Conformism In Catcher In The Rye

While Holden was in New York for a fencing competition, he purchased a red hunting hat and this hat has come up numerous times during important parts of the story. For example, when Holden was writing about Allie’s baseball mitt and after he left Pencey. Holden wears his hat as a way to show who he really is, even though he is not comfortable wearing it in public , “I put my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it,”(Salinger 68). Although Holden feels embarrassed when he wears his hat out in public it is a way for him to feel more confident in his own skin rather than being depressed all the time. The red hunting hat is a symbol shown again and again about who Holden really is as a person. It shows that he likes and enjoys doing unusual things, but at the same time is cautious about where he wears his favorite

Without the hat, he does not know what would become of him. The hat protects Holden from what he thinks is a horrible adult world. An example of this is when Holden got defensive after Ackley insulted his headwear saying “that’s a deer shooting hat”. Holden, while calm, said “I shoot people in this hat”(The Catcher in the Rye). While this was lighthearted in context, it could represent a deeper meaning that Holden treats people the same way he would a deer, with no remorse (Kestler, Justin). The way Holden gets defensive to Ackley’s insults and even brings it into a darker area shows that Holden thinks of this hat as a defense mechanism. He believes he is untouchable whenever he wears it; it almost becomes his alter ego (“Themes and Construction: The Catcher in the Rye.”). The way Holden acts towards this hat is comparable to the way a child would. Holden perceives the hat as the equivalent of a security blanket (“Themes and Construction: The Catcher in the Rye”). Holden never lets the hat leave his side because he would be lost without it. He always carries it with him no matter where he

To begin, when reading the novel one seems to come upon Holden‘s red hunting hat many times while reading. This hunting hat demonstrates Holden’s need for safety and comfort. He was deprived of it when he

Holden is really saying that when he wears the hat, he zones out on the world and focuses on himself, and his own problems, as if he had shot them, because they are dead to him at the moment. The red hunting hat symbolizes the search for the truth because Holden wants to be the “catcher”, hence the title of the book, and he wants to help

It is obvious that Holden uses the hat as a mark of individuality and independence. Holden’s new hunting hat is very important to him. Part of him seems to want to display his rebelliousness, but another part of him wants to fit in (or at least hide his mental instability. Although he mentions the freezing temperature, Holden does not wear the hat near the football game or at Spencer’s house; he waits for the privacy of his own room to put it on. His desire for independence is connected to his feeling of alienation, to the bitterness he has for the rest of the world.

Holden’s red hunting hat is his way of expressing that he is different from everyone else. In the beginning of the book, right after he met with Mr. Spencer, Holden

Holden first bought his red hunting hat in New York City before they left New York because he left the fencing gear on the subway. The hat is the same color as Allie and Phoebe’s hair color, so that might be a reason why he wears it; He wants to be a kid like Allie and Phoebe. One scene in the novel, before Holden yells down the hallway, he has his red hat turned backwards. This might mean that when he wants to show his true feelings to the world, he turns his his backwards as if he’s removing the protection it offers to show the world what they did to him.

First, because Holden’s hat is so unique looking, he uses it as a way to set himself apart from all the fake people in the world. Holden looks down upon people who conform to society’s expectations, so he wears his silly looking hat to make himself feel special. Second, Holden’s hat represents his desire to emulate his late brother Allie. Holden idolizes Allie because “he was the most intelligent member in the family. He was also the nicest” (43). Because Allie is dead, he would not be able to disappoint Holden or show himself to be a phony. Holden’s hat is childish which connects to Allie, because Allie dies of leukemia when he was young. The hat also physically represents Allie because Allie was a red-head and the hunting hat is read. Holden’s red hunting hat is used by Salinger to represent Holden’s desire to be different and his desire to connect with his. late brother,

Holden is afraid that one day Phoebe will grow up and become an adult, which caused him to take his "hunting hat out of [his] coat pocket and gave it to her". Holden wanted to pass on the hunting hat to Phoebe because he believed it could protect Phoebe in the same way it protected him from his problems. that he created throughout the novel. Holden gives the hunting hat to his sister Phoebe because he truly believes that the hunting hat will keep Phoebe's innocence pure. Towards the end of the book, Holden takes Phoebe to the zoo before he “leaves for good.” He took Phoebe to the carousel and it had begun to rain. Phoebe then had "reached into his coat pocket and took out his red hunting cap and put it on his]head.” Holden then stated that his hunting hat really gave him quite a lot of protection, in a way, but he got soaked anyway. Holden’s hat was never really used in a literal way. His hunting always had a figurative meaning, giving the hunting hat it’s true purpose. Holden had become extremely happy once Phoebe put the hunting hat on his head. But later, he realizes that the hat doesn't help protect him from the rain and realizes that nothing is going to protect him from adulthood forever. Holden then makes the decision to stay, for he has finally realized it was time to grow up. In the

The red hunting is seen as a symbol of protection towards Holden.’’I was sort of crying. I don’t know why. I put on my red hunting hat on and turned the peak around the back, the way I liked it, and then I yelled at the top my goddamn lungs,’’ is a quote from chapter seven and it shows how the hat protects him from the darkness and phonies of the real-life world. Holden feels as if the hat is a sort of armor and he becomes indomitable when he wears it. People today have a special item that makes them feel strong and invulnerable so that is how many people will feel a connection towards Holden.

Holden notices and buys the red hunting hat in New York after losing the fencing equipment for the Pencey Prep team. The first person to notice the hat is a boy named Ackley, after Holden came back to Pencey, "I left the goddam foils and stuff in the subway... Where the hellja get that hat?" Ackley said(Salinger, 27,29). It is an odd hat, and Holden likes to wear it backwards. Not only does it provide warmth while he is

At the beginning of The Catcher in the Rye, Holden uses his red hunting cap as a form of protection from those who cannot understand his often misconstrued thoughts and what he has been through. Right after

While Holden is trying his best not to conform to the system, Holden’s brother has worked the system of Hollywood to make as much money as possible. When Holden refers to the hat he never calls it a hat, or even hunting hat, he feels the desire to make sure everyone knows the hat is red. The red color of the hunting hat symbolizes his connection to his siblings. Holden loves the uniqueness of his sibling’s red hair. It specifically connects him with his diseased brother who “had very red hair,” (38) and his sister who has “sort of red hair,” (67).

Phoebe knows the importance of the hat to Holden. Phoebe also respects about how Holden wants the world to be. The red hunting hat reveals how Holden separates himself from others while wearing it. Holden is also embarrassed he said, “The way I wore it, I swung the old peak way around to the back—very corny, I'll admit, but I liked it that way. I looked good in it that way“ ( ).

he theme of perpetuating childhood innocence is very important to Holden Caulfield and the book. The significance of this theme is so great, it is manifested into Holden’s red hunting hat. The reason why the red hunting hat is linked to the book so much is because of its unusuality. Holden got the hat from a store in New York for a dollar, but he never goes hunting or anything of the sort. Its purpose is to remind him of innocence; Allie and Phoebe’s red hair or even as a blankie. In childhood, the blankie is used as a comfort thing-- it is something warm, familiar, and can protect against monsters. Holden’s reluctance to become an adult and his adversities force him into using the hunting hat as a way to cope.