Theory Of Holden Essay

Part one:

1. Holden’s Hunting cap: His hat is something that makes him stand out from the crowd and society. To Holden, wearing his hat says that he’s not going to be like all the rest of the phonies. It’s also something that he really likes and he constantly talks about it being different. On page 22 he refers to his hat as a “people shooting hat”, meaning he shoots people down when he wears it because he feels like he rising above everyone and standing out and living uniquely.

The carousel: I think the carousel represents how different both Phoebe and Holden live their lives. “I went over and sat down on this bench, and she went and got on the carousel…Then the carousel started, and I watched her go around and around” (page 211). Phoebe’s on this ride, enjoying life’s journey and everything it has to offer, not afraid to take the extra risk. While Holden on the other hand, is sitting back and spectating, cautiously observing everything, fearing that which life has to offer. He’s watching this ride Phoebe’s on, go around and around, and every time he sees her she’s wearing the same thing. This makes him extremely happy knowing that although she’s experiencing the different things in life and moving on, she still is going to stay the same.

The ducks: The ducks symbolize Holden. He’s at a point where he doesn’t know where to go. Like the ducks, his lake has frozen over and his time has come where he can’t stay in the same period for the rest of his life, he has to move on, yet he doesn’t know where to go or what to do. So he asks various people where the ducks in Manhattan go when the lake freezes over, in search of a response that might subconsciously answer his question in life.

2. World War II shook up people’s beliefs in their country and the way that they lived. So after WWII people are scrambling around trying to find their own...