Symbolism in J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye

I've noticed (out of the small portion of my classmates that have actually written a blog post as of now) that Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea is receiving a lot of attention--and rightfully so!  It's pretty chocked full of symbolism and imagery, and it's the perfect candidate for anything pertaining to an analysis of symbolism and imagery.  Obviously, it would be stupid of me to choose something else to write about, right?  Well, being the pretentious and attention-seeking teenager I am, I decided to choose The Catcher in the Rye instead.

First and foremost, I'll start off with the name of the main character, Holden Caulfield.  In my research of the novel, I acquired information on the actual term "caul".  A caul is actually a thin membrane that covers the head of a fetus during development.  Obviously, considering Holden's inability to truly let go of childhood and pursue into the world of adulthood, this part of his name could be considered his ignorance towards the world.  Not only that, but during Holden's escapade around New York City, he is completely unaware of the fact that he is suffering from a mental breakdown.  While on their date, Sally continuously tells Holden to quit yelling, while Holden is completely oblivious and responds believing that he is talking in a normal tone.

One of the most poignant pieces of symbolism in the novel is Holden's red hunting hat, however; but what is most interesting about it is that, while it has ear flaps and is meant specifically to warm one as they wear it, Holden only seems to wear it while safely alone.  Even while slowly making his way through the cold of winter, he thinks not to wear the hat as a necessary accessory, but only as an individual's distinction.  Ackley makes a comment towards Holden's hat earlier in the novel, stating that every hunter in his home town used to wear those as they shot animals.  Holden, in desperate retaliation, distinguishes from the rest by doing one thing: eliminating any kind of potential enemy to his individualism.

"This is a people shooting hat . . . I shoot people in this hat."

As the novel progresses, the reader learns that Holden wishes only to be the catcher in the rye; to save children from the fall into adulthood.  Thriving off the ignorance of childhood and knowing (or at least he thinks he does) first hand about the adult world, he idolizes the value of childhood.  Phoebe, his younger sister, is the largest flaw in his idealized view of the world.  She represents the perfect child, yet she knows the value of aging and growing.  Holden, in hopes that she will take his place as the catcher, gives Phoebe the hat.  Yet later on in the novel, Phoebe returns the hat to Holden and exhibits the perfect look into his romanticized version of the world.  Phoebe, as it turns out, seems to know what Holden needs.  Though she denied the offer of being the catcher, she allows Holden to save her one time; if only to have him truly happy at least once.

Another strong piece of symbolism in the novel is The Museum of Natural History.  Holden remarks of how odd and frightened he seems to feel any time he is in it.  He views the fact that, when anyone takes a visit to the museum, nothing at all has changed except for themselves.  Already known is Holden's ultimate fear of growing up, and so his being in the museum itself is a symbol for the undeniable truth that, no matter what, time will continue.  Holden is no exception.