Borrowed from monroegallery.com
The Carousel
When Phoebe, Holden’s sister, is riding a carousel, she reaches for a gold ring. Phoebe and the carousel represent youth and innocence, while the gold ring represents maturity and adulthood. This symbolizes youth reaching for maturity, and Holden is beginning to understand that adulthood is inevitable. When Holden says “The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to to let them do it. If they fall off, they fall off…”, he is admitting that growing up is necessary, and that youth cannot be protected forever. |
The Ducks in Central Park Lagoon
Holden notices that the ducks from the Central Park lagoon disappear every winter, and he is curious as to where they go. However, the ducks always survive and return. Holden is afraid of change and disappearance but the ducks symbolize to him that change isn’t permanent but periodic. The ducks also become a beacon or symbol of hope for Holden, proving that he too can survive his “winter”, or teenage years. |
The Museum of Natural History
Holden does not appreciate change, and rather enjoys things to be constant and unchanging. The Museum of Natural History is symbolic to Holden because the displays and the exhibits are always the same, and never-changing. The museum represents the type of world Holden wishes to live in, one where things are frozen in time and consistent. This symbolizes Holden’s desire to remain in his adolescence, and dreams of never having to adventure into the frightening prospect of adulthood. |
The Red Hunting Hat
Holden’s red hunting hat is a holds symbolic meaning to his uniqueness and distinctiveness. The hat looks a little ridiculous, but that symbolizes Holden’s yearning to be different. However, Holden is self-conscious about wearing that hat around people he knows. This shows his internal conflict of wanting to be different, but not be judged. The hat is also childish in a way, and not necessarily something an adult would regularly wear. This symbolizes Holden’s wish to remain in his childhood and never grow up. |
“The Catcher in the Rye”
When Phoebe, Holden’s sister, asks Holden what he wants to do with his life, Holden replies that he wants to be a “catcher in the rye”. Holden envisions a rye field atop a high cliff, with children running and playing. Holden wants to be the one to “catch” the children before they “fall” off the cliff, or enter adulthood. This symbolizes Holden’s ambition to save himself and other children from growing up and entering the “phony” adult world. Holden thinks of the phrase “catcher in the rye” after hearing the song “Comin Thro’ the Rye”, but misinterpreted the song as “Catcher in the Rye”. |
Metaphors and Symbolism- Alli Zarzar | |
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