Michael Christie’s If I Fall, If I Die and is used to represent a safety blanket of sorts. Will’s Helmet can be likened to the infamous red hunting hat of J.D. Salinger’s character Holden of The Catcher in the Rye. In Salinger’s story, Holden’s hat is something he wears whenever he feels alone, scared, or any negative emotion. Even before Will explored Outside, it was something he wore all day every day. His mother had never explicitly made him put it on, it was just something he did, partially because she was less anxious when he did so, “Here was the thing about the Helmet: like not going Outside, she’d never exactly made him do it either. But, he found, the ethereal machinery

After being expelled for the fourth time, Holden Caulfield is fed up with life and how the school system treats him. He feels as though he doesn’t fit in with society and no one wants him. Holden Caulfield is a teenage boy who has many issues including fear of growing up and change. He has a thirst for individuality but just can not quite find a way to express himself. J.D. Salinger utilizes many symbols in The Catcher In The Rye to provide insight on what the protagonist is feeling or thinking. Holden is not mature enough in the beginning of his toughest three days to analyze these things for himself, and by Salinger incorporating symbols into the Holden’s adventure, it creates a better explanation of why he chooses to act a certain way. There are three main symbols that provide insight to Holden’s thoughts and emotions: his red hunting hat, Allie’s baseball mitt, and the ducks in the lagoon. But the most significant symbol in the book is the red hunting hat that Caulfield purchases. Caulfield buys a red hunting hat in New York one morning after a series of unfortunate events that he believed were of his fault. This hat becomes an essential part of Holden’s development throughout the story.

A baseball mitt, a museum, and ducks are obviously three completely different objects, but in The Catcher in the Rye from 1951 they all possess various similarities. Not only are they all cases of symbolism, but they all connect to the main character’s brother. Holden, the main character, perpetually dwells on the death of his brother Allie and these three symbols are representations of his feelings and his inability to mature. In the novel, J.D. Salinger uses symbolism to give us deeper insight into the reminiscent feelings and depression of Holden. The three symbols do more than just represent his emotions, though. They also act as mental obstacles for him, and together, they prove the fact that he still has not moved on from the death of his brother, he still wants to live in the past, and he has much to overcome.