Post by The Thought Police (admin) on Dec 10, 2016 9:02:04 GMT -5
The Ducks and the Duck Pond
This is used as a motif throughout the novel to chart Holden’s increasing anxiety about growing up. Initially he wonders where the ducks go in central park when the pond freezes over. He hopes that a man in a truck comes to take them. Just as the freezing pond shows the transition between Autumn and Winter, it comes to represent the transition between childhood and adulthood. Holden sees himself as one of the ducks, about to fly away to somewhere mysterious, unknown. He hopes that someone will look after the ducks, just as he hopes that there will be someone there for him. Holden looks for reassurance from various taxi drivers, which allows Salinger to further develop the motif. One taxi driver responds by saying Holden should not worry about the ducks and should look at what happens to the fish when the pond freezes. He tells Holden that the fish freeze with the pond and then unfreeze when the season changes. He advised ‘mother nature’d take care of them’. This should reassure Holden that the transition is painless and he would hardly notice it as it is perfectly natural. However, Holden ironically dismisses this as irrelevant.
The Red Hunting Hat
Early in the novel Holden buys a red hunting hat as it reminds him of his dead brother, Allie. His brother died of leukaemia and is the very likely cause of Holden’s anxieties about growing up as this childhood tragedy has scarred the young Holden and in a way has deprived him of that innocence that he now wishes to protect. By wearing the hunting hat, Holden feels the connection to his brother as it is the same colour as Allie’s hair. However, it also helps to isolate him from the rest of the world, like a protective disguise that he can pull further down over his head when he wants to feel protected. Salinger reinforces this when Holden calls his hat a ‘people shooting hat’, demonstrating his hostility towards others and his alienation from society. At the end of the novel, when Holden is considering running away, he gives his hat to his kid sister Phoebe in a last ditch effort to give her the protection that she doesn’t actually need.
Snowball
This is a minor symbol. Holden engages in the childish pastime of rolling up a snowball. However, he cannot bring himself to actually throw it at his target as the van looked too white and pure. Instead, he hung onto the snowball. This represents his desire to hang on to innocence, but also that he cannot engage in childish activities as he is no longer a child.
This is used as a motif throughout the novel to chart Holden’s increasing anxiety about growing up. Initially he wonders where the ducks go in central park when the pond freezes over. He hopes that a man in a truck comes to take them. Just as the freezing pond shows the transition between Autumn and Winter, it comes to represent the transition between childhood and adulthood. Holden sees himself as one of the ducks, about to fly away to somewhere mysterious, unknown. He hopes that someone will look after the ducks, just as he hopes that there will be someone there for him. Holden looks for reassurance from various taxi drivers, which allows Salinger to further develop the motif. One taxi driver responds by saying Holden should not worry about the ducks and should look at what happens to the fish when the pond freezes. He tells Holden that the fish freeze with the pond and then unfreeze when the season changes. He advised ‘mother nature’d take care of them’. This should reassure Holden that the transition is painless and he would hardly notice it as it is perfectly natural. However, Holden ironically dismisses this as irrelevant.
The Red Hunting Hat
Early in the novel Holden buys a red hunting hat as it reminds him of his dead brother, Allie. His brother died of leukaemia and is the very likely cause of Holden’s anxieties about growing up as this childhood tragedy has scarred the young Holden and in a way has deprived him of that innocence that he now wishes to protect. By wearing the hunting hat, Holden feels the connection to his brother as it is the same colour as Allie’s hair. However, it also helps to isolate him from the rest of the world, like a protective disguise that he can pull further down over his head when he wants to feel protected. Salinger reinforces this when Holden calls his hat a ‘people shooting hat’, demonstrating his hostility towards others and his alienation from society. At the end of the novel, when Holden is considering running away, he gives his hat to his kid sister Phoebe in a last ditch effort to give her the protection that she doesn’t actually need.
Snowball
This is a minor symbol. Holden engages in the childish pastime of rolling up a snowball. However, he cannot bring himself to actually throw it at his target as the van looked too white and pure. Instead, he hung onto the snowball. This represents his desire to hang on to innocence, but also that he cannot engage in childish activities as he is no longer a child.