Symbols From Catcher In The Rye

Pencey Prep: Pencey Prep is a boarding school for boys located in Agerstown, Pennsylvania that Holden was attending at the beginning of the novel. It is the fourth school Holden has attended and is later the fourth school he is kicked out of because of his poor marks. Pencey Prep is where the reader is able to get their first glance of Holden’s lonesome character, strong opinion of phonies and the fact that he does not apply himself as he fails four out of five classes.

At Pencey Prep, the theme of “alienation as a form of self protection” arises as it becomes clear that Holden can not maintain a close relationship with anybody. Holden’s alienation and distance towards others is made clear after he agrees to write an English composition for his roommate, Stradlater. The composition is about a baseball glove that used to belong to his younger brother, Allie who died from leukemia when Holden was only thirteen.

After the death Holden never wanted to get close to another person so that he would never have to feel the pain of loosing someone he loved and cared about once again.

Lastly, at Pencey Prep, we are introduced to another important character, Jane Gallagher; an old friend of Holden that is going on a date with his “secret slob [and] Year Book handsome” (27) roommate, Stradlater. Before leaving Pencey Prep Holden is too afraid to go say hi to Jane in the lobby, in case she was not the innocent, perfect girl he grew to love in the past.

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Allie and his Glove: Allie Caulfield is Holden’s younger brother who died of leukemia while their family was in Maine on July 18, 1946.

Holden was only thirteen at the time of the death and has idealized Allie ever since, describing him as the the most intellectual, admirable and humorous person you could have ever met. From Allie’s death, the reader is able to witness first hand Holden’s “madman” characteristics. The night after the death Holden spent the night in their garage where he decided to smash all the windows, breaking his hand and earning him a night in the hospital. Claiming that he did it “just for the hell of it,” (39) although it is easy to see that he did it in a pit of rage over Allie’s death.

Holden was extremely close with Allie as he represented perfectly the pure, uncorrupted innocence of a child that Holden longed for himself. To Holden, it is unfathomable why such an innocent child such as Allie had to suffer and die and that is most likely the root of Holden’s problems and negativity towards phonies, growing up and losing innocence. Holden’s behavior and social skills underwent a detrimental change following the death as he was no longer capable of maintaining a close relationship with anybody in fear of suffering through another loss.

Allie represents the purity that Holden looks for in the world. Ducks in the Central Park Lagoon: Throughout the novel Holden continuously contemplates where the ducks from the Central Park lagoon go in the winter. They are a reoccurring thought for Holden and a major ambiguous symbol to the novel. Holden initially thinks about the ducks, wondering where they go when the lagoon freezes over in the winter while talking to Mr. Spencer after being kicked out of Pencey. At this moment the ducks become an immediate symbol of Holden’s anxiety and uncertainty regarding his next move after being kicked from Pencey.

Much like the ducks who are repeatedly kicked from their home at the lagoon, Holden was kicked from Pencey Prep and had no plan and no where to go. Not having a clear answer to his question, Holden continues to wonder what happens to the ducks in the winter time. Holden later asks cab driver what he thought happened to the ducks, but the cab driver disregards the question and explains that the fish have it harder as they freeze in the ice and “get frozen right in one position for the whole winter,” (82) and as for food, their nature is to soak up nutrients from seaweed in their pores, therefore nature takes care of them during the winter.

In this case the ducks are symbolic as they represent Holden as he is being forced to move; however, Holden would much rather be like the fish who get to stay where they are and have everything provided for them like children. This mirrors the common theme of the novel and Holden’s attitude towards growing up and wanting to stay an innocent child. Finally, Holden thinks about the ducks for the last time when he is drunk and decides to go look for the ducks at the lagoon. At this point, Holden is in his worst state; he is depressed, anxious and even contemplating suicide.

Seeing that they are truly not at the lagoon Holden realizes that he must migrate away from his childhood and fly into adulthood. Over all Holden wants to know where the ducks go because he wants to know where to go when times are tough and things do not belong. Phoebe: Phoebe Caulfield is Holden’s “roller-skate skinny” (67), red headed little sister. To Holden, Phoebe is more like a saint then a sister; describing her as the most beautiful, angelic, intelligent, mature and affectionate little girl you could ever meet.

Holden also explains that she is very funny and has a good sense of humor, is a great dancer, listens and always knows what you are talking about. Despite the fact that Holden admits to being “THE MOST terrific liar you ever saw in your life,” (16) there is no doubt that he is telling the truth about Phoebe as she is everything Holden said she would be. Phoebe is one of the few characters to truly understands Holden for who he is and the struggles he faces on a daily basis.

She unconditionally loves Holden and would do anything to help Holden such as giving him her Christmas money. In the end Phoebe is exactly the kind of person Holden has been “people hunting” for. He wanted to find someone to love and to love him back and was blindsided by the inevitability of growing up to see that what he was hunting for was right under his nose the whole time. http://www. sparknotes. com/lit/catcher/characters. html http://www. shmoop. com/catcher-in-the-rye/symbolism-imagery. html