Symbolism In Holden Caulfield's Red Hunting Hat

Holden Caulfield’s red hunting hat is one of the most recognizable symbols in the history of American literature. Statistics show that around twenty percent of American teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood. This statistic has a strong connection with the novel. J.D. Salinger published The Catcher in the Rye on July of 1951. Caulfield owned a very special item, which was his red hunting hat. There are many different symbols behind Caulfield’s hunting hat. This novel is very enthralling because, the book only covers Holden Caulfield’s life in a span of about three days. The Catcher in the Rye begins when Holden Caulfield was expelled from his high school for the third time. Caulfield decided to leave early to New York

Caulfield mentioned for the first time about his red hunting hat, Caulfield said, “It was this red hunting hat, with one of those very, very long peaks” (17). He then continued to say, “It only cost me a buck. The way I wore it, I swung the old peak way around to the back-very corny, I’ll admit, but I liked it that way” (17-18). These sentences show that even though he is from an affluent family, he does not really care about the price or style of the hunting hat. He does not behave as any other rich phonies in Pencey would. Based on his judgement, Caulfield doesn’t judge something based on how it looks, or how he wants to be like everyone else. He wants to be unique and different. Caulfield also made a statement on how he said, “I took my red hunting hat out of my pocket and put it on-I didn’t give a damn on how I looked” (88). Holden shows that he does not care if he looks like a moron or a strange person, he wants to be the one and only Holden Caulfield in the entire universe. This phrase gave evidence that Caulfield’s red hunting hat represents his individuality. 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

He love his sister because she was not exposed from the ugliness of reality. Caulfield gave Phoebe his red hunting hat. Phoebe is the only person in the novel that is allowed to keep Caulfield’s hunting hat. Caulfield want his hunting hat to be wear by peoples who are not phonies including himself, and children. Caulfield wanted Phoebe to keep his red hunting hat because, he wants Phoebe to protect herself from the ugliness of real life. Caulfield does not really have a bright future. Although he mentioned in chapter twenty-two when he was talking to Phoebe, “you know what I’d like to be? I mean if I had my goddam choice?” (173). Then he continued to say, “you know that song ‘if a body catch a body comin’ through the rye’ I’d like-(173).” Holden Caulfield has a dream to be in a big rye field while little kids are playing, and he would save children from falling off the cliff. Caulfield wants to save and protect the innocence of little children from the hideousness of reality. Phoebe represent the innocence of little children, and Caulfield wanted her to keep his red hunting hat for her