Catcher in the Rye: Symbolism

James Castle

-Another death in Holden's life

-He died of an unworthy cause which is Mr. Atomlinis quote to Holden "the mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one"

- To Holden it's the opposite, he thinks that because James was a weak guy but he stood up to the bullies making Holden think it was a worthy cause

The Carrousel

-When Phoebe gets on the carrousel, she is going in circles which shows Holden she won't grow up

-"If they fall off, they fall off, but it's bad if you say anything to them"

-This show how Holden is accepting that he cannot be a catcher in the rye because he can't protect everyone from phonies

- When he doesn't get on, it shows how Holden has accepted that he isn't a child

The Museum

Phoebes Notbook

-Things don't change there and Holden likes them not changing

-He mentions how he is troubled that he changes every time he goes back

-A wold he wishes he could live in, where he can be a catcher in the rye

-No phoniness, its 100% pure like Allies mitt and childhood

-The way Holden uses vocabulary like Phoebes shows his want to be a child

-Represents how this is Phoebes notebook, and this book is Holden's notebook

The Nuns

-Adults who aren't phony

-They are pure people which shows to Holden there is still good in the world

-Like the museums they do not change, Holden likes that

Uncompleted Phone Calls

The Catcher in the Rye

-His need to be with people (Allie died unexpectedly and he wants to be with everyone to protect them)

-He doesn't gain closure (he didn't with Allie)

-His lack of confidence, yet he's confident enough to buy drinks and hook up with prostitutes

-Holden's need to protect children and himself from phony people

-Shows when he punched Stradlatter to protect Jane

-Every time he erases a "Fuck You" so the children don't see it

-Also to erase it from the world because he thinks once things change they're permanent so when he erases it, it puts the innocence back in the child

Allie and his Baseball Glove

The Ducks

-The way Holden keeps the glove hidden and how its a reminder of Allie shows Holden's sensitivity

-He always talks to Allie to keep him in his life and because he was one of the most pure people Holden knew

-He uses Allie as a reminder to keep Phoebe pure and protect her

-The ducks show Hoden's youthful curiosity

-It represents his current situation at home (how neither of them have a home during the winter)

-In Holden's mind because Allie died, he thinks when things change, its permanent, but the ducks always come back for the spring

-The lake is partly frozen partly not frozen, This reembles Holden's transition between childhood and adulthood

The Red Hat

Holden's Name

-represents his uniqueness and desire to be different, no adult would wear such a ridiculous hat

-The hat is conveniently red which also happens to be the same color of allies and phoebes hair

-he wears the hat when he wants to feel close to them or child like

-The name Holden means "hold on to everything in him and the children"

-This reflects on his desire to protect the innocence of himself and other children

Holden's Snowball

-Represents Jane's innocence

-Holden wants Jane to keep her innocence (he likes her) and he gets very angry when Stradlater takes her out

- If Holden threw the ball, it would have shattered, much like Jane's innocence

Eustacia Vye

(Return of the Native)

-The book involves a lot of scandalous and sexy things

-This relates to Holden because he is very intrigued and scared by the world of sex

-Eustacia is bold and wants to live an adventurous life and shes also a misfit

- Holden can relate well to her because he is also an outsider and he wants to stay young and adventurous

Catcher in the Rye: Symbolism