The three symbols in Catcher in the Rye are Holden's red hunting hat, little Shirley Bean and mummies. The red hunting hat represents Holden's unique personality and is a way in which he alienates himself from the society. "My hunting hat really gave me quite a lot of protection, in a way, but I got soaked anyway" (212,213) It really provides Holden a sense of security and comfort. “It was freezing cold, and I took my red hunting hat out of my pocket and put it on- I don't give a damn how I looked” (88). He is trying to get close to Allie who has red hairs, so that he can keep connections with Allie forever. The little Shirley Beans represents the Holden's childhood. Breaking the record can be seen as breaking his childhood innocence. The actually meaning of the song is about the sexuality which Holden thinks phony. Holden doesn't like actors and singings by anyone who is related to Hollywood where Holden thinks full of phoniness. The mummies also show the phoniness. The mummies represent the death and the preservation of life. Holden tells Mr. Spencer that he is not engaged in the ancient Egyptians but he really finds it interesting. "Well you should. It's very interesting. They wrapped their faces up in their cloths that were treated with some secret chemical...Even modern science" (203). The different ways he tells people about himself shows his phoniness. By mentioning the mummies, Holden also thinks about the death. Back to the symbol, red hunting hat, Holden feels so insecure because his brother, Allie's death brings him the sense of disappearing. "Every time I'd get to the end of a block I'd make believe I was talking to Allie [..] 'don't let me disappear. Please, Allie'. And then I'd reach the other side of the street without disappearing" (198). Allie's death has a deadly impact on Holden. He becomes do afraid of disappearing. That's the reason why Holden always wears his hunting hat because it gives him a sense of security. When he recalls Allie, we can see the innocence that is attached to him. Holden breaks the window is like breaking the innocence. Holden feels the inequality in the world. No matter how good a person is, you can not choose your fate. The red hunting represents Holden's inability to change. He imagines himself standing in the edge of the cliff protecting kids from falling off. “Anyways, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of Rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around-nobody big, I meant except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff...I have to catch everybody if they start to go over”(173). Holden wants to be the catcher in the rye so that he can save the innocent kids from falling into the phony adult world. Holden's hate of the adult world can also be shown by the symbol, little Shirley Bean. “I guess the first store I went into had a copy of Shirley bean.” “I could hardly wait to go to the park to see if old phoebe was around so I could give it to her.” Holden wants to give it to Phoebe as a gift. He thinks it could help save Phoebe's innocence as a little happy girl. Overall, these three symbols are used to represent Holden's personality and emphasize the themes that the author wants to express.
Retell:
Holden
sleeps on the bench in the station. He, once again, feels like disappearing
when he crosses the street. He calls Allie and begs him not to take him to the
other side. Holden decides to leave New York and starts a life without talking
to anybody. He writes a note to Phoebe to meet at the Museum. As he wanders
around the school, he finds the words "F*** you" on the wall and
becomes depressed. Holden tells two kids the position of the mummies where
he sees another "F*** you" on the wall. He speculates that people
will probably write the same words on his gravestone. Phoebe arrives with a
suitcase and begs to go with Holden. Phoebe gets angry and returns his hat when
Holden asks her to go back to school. Phoebe and Holden then go to the to the
zoo. After that, they go to the carousel where Holden watches Phoebe go around
and around, he feels so happy. Holden refuses to talk what happened after that
day. He goes home and is sent the rest home where he tells his story now. He
doesn't want to talk too much about his story because he is going to miss
everybody.
Relate:
I have some similar experiences as Holden has. Middle school students are quite mature compared to elementary school students. They seemed to know more about the dirty words. One day, my little brother came to my school to visit me. When he passed by the school gate, he saw some carvings with simple pictures on the gate. Then he asked me the meaning of them. I went there and had a look at them. Far beyond my imagination, the phony words " F*** you" are written clearly but in Chinese. The pictures were about two people having sex in a bed. All of a sudden, I was shocked and didn't even know how to explain to my little innocent brother. I kind of hated all the seniors at that moment. I understand why Holden is so depressed when he sees the dirty words on the wall of school. "If you had a million years to do it in, you couldn't rub out even half the 'Fuck you' signs in the world. It's impossible" (202). There are so many dirty words carved like this that will affect young kids when they them. The ugliness of the adult world is influencing young children's innocence.
Reflect:
Holden's mental breakdown reaches the climax. When Holden sees the dirty words on the wall of the school, he is so afraid of young children being affected by the ugliness and phoniness in adult world. Holden's feeling of loneliness grows deeply in his heart when he prays to Allie not let him disappear. His interacting with Phoebe reveals his alienation and inability dealing with the challenges in adult world. His view on the world is critical and cynical, which makes him want to leave. Holden shows the first sign that he is becoming mature when he cares about Phoebe's worries and decides to stay. Holden starts to across the boundary that he builds to protect himself from the world. He starts to concern about his family and is willing to love people around him. Phoebe plays an important role in Holden life by helping him regain his innocence. Holden doesn't want to discuss more about his story, but he seems to find the direction of his life and is willing to starts over. Holden's cynical voice continues, however, the changing of his personality is clearly viewed by us. The ending is quite ambiguous, but Holden's tone is no longer bitter when he says, "missing everybody".
