The Catcher in the Rye Group

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esperanzadc
esperanzadc
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What are some examples of symbolism in "Catcher in the Rye" and what makes them so effective?

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Posted by esperanzadc on Thursday September 25, 2008 at 4:14 PM and tagged with ducks, hunting hat, symbolism, the catcher in the rye, theme, title.

Answers:


  1. ms-mcgregor Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Symbolism is usually effective because it helps point to the theme. Catcher in the Rye is no different. The first piece of symbolism is found in the title which is taken from a poem by the Scottish writer, Robert Burns. The line in the poem is "If a body meet a body comin' through the rye..." Holden changes the line to "if a body catch a body, coming through the rye.. ." This is how Holden reveals his dream of being a catcher in the rye who will save children from adulthood and disillusionment. This points directly at idea that Holden does not want to grow up and it reinforces the theme of alienation and loneliness. Another important symbol is Holden's red hunting hat, which he puts on when he is insecure and is a symbol for his search for innocence, attention and love. In addition, the ducks are symbolic of homelessness. Like Holden, they are evicted by the cold as Holden is evicted by the coldness of his family. This again points to the theme of alienation and loneliness.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/catcher

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    Posted by ms-mcgregor on Thursday September 25, 2008 at 4:49 PM


  2. katemschultz Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    A couple of other great symbols point to the theme of the difficulty of growing up, or Holden's conflicting desire to want to grow up but not to want to grow up.

    Holden enjoys the Museum of Natural History. He makes his way through the park to see if Phoebe is there However, when he gets there, he doesn't go in because he's afraid something might have changed. He's not as accepting of the idea of change as he might like to think he is. It also makes his reflect on his changing nature--he muses that the museum wouldn't change, you'd change. The museum wouldn't be different, but he would be different. He also doesn't like the idea that Phoebe would be different each time she went there, in effect reflecting on her growing up. He doesn't want anyone he loves to grow up and become phony, as he feels all adults are.

    The carousel at the end of the novel is a symbol of stability as well. It goes around and around, never changing, never deviating and playing the same songs. However, it's important that Phoebe, who is still a child, goes on the ride, but Holden, who's trying to grow up and accept these changes, doesn't. He watches Phoebe try to grab the golden ring in the middle, and accepts that, just like he was able to, kids need to grow up and make their own mistakes and learn from them.

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    Posted by katemschultz on Thursday September 25, 2008 at 6:39 PM