Analysis Of Catcher In The Rye: Holden's Red Hunting Cap
J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is the story of seventeen-year-old Holden Caulfield’s struggle to connect with people after losing his brother several years before. Salinger uses the red hunting cap to represent how Holden protects himself in The Catcher in the Rye.
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 him and what he has been through. Right after his fight with Stradlater over the composition, Holden says, "I couldn't find my goddam hunting hat anywhere. Finally I found it. It was under the bed. I put it on, and turned the old peak around to the back, the way I like it, and then I went over and took a look at my stupid face in the mirror" (45). Though Holden is in New York City and constantly surrounded by the crowds of the bustling city, he still feels alone and in need of security. Holden feels alone and, in some sense, he is alone because no one he
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At the start of the novel, Holden uses his hunting cap to protect himself from both the phonies and pain. Holden then uses his cap as a way to distance himself from other people since he struggles to make connections as he feels that no one else is able to relate or understand him. After he goes back home and reconnects with Phoebe, Holden no longer feels a need for the hat to protect him. In the short time of just three days, Holden goes from isolating himself from others to reconnecting with Phoebe, which brings him a bit of joy. Throughout the many preparatory boarding schools Holden flunked out of, he has had no one be able to understand his thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Holden finally feels as though he no longer needs protection when he comes back home and reconnects with Phoebe, who despite being quite young when Allie died, is able to understand and respect what Holden says and how he
How Does Holden Present Depression In Catcher In The Rye
481 Words | 2 PagesHolden view his sister as genuine and honest, not a “phony” like almost everyone else. When he arrives back in New York, one of his first thoughts is that he would like to call and speak with her. In the end of the novel, when Holden is getting ready to start his new life he decides he cannot leave without saying goodbye. Phoebe is the only character in the book who he actually cares about and sees no flaws in. He holds onto Phoebe so much because unlike everyone else surrounded by him, she still has her
Symbolism In Holden Caulfield's Red Hunting Hat
1023 Words | 5 PagesHolden Caulfield’s red hunting hat is one of the most recognizable symbols in the history of American literature. Statistics show that around twenty percent of American teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood. This statistic has a strong connection with the novel. J.D. Salinger published The Catcher in the Rye on July of 1951. Caulfield owned a very special item, which was his red hunting hat.
Dialectical Journal For The Catcher In The Rye
1340 Words | 6 PagesHolden’s red hunting hat is a symbol of Holden’s uniqueness and difference from the others in the book. It is also the same color as his sister Phoebe’s hair and his friend Allie’s hair which could help connect the important people in his life. Holden never wears the hat when he is around people he knows giving the reader insight that when he wears the hat he feels the need for his isolation. 8. Imagery-
How Does Holden Caulfield Change Throughout The Novel
1024 Words | 5 PagesThis moment of recalling the moments he has with Allie, and looking back at what Allie was like was a heartfelt moment for Holden, and him choosing to write the essay about Allie’s mitt shows Holden’s connection and love for Allie and the relationship he had with him. Later on towards the end of the novel, we can see Holden frantically walking down the streets yet again, as he finds himself slowly losing touch of reality, and starting to do strange things. When this happens, Holden recognizes that his first instinct was to call for his brother to help him. Holden explains, “Then I started doing something else… I'd make believe I was
Catcher In The Rye Color Red Quotes
1140 Words | 5 PagesFalse Protection In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger uses the color red as a motif throughout the journey of a teenage boy named Holden Caulfield. Holden has flunked out of every high school he has attended, and following the news that he has been expelled from his current school, Pencey, he goes to New York City and lives recklessly in an attempt to have one last hurrah before the school alerts his parents. During his journey, he grapples with where his life is going and indulges in alcohol and prostitutes to divert his attention from his failures. At times Holden finds himself depressed at what his life has become, and he uses red objects like a hunting hat he bought to protect him from facing the reality of what he is going
Catcher In The Rye Rite Of Passage Analysis
1142 Words | 5 PagesPhoebe is a child and she is innocent. Holden wants to keep Phoebe innocent because his older brother prostituted himself to Hollywood, the place full of phonies. Holden does not want children to lose their innocence so soon, but he realizes that he cannot save them
Catcher In The Rye Red Hunting Hat Quotes
741 Words | 3 PagesBlaise Engle English 9 CP Period 6 Mrs. Gowanlock Tuesday, December 21 CITR Essay Throughout the majority of the Catcher in the Rye J.D Salinger employs several different symbols that define Holden's personality. One particular object that set him apart from everyone else was his red hunting hat. It is brought up on several different occasions in the book and is often described as an article that reminds him of his brother Allie and sister Phoebe. Salinger furthermore develops the red hunting hat into a symbol by referring to it several times as Holden's own form of uniqueness, aiding in the theme of “ protection of the innocence” and the resistance of maturity.