Interesting Questions:
1: What does Holden feel when he sees Phoebe go around the carousel, and why?
Holden feels so happy at that moment because all he sees is a little kid trying to grab the gold ring without thinking anything. Grabbing the golding ring represents the innocence of kids. Holden thinks that he is participating in a childhood joy and innocence and that's what Holden is trying to get throughout the novel.
2: Why does Holden write "missing everybody" to end his novel?
It shows a significant turn in Holden's life. At this time, Holden no longer despises others but starts to love and miss everybody he has mentioned in the novel. Holden leaves a blank, but we can all see that Holden is not bitter anymore and he turns softer and mature as an adult.
Predict:
Holden starts to open his heart and try to communicate and love people around him. At the end of the novel, Holden writes "missing everybody", which means he in no longer critical about people like Stradlater, Mr. Spencer and Mr. Antolini, etc. He becomes mature and starts to live like an adult.
Media component:
Obviously, this picture shows the growth of a plant. I think it also represent Holden's growing throughout the chapters. We are appreciating that Holden finally steps into the adult world, like a plant seed finally grows up to become a plant. The dirty soil represents the cruel adult world that Holden has experienced. The roots have to be deep inside the soil to absorb the water and nutrients in order to grow. Holden's maturity comes from the his pain of growing up.
Retell:
Holden explains how he hates about the school, but Phoebe responses by blaming him of hating everything. When Holden answers that the only thing he likes is Allie, Phoebe reminds him angrily that Allie is dead. Holden imagines that he wants to be the catcher standing at the edge of the cliff and saving children from falling down. Holden calls Mr. Antolini, Holden's previous English teacher, for a meet. Holden goes back to the room and dances with Phoebe for a while. When their parents come back, Holden snuffs out the cigarette, jumps into a closet and hides until his mother leaves the room. Holden tells Phoebe his plan to move to the west alone. Phoebe loans him her Christmas money, and Holden gives Phoebe his hunting hat. Holden goes to Mr. Antolini's house where they just finish a party. Holden talks about his hates in Pencey and Mr. Antolini mentions his debate class with Holden. They argue the topic of Holden's fall in life may separate himself from the rest of the world. Holden thinks Mr. Antolini makes homosexual advance on him when he strokes Holden's head, so Holden leaves.
Relate:
After experiencing the loneliness and alienation from the rest of the world, Holden finds himself happier when talking to Phoebe. Even though I haven't experienced too much in adult's world, I still find that the little kids are always innocent and pure. As I gradually grow up, I start to meet many new things and issues that bring me worries and sadness. At this time, I find myself really love to talk to my little brother because he doesn't know anything. I talk to him in a childish tone so that I can pretend myself to be a child who doesn't need to worry about anything. Like the way Holden talks with Phoebe, "She always listens when you tell her something. She really does" (167). Young kids are innocent and you don't need to worry about what they will criticize on you when you tell them something. You always have a good impression in their hearts. Young kids have not experienced the pain of growing up, so their minds are full of purity. Therefor, having a little brother could be a fortune for me because he always raises my kindness and innocence hidden deeply inside my heart.
Reflect:
The conversation between Holden and Pheobe was pretty pure, unlike the way he talks to others, Holden loves talking to Pheobe and he never lies to her. In these chapters, Holden's personality becomes to change. He expresses his inner feeling directly to the readers by telling Pheobe that he wants to be the catcher so that he can save little kids from falling off the cliff. Holden begins to see the pain of growing up, so he wants to protect the innocent kids from the cruel adulthood, which also corresponds to the title of the book. His talking with Mr. Antolini make him think more about the problem that if he can handle the environment. The homosexual advance that Mr. Antolini makes on Holden has a deep impact on his thoughts in sexuality. We can see that Holden realizes his mental problem, but we are not sure if he wants to move forward or not. The language keeps sharp, but the tone becomes bitter rather than cynical. The theme is that Holden begins to see the painful loneliness and alienation that he creates for himself and starts to thinking about them.
Interesting Questions:
1: Why does Holden call his teacher Mr. Antolini while refer Mr. Spencer as "Old Spencer"?
Holden respects Mr. Antolini's intelligence and his former thoughts. However he dislikes old Spencer's poor heath condition and his boring lectures. By comparing the two teacher's styles, Holden is definitely attracted by Mr. Anotolini's former minds.
2: If Holden meets an attractive women in the field, what do you think Holden will do?
Holden probably likes her very much, but he wouldn't have any sex with her. In Holden's opinion, having sex with her without even telling the rest of the world is still not appropriate. In Holden's deep heart, he thinks it is wrong to have sex with that girl.
Predict:
Holden will become a bit mature in later chapters because he already sees the cruelty of the adult world and wants to protect children from falling off the adulthood. Holden starts to think about his transitions from a child to an adult. Even though he hasn't show where he wants to approach, but he is definitely becoming a bit mature.
Media Component:
This picture shows what Holden wants to do in these chapters. He stands in the edge of the cliff saving children from falling off to the place where he refers as "adult world". Obviously, Holden wants to protect the innocence of the children, which also reflects that he wants to find his innocence back to save his personality and current situation.
