Catcher In The Rye Symbolism

Nothing will add so much depth and meaning to a Novel like symbolism. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye uses a variety of symbols which help the find the purpose of Holden’s journey in the novel. A critical symbol that Salinger uses in Holden’s odyssey is the ducks at Central Park. However, since Salinger did not give a direct interpretation of the symbol critics and writer rose to interpret the symbol in their own way. Townbridge, Baer / Gesler, and Alsen all acknowledge that the ducks are significant symbols to the Novel, however their views differentiate. Trowbridge interprets many of the symbols in the novel differently from the other three authors. When it comes to the ducks he explains that they are not a connection to innocence, but

“The lagoon in Central Park is a puzzle for Holden and can be likened to a riddle: where do the ducks go if they can no longer stay on a frozen lagoon? The ducks symbolize innocence; their staying power near a frozen space represents his ability to remain as a child in a protected environment.” (Baer and Gesler 408). Throughout the novel children were a direct link to innocence, and Holden wishes to stay a child and avoid the prejudice of growing up. Salinger states many symbols for the children, Braer and Gesler believe the ducks are a meaningful example. The writers later elaborate that since the lagoon is frozen and the ducks leave only to come back in a complete cycle. This leads the authors to state that Holden wishes to be a duck in which he can always renew himself as a kid. This is what Holden really desires, to stay a child. “His innocence, at least reflected by the missing ducks, is nowhere to be found. Furthermore, the lagoon is not a protected space for innocence but is instead an ambivalent landscape, both frozen and unfrozen.” (Braer and Gesler 408). These two authors are like Townbridge because they also take in count the state of the lagoon and uses it as personification to state the innocence. However, Townbridge still sees the lagoon and the ducks as a single symbol. Moreover, Baer and Gesler determine the lagoon is a setting that

“Symbols that illustrate a more positive aspect of Holden’s character than the hunting hat are the ducks in Central Park… A view is that the mystery of the disappearance of the ducks can be likened to the mystery of the people’s disappearance into death.” (Alsen 63) Through a significant portion of the novel Allie, Holden’s deceased brother is brought up. Allie was one of the greatest people in society and is linked to the perfect innocent child which is what Holden is trying to achieve. This can link back to Townbridge’s idea that the ducks are children and that innocence is also found in Allie. So indeed both Townbridge and Alsen see the ducks as a symbol of good. It is goodness that is reflected upon Holden who is caring enough to wonder where the ducks disappear. Baer and Gesler also believe ducks are a symbolic characteristic for innocence. However, Alsen interprets it as a different kind of characteristic. “The most common sense interpretation is simply that Holden's concern for the well-being of the ducks illustrates an important character trait, his compassion for all living things.” (Alsen 64). This trait of compassion is lightened by the curiosity of the disappearance of the ducks, which is a similar curiosity to where Allie has