Holden Caulfield Symbolism Analysis

The argument that throughout Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, Holden Caulfield is portrayed as an abused adolescent, who is trying to protect the virtue of innocence while he ironically needs saving himself.

Holden Caulfield’s story begins on a December Saturday at Pencey Prep School in Pennsylvania, where he 's just been given the ax for failing all his classes except English. As it turns out, getting the ax is a frequent theme in Holden 's past. Before he leaves the school Holden runs to his favorite teacher’s house to say goodbye to him. Back in the dorm, Holden goofs around with Robert Ackley, a pimply and annoying kid. We 're introduced to Holden 's red hunting hat, and we meet his roommate, Stradlater, who is getting ready for a date with Jane Gallagher, an old friend and sort-of romantic interest of Holden 's. Holden is not happy about this impending date, but agrees anyway to write an English composition for Stradlater.

Holden puts on his red hunting hat on when he is feeling vulnerable because the hat makes him feel as if he has security and confidence. The red hunting hat makes him feel as if he has the power and ability to be unique. He compulsively buys the red hunting hat after the fencing team verbally abuses him because he “lost all the goddam foils,” (Salinger 17).

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.

In the paradoxical personality of Holden we discover something much deeper. As Holden makes himself out to be tougher than what he actually is, Salinger introduces stubbornness. Holden’s true nature of gentleness and sensitivity offered throughout the book often brings bedlam into his life, though Salinger brings into

In 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. The red hunting hat represents Holden’s allure/endearment to unique qualities in objects and people, that normally go unnoticed by others. The hat also symbolizes Holden’s individuality and unwillingness to conform to society’s

Roughly three percent of the United States population, approximately 314,341,830 people, suffers from bipolar disorder. Holden Caulfield, from Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, has bipolar II disorder. This particular disorder is when an individual displays two extreme demeanors, yet not at persistent levels as shown in bipolar I disorders. This novel was written during an era that did not acknowledge mental illness very often; therefore Holden did not have the tools at his disposal to learn healthy coping mechanisms. Holden exhibits two polar opposites of depressive and hypomanic episodes, resulting in a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder.

In United States millions are diagnosed with a mental disorder ranging from minor to damaging effects on the human mind. During my meeting with Holden Caulfield his father has provided me information on his son. In addition, from my first meeting with Holden he sounded like a man who was unstable, like he said “When you’re feeling very depressed, you can’t even think” (Caulfield, 49). These direct words from Mr. Caulfield presents me with a feeling that Holden is feeling detachment from his life and feeling worthlessness. In addition, his family looks normal, which is odd to feel depressed aside from other problems with his life. Also, Holden’s father presented me with his past and said, he has been kicked out

Catcher in the Rye is the recounting of the weekend after the main character gets expelled for the umpteenth time from another uppity private school. The name of the main character, "Holden Caulfield," can be broken down in such a way that it reveals the character in question's tendency to hold onto and protect happier memories and childhood innocence from this big, unfair, scary game we call life, without realizing that he would be stunting the growth of those whom he is protecting.

Salinger draws Holden into the idea of becoming a catcher in the rye, "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 they're going..." Salinger utilizes the poem and Holden's idea of a "catcher in the rye" to symbolize Holden's desire to protect kids from entering adulthood. This aspiration mimics that of Salinger's, who wished to preserve his generation's innocence after witnessing their

It gives him confidence and comfort during times of distress. The hunting hat initially appears in chapter 3 when Holden was reminiscing in his room. Although, it isn’t until the later chapters of the novel that this object becomes vital to the plot. In chapter 20, it is seen that Holden was drunk, dismal, and alone as he said “I was crying and all. I don’t know why, but I was. I guess it was because I was feeling so damn depressed and lonesome” (Salinger 169). Later on, he strikes up a conversation with the hat-check girl and Holden shows her his hunting hat – which the girl likes. Subsequently, the girl makes Holden wear it. He then feels a little better after wearing it, saying “I didn’t feel too drunk anymore when I went outside” (169). In numerous chapters in the novel, Holden noticeably wears the red hunting hat in instances wherein he was depressed or lonesome. Consequently, after wearing it he would feel better about himself and have more confidence in his actions. This is because the red hunting hat represents Holden’s true self. If there is anything that would make someone feel better in times of distress, it would be their own true self. Of course, a person who is true to himself will not doubt his

Reveals about situation: By stating that his favorite part about the museum was its consistency, Holden reveals that he prospers best when he is in a familiar atmosphere. In more depth, Holden liked the museum so much simply because it was constant and he knew what to always expect. In relation to his current self, Holden still depends on that consistency for comfort and reliability. This is why Holden cannot succeed at all of his schools. His constant failure is partly due to his character flaws, but it could also be because he is not comfortable in the new situations and environments. When he constantly flunks out of school, transfers, and does not have a familiar face, he does not feel stable, which is why he continues to fail. There is a repeating cycle of unfamiliar situations that prohibit his success and achievements.

At the beginning of The Catcher in the Rye, the audience is able to see the reoccurring object the red hunting hat that Holden got in New York. J. D. Salinger gives the audience a clear understanding from the beginning of the novel that Holden despises the expectations of society and that he misses his deceased brother deeply with the symbolism of the red hunting hat. The color of the hunting hat is bright red, and Holden mentions many times throughout the story that his younger brother Allie, whom had died of leukemia, had bright red hair. Through Holden wearing this bright red hat, it is as if he is trying to mimic his deceased brother Allie, much like a child mimics their parents because they want to be like them. Therefore, the hat can

Holden Cualfields is the main character in the novel The Catcher in the Rye. When the novel begins Holden is sixteen years old, six feet two and a half inches tall with poor health due to his overuse of cigarettes. From him being angry, anxious and depressed one minute to being thoughtful and kind the next, you could draw the conclusion that Holden is a complex human being.

As Edward Morrow says, “To be persuasive we must be believable, to be believable we must be credible, to be credible we must be truthful.” This quote perfectly presents how a person has to be believable in order for people to trust and relate to him/her. This person is someone that has weaknesses, is not a stereotype, expresses his opinions, and has hopes, fears and disappointments. Usually, authors try to write about believable characters in their stories, allowing the readers to connect with them. Holden Claufield is a quintessence of this type of character, since he has the exact same qualities as a believable person. Holden confidently shares his opinions and goals. In Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, the protagonist, Holden Claufield,