The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger

SYMBOLS Symbols play an important role throughout many works of fiction This is the case with Catcher in the Rye and Holden Caulfield J.D. Salinger used symbols to represent and bring to life some of the characteristics that make up the story and Holden

Red Hunting Hat Ducks & Wildlife Mummies Ossenburger and Death The Museum Phoebe and the Carousel

Red Hunting Hat Holden mentions his red hat on an ongoing basis The hat hints that Holden has the same characteristics he judges in other people, for example he talks of Mr. Spencer getting a “big bang” out of his Navajo blanket and makes fun of this. In fact he is getting a ‘”big bang” out of his hat It symbolizes his desire to be different or stand out, to be an individual, yet he mostly wears it in private and takes it off when he sees someone he knows or is out in public Is this a lack of confidence or embarrassment?

Ducks and other Wildlife Holden equates the ducks disappearing with the death of his brother Allie He focuses more on the ducks going missing than their eventual return in the Spring

The Mummies Again a focus with things that revolve around death This time, however, the mummies seem to interest Holden because when they die that remain around and do not disappear like many things – Allie – do. They remain the same looking, and this can also refer to Holden’s desire to stay a child and not deal with the “phoniness” of the world of adults

Ossenburger and more Death Death is everywhere for Holden, and perhaps he is right The wing of Pencey Prep was paid for by old Ossenburger, he made his money from a chain of bargain funeral parlors.

The Museum For Holden the idea of the passage of time is depressing for him His own groth from childhood to an adult it very difficult In the musum at the Indian Room the displays always stay the same, Holden admires this and is envious Every time he visits they are the same and he is different

The you” Signs the Walls Holden does not want Phoebe to see the truth of the world that includes vulgarity and corruption Seeing this written at Phoebe’s school and at the Museum threaten further Holden’s relationship with the adult world he is trying to avoid It also confirms his understanding of sex and sexuality as dirty and degrading

Phoebe, the Carousel, and the gold ring Watching his sister Phoebe on the carousel finally makes Holden really happy Holden makes a few realization that perhaps the world is not as bad as he has come to believe and that growing up will be ok The gold ring on the carousel is important too, as it is something that kids on the ride reach for, Holden feels some may reach and fall but they need to be let to reach anyway so they can learn. Also, that you can’t always protect those younger and more innocent.