Catcher In The Rye Analysis
1035 Words | 5 PagesThe novel is set in 1950’s New York and although Holden is not specific about his current location, from the context we can glean that he is writing his story from a mental institution of some sort. The story is told as a flash-back as Holden recounts the days that follow his expulsion from “Prencey Prep”, the private school which he attends. After getting into a fight with his roommate, Stradlater, Holden decides to leave school several days earlier than he is expected back home for winter break, venturing into New York City. Holden spends a total of two days in the city and these days are spent for the most part wandering around the city and encountering strange places, people and situations.
Holden Caulfield Lies In Catcher In The Rye
1378 Words | 6 PagesThe only motivator that Holden has to continue living is his younger sister, Phoebe, who is extraordinarily intelligent for her age. After he gets kicked out of Pencey, Holden is lost in life. He speaks to many people, seeking advice and comfort, but they are not able to help him find a human connection. Holden’s depression increases throughout the novel, almost to the point of suicide. He criticizes many people and ideas, labeling them as ‘phony’.
Catcher In The Rye Loneliness Analysis
1305 Words | 6 PagesWhen the hat is pulled to the front, he cannot “see a goddam thing” and says he’s “going blind” (21). The pain from Allie’s death pushes Holden to seclude himself from a world he sees as cold and ominous. More importantly, it prevents him from looking at his own mind and realizing Allie is the reason he is lonely. As if losing own brother wasn’t enough, Holden also loses the presence of his older brother D.B.. The conflict begins when he leaves Holden by moving to Hollywood, and Holden says D.B. will only “maybe” drive him home after his therapy ends (1).
The Catcher In The Rye Analysis
1433 Words | 6 PagesUsually considered a controversial novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger can often express the feelings of being an outcast and the desire to find a meaning in the world. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the novel, though often complains of the phoniness of the world around him, has a way of creating a deeper meaning within the readers. While the truth may be that Salinger purposely set the story in such a way that the readers will be able to connect with Holden, not often do readers find it easy to do so. While Holden believes that everything around him are wicked and phony, there is part of him trying to protect the innocence of those not corrupted by such phoniness. Although Holden wants to protect and save the innocence of children, can he really do so if cannot protect himself and trust those around him.
Catcher In The Rye Holden's Journey Analysis
656 Words | 3 PagesThe novel “The Catcher in the Rye” was about the journey of a adolescent boy finding his way to adulthood. In the book Holden Caulfield was unsuccessful in finding his way to adulthood. Holden’s attitude in the novel throughout his journey was very immature. He also can't accept the fact that innocence can’t be forever protected. Lastly, Holden calls everyone a phony when in reality he is the real phony.
Red Hunting Hat Symbolism
435 Words | 2 PagesIn Catcher in the Rye author J.D. Salinger uses symbolism to emphasize the significance of Holden’s red hunting hat. Holden wears the red hunting hat to distinguish himself from everyone around. Holden bought the red hunting hat for one dollar in New York the same morning he lost the fencing equipment. The red hunting hat offers Holden protection from the outside world and it also of comforts him in real world situations. Obviously needing protection from the fencing team who ostracized him all the way back to Pencey.
Alienation And Self-Protection In Catcher In The Rye
664 Words | 3 PagesPart of the reason Holden does not call his sister, Phoebe, is due to his “parents being the ones that answered the phone” (77). Holden finds protection in avoiding talking to anybody, which results in isolation. This event contributes to plot development as after refusing to call anybody, Holden continues to make excuses for things he should be doing, but does not. With each of Holden’s excuses, new adventures arrive, thus thickening and developing the
Character Analysis: The Catcher In The Rye
720 Words | 3 PagesAllies reoccurring presence in Holden 's life causes him to obsess about the unknown future. Since Allie was on of the only people holden was able to relate to, his death took a
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