Holden Caulfield Symbolism

Symbols and Symbolism in
“The Catcher in the Rye”

There are a few things that define one as an adult: maturity, responsibility, and integrity. Does Holden Caulfield have any of these? J.D. Salinger’s novel, “The Catcher in the Rye,” follows the life of Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old protagonist, who is on the road to becoming an adult and is trying to find all of the three terms above. Holden is living in a world with people that he classifies as morons or phonies. The self realization that he cannot save children from becoming morons or phonies is the key to becoming an adult in Holden’s