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Catcher In The Rye Gray Hair Analysis

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An important symbol in “The Catcher in the Rye” was the gray hair located one side of Holden’s head, acting as a physical symbol of Holden’s inevitable transition from an innocent child to a mature adult. Holden described himself as being “Six foot two and a half and... gray hair...the one side of my head-the right side-is filled with millions of gray hairs” (Page 9). His hair on one side being gray is a way of symbolizing how, although he acts like a child in many instances, he could also be an intelligent and knowledgeable person, and was transitioning into adulthood. His gray hair also was a characteristic that he could not control and had to learn to embrace, just like how he had to learn to embrace the way he would become an adult in the …show more content…

He would wear the hat during instances where he would be defiant, such as when he left Pencey Prep. He said that “I put my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it… then I yelled..”Sleep tight, ya morons!” “ (page 52). Holden was different from most other people, and he wore the hat to make him feel distinctive and unique, as he left Pencey Prep and yelled down the corridor. The hat gave him the boost of confidence because its unconventional looks fit with his unconventional actions. A major example of this is prevalent when Ackley mentions the hat to him. Ackley said, “Up home we wear a hat like that to shoot deer in, for chrissake.. that's a deer shooting hat.” Holden responded with “Like hell it is...This is a people shooting hat” (Page 22). Holden, by saying it is a ‘people shooting hat’, symbolizes how the hat protects him from others and separates him from others by ‘shooting them down’ and detaching himself from others. While staying in New York, Holden would wear that same red hunting cap in order to feel fearless. He states that “I took my red hunting hat out of my pocket and put it on - I didn’t even give a damn how it looked” (Page 88). The red hunting hat was a way of giving him pride when he would otherwise feel insecure. He

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1340 Words | 6 Pages

Holden’s red hunting hat is a symbol of Holden’s uniqueness and difference from the others in the book. It is also the same color as his sister Phoebe’s hair and his friend Allie’s hair which could help connect the important people in his life. Holden never wears the hat when he is around people he knows giving the reader insight that when he wears the hat he feels the need for his isolation. 8. Imagery-

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741 Words | 3 Pages

Salinger does a phenomenal job developing the red hunting hat into a symbol by emphasizing how important it was to Holden throughout the novel. When Holden is leaving the hotel, whilst walking out the door he grabs his coat from the hat check girl. He then proceeds to show her his hat. “I showed her my goddamn hunting hat and she liked it”(169).

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159 Words | 1 Pages

A baseball mitt from your dead brother isn 't something that you would usually carry around with you. It makes him feel better inside. As well, Holden’s red hunting hat is a representation of him and his qualities. The hat is its own and unlike everyone else. It symbolizes that holden is out of place, and that he is his own person.

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658 Words | 3 Pages

Since one of Holden’s few sources of comfort comes from an object, we can tell how alone he truly feels. Additionally, the symbol of the hunting hat Holden wears represents anger and isolation. At one point, Holden fights with Stradlater. After the fight, Holden remains beaten up, depressed, and all alone. He puts on his hunting hat, almost for comfort or companionship.

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1023 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout the book, Holden Caulfield occasionally feel lonely and depressed. He hates how people are trying to pretend someone they are not. Holden Caulfield wears his hunting hat while he was in one of the biggest city in the world, which is unique. Caulfield’s red hunting hat made Holden

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1140 Words | 5 Pages

In turn, Allie’s hair ingrained the color red as a representation of innocence in Holden’s mind because of the significant role Allie played in Holden’s life. This deep association of red with innocence is what leads to Holden’s original relationship with red. He views red as a means to protect his innocence, which he feared he was losing. This is seen one night when Holden is walking back from Ernie’s Club to his hotel in the freezing cold, and he decides to put on his red hunting hat. Holden “took (the red hunting hat) out of (his) pocket and put it on — (he) didn’t give a damn how (he) looked” (115), and soon became less cold.

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656 Words | 3 Pages

The novel “The Catcher in the Rye” was about the journey of a adolescent boy finding his way to adulthood. In the book Holden Caulfield was unsuccessful in finding his way to adulthood. Holden’s attitude in the novel throughout his journey was very immature. He also can't accept the fact that innocence can’t be forever protected. Lastly, Holden calls everyone a phony when in reality he is the real phony.

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1032 Words | 5 Pages

The Catcher in the Rye is a novel that was written by J. D. Salinger in 1951. It was first published by Little, Brown and Company and was originally written for adults, but became popular among teenagers for its teenage main character, who deals with problems a large number of adolescents face in their transition into adulthood. It is not a difficult book to read, especially considering it is only 234 pages. The story revolves around the protagonist, a 16 year old boy named Holden Caulfield, who recently flunked out of a prestigious preparatory school.

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1365 Words | 6 Pages

Some may see this scene as the bonding of two siblings, or mark it for the kindness Holden is shown after being treated so rottenly for most of the novel, but there is much more to it than that. Readers can assume that Holden’s ridiculous hat gives him some sense of confidence, like when he wears it to write the essay about Allie’s baseball glove (38-39) but he also seems somewhat embarrassed by it since he wore it when “[he] knew [he] wouldn’t meet anybody who knew [him]” (122). When Phoebe, who Holden feels like he needs to protect, places this hat on him, it is a way of showing that even though Holden is trying to protect and watch out for her, Phoebe is also protecting him. It is as if by this small gesture she is saying, “If this hat gives you confidence and some measure of integrity to face the adult world, wear it.” In a very subtle and quiet way, it is Salinger’s way of showing that Phoebe empathises with Holden, which is significant mostly because no one else has empathized with him in the entire

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435 Words | 2 Pages

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

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664 Words | 3 Pages

Alienation as Self-Protection in The Catcher in the Rye Throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye, there are many themes, motifs and symbols that emerge and develop along with Holden, the protagonist, and the plot. Though the most significant theme is alienation as means for self-protection. In many instances, Holden isolates and alienates himself from his peers and the world in order to protect his morals and his self-imposed superiority. The first evidence of this alienation occurs when Holden speaks to his history teacher, Mr. Spencer. While talking about Mr. Thurmer’s lecture, Holden begins to ponder the “right side”, stating “if you get on the other side, where there aren’t any hot-shots, then what’s the game about?”

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723 Words | 3 Pages

Chief Red Jacket states , “ He has taken his garment from before the sun, and caused it to shine with brightness upon us; our eyes are opened, that we see clearly; our ears are unstopped, that we have been able to hear distinctly the words that you have spoken; for all these favors we thank the Great Spirit, and him only. ” Chief Red Jacket uses imagery to show that they were grateful due to their beliefs and was not planning to change it. Chief Red Jacket states , “ Brother, our seats were once large, and yours were very small; you have now become a great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets; you have got our country, but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us. ” Chief Red Jacket uses imagery to show that the Whites forcefully try to change the Indians religion but failed due to the Indians faith. All in all , Chief Red Jacket speech purpose was to confirm the Indians decision on not converting to the force religion.

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715 Words | 3 Pages

Holden tries to prevent the inevitable, but one must move on with their life, and that is, contributed to the loss of innocence. His hat keeps him safe from the societal horrors that steal one's innocence. So when he has finally comes to grips with the fact that he must become older, and make grown up decisions, he gives his hat to Phoebe when, she takes it out of his pocket and offers it to him, since it was raining, but he says “You can wear it awhile” (Salinger 233), he does this because he wants to protect her now and stop running away from his

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1433 Words | 6 Pages

Though Holden believes the world around him is phony and wicked, and while he wants to be the catcher in the rye, catching those who will fall over cliff; Holden does not only want to save those children but he also wants to save himself. Holden displays his desire to be the catcher in the rye by expressing his wish to protect the kids from falling off the cliff. Throughout the novel, Holden often states that everything around him seems to be phony; however, there is one thing in which Holden believes is real, and that is the children he encounters in the novel. Quite often does Holden show his desire to protect children from the corrupted adulthood that he

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1305 Words | 6 Pages

When the hat is pulled to the front, he cannot “see a goddam thing” and says he’s “going blind” (21). The pain from Allie’s death pushes Holden to seclude himself from a world he sees as cold and ominous. More importantly, it prevents him from looking at his own mind and realizing Allie is the reason he is lonely. As if losing own brother wasn’t enough, Holden also loses the presence of his older brother D.B.. The conflict begins when he leaves Holden by moving to Hollywood, and Holden says D.B. will only “maybe” drive him home after his therapy ends (1).

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