Symbolism In Catcher In The Rye

There are four main symbols used in “the Catcher in the Rye”. The red hunting hat of Holden, the ducks in the Central Park lagoon, The Museum of Natural History , and one connected to the title of the book. The song Holden refers as “if a body catch a body comin’ through the rye”. Showing parts of his personality that he hadn 't shown before.

The first main symbol shown to be the duck in the Central Park Lagoon. Holden “live in New York, and I[he] was thinking about the lagoon in Central Park… I[he] was wondering … where did the ducks go. I[He] was wondering where the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over”(Salinger 16). Holden shows a curious side that he hadn 't shown before. He usually thinks negative, but this time showing a more childlike side of his personality. Symbolising he wants to encounter the mysteries of the world as any other child. The ducks in the lagoon represent the many other symbolism in the story. For starters Holden is afraid of change. He is afraid of someone vanishing. As he was affected when his brother

The third symbol was the song “If a body catch a body coming through the rye” that Holden mishears. At one point his sister Phoebe asked him what he would like to be. He said “You know that song ‘if a body catch a body comin’ through the rye’?I’d like… to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff… That 's all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all”(191). But Holden misheard, his sister corrects him by saying it 's ‘if a body meet a body coming through the rye’. Holden creates a complete opposite interpretation of the song of what it actually means. Holden wishes to catch the children before they lose their innocence and transfer into adulthood. Like he is doing. Interpreting the song to symbolise what he wants to do. When the song actually means of Holden wishes. Expressing if it 's wrong for two people have a romantic encounter with no plan to actually stay together in a serious