Symbolism In The Catcher In The Rye By J. D. Salinger

When Holden remembers incidents from his past involving Allie, his attitude changes, such as when he writes the composition about Allie’s baseball glove or when Holden broke his hand after punching all of the windows after Allie died. He feels that Allie was one of the few people who were not phony in a world full of phonies. More importantly, Allie represents the innocence and childhood that Holden strives to find throughout his multi-day journey. In Holden’s opinion, Allie represents the purity that Holden looks for in the world. Holden admits that he admires Allie more than he admires Jesus, and even prays to Allie at one point, rather than Jesus.

Holden uses the hat as an excuse for being different while also trying to fit in. MohanAnderson3 In conclusion, Holden grows as a person through the many life experiences described in the novel. Through all these life experiences, the red hat is always with him. Ultimately, Holden realizes that even if it is not possible to remain a child forever, his red hunting hat can still help him in the transition to adulthood. Phoebe puts the red hat back on Holden at the end of novel since she wants to make it easier for him to forget about being a child with the help of the red hunting hat.

Even though I may not have much, but I know that it will be a great help. I am also not saying that we have to give them part of our items. All I’m saying is that we should help them out with any small portion that we can, because anything can help. And that way you can say that you help a person out. I think the point here is not say that you did it because you have to, nor because it will boost your ego and don’t bloviate, because that won’t suit you.

The only man to be inducted into seven different hall of fames. This book tells the story of Ted Williams through his eyes, the way he lived on and off the field. The author John Underwood does a good job in terms of letting the reader get a first person point of view when it comes to the life of this Boston Red Sox legend. The book first starts out with Ted Williams stating that, “I’m glad it’s over”, he then goes on to explain what he means by this. Williams says that he is so grateful for what baseball has done for him as a person but he was glad to be out of the game as a player.

Holden is very different when it comes to these expectations and he wants nothing to do with all this. He just wants to know how to deal with adulthood and no one is prepared to listen to him, other than children since they are real they listen to Holden and he can understand the kids. Kids are real to Holden so they will say what they think and not pretend. “Then the carousel started, and I watched her go round and round...All the kids tried to grap for the gold ring, and so was old Phoebe, and I was sort of afraid she's fall off the goddam horse, but I didn't say or do anything. The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything.

Themes and Symbols in The Catcher in the Rye The theme that the world has an outward appearance that seems fair and perfect but really they're as Holden put it "phonies." This is shown countless amount of times in his journey through New York and even before he left. The setting is in the 1950's; so I'm pretty sure that he didn't encounter any transvestites, lesbians, or anything that extreme of phoniest. Or on the other hand he could have liked them for being as Elmemson said a "none conformist." But I doubt it, he seemed to like kids more than anything.

Holden’s True Love Children: spirited, loveable, cute, and something that a society could not live without. But when ones life is so rotated around children like JD Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye character, Holden, one loses all conscious and can only find happiness when with children or thinking about them. Holden can only find genuine love in children, for they have not learned the dreadful prerequisite of life, “phonieness.” He hates the artificiality that adults eventually acquire because all his good memories remain in his youth and his life with young children his age. This characteristic of Holden is shown throughout the book, particularly with his love for Phoebe, his helping the innocent children who are unable to help themselves, and his love for Jane at their age of serenity and ignorance! Holden shows his love for Phoebe by continuously thinking about her and requiring for her company.

Holden states once on a museum trip that, “Certain things they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone. I know that’s impossible but its too bad anyway.” He loves the displays, because they never change, they are reliably permanent (Barlow). Salinger develops Holden into a teenage boy on the brink of adulthood who despises the thought of growing up. Holden’s psyche throughout the novel is similar to those who are struggling to find their place in the world.

Time after time, Holden mentions how “depressed” he feels, but this moment sheds light on this internal conflict in interesting ways. Because the innocent and joyful boy stands in stark contrast to the cars and dismissive parents, we realize that there is, indeed, something that brings Holden happiness. He sees himself in the young, and it reminds him of simpler times. That he realizes that naivety of the young boy and appreciates it also gives the reader a sense that he is mature, but his vision of what he wants to be when he is older complicates the matter. “Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all…what I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff…I know it’s crazy.” (Chapter 22).

I 'd say to him, "Allie, don 't let me disappear… And then when I 'd reach the other side of the street without disappearing, I 'd thank him. Holden perceives Allie as his protector or guardian. Since he died at the young age of 11 where his youth was intact, he is eternally innocent. Allie is Holden’s catcher in the rye, saving him from becoming like his older brother. The theme of unique individuality emerges because Holden looks up to his younger brother compared to the normal standards of looking up to an older sibling.