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Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Catch
Holden, from J.D. Salinger's novella, The Catcher in the Rye, is one of the most well-known characters of contemporary fiction. In the story, Holden wears a red hunting hat he gets.
Nearly our first image of him is him with this hat. This hat is a recurring motif throughout the entire novella - Holden mentions it many times.
Why did Salinger mention the hat so many times? It's because the red hunting hat is a symbol of Holden's uniqueness - a sign of him being different.
Holden's self-conscious of the hat. In turn, this shows Holden himself is self-conscious of how he acts around others - he is hypersensitive to his own uniqueness.
Red is a color which symbolizes anger, hate, antipathy.
Holden is obviously mad at the way the world is - he calls adults "phony." He detests society.
That hat on his head shows Holden's anger is inward, and covers him. Holden is sensitive to his emotions, his feelings, and lets them control him. He is subconcious of them. Conscious of them.
Being different is also painful for Holden - he does not feel he belongs in the world. He has recurrent thoughts of suicide - he wants to escape. He feels like he's suffering in the world, he thinks everyone is out to get him. He is paranoid. All these feelings at their core are anger and angst.
The hat shows he wears his jaded and wronged feelings on him wherever he goes. It shows they are a part of him - they are a part that makes him, him.
Red is a bold color - in comparison, Holden is a bold person. He stands out because he tries to be so different. The way he acts, how he talks, the choices he makes, they all come together, making him bold, daring.
Anyone who has read The Catcher in the Rye has this image of Holden - with the hat. It's ingrained. It is an image that won't soon be forgotten, just like Holden won't soon be forgotten.
That turned out pretty bad. Sorry.
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