Free Catcher in the Rye Essays: Symbols and Symbolism :: Catcher Rye Essays

Symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye J. D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye, publish in 1951, is his best piece of work. The story is about a sixteen-year old young man by the name of Holden Caulfield. Holden is being expelled from Pency Prep and decides to leave three days early. He chooses to not go home, enabling his parents to receive the letter that his head master at Pency Prep wrote to his parents about his expulsion. He chooses to hang most in New York until Wednesday, when he is going to be able to return home. Throughout the three days, Holden is having a difficult time finding out who he is. Throughout the novel, the reader is presented with many different symbols. The symbols are clearly seen by Holdens constant repetition of their importance. The symbols are so important and their symbolism is directly connect to the major themes of the novel. Allie, Holdens young brother who died several years earlier, was a major symbol throughout the story. When Holden remembers in cidents from his past involving Allie, his attitude changes, such as when he writes the patch about Allies baseball glove or when Holden broke his hand after punching all of the windows after Allie died. I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of it. (39) He feels that Allie was one of the few people who were not phony in a world full phase of the moon of phonies. More importantly, Allie represents the innocence and childhood that Holden strives to find throughout his three-day journey. In Holdens opinion, Allie represents the purity that Holden looks for in the world. Holden admits that he admires Allie more than he admires Jesus, and even prays to Allie at one point, kind of than Jesus. Allie is Holdens role model, whom he judges the rest of the world according to. When Allie dies, it creates turbulence in Holdens life. At several points during the course of the novel, Holden asks as to what happens to the duck s who are normally on a pond in Central ballpark, when winter comes and the water freezes. On page 60, Holden asks, You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South? That little lake? By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over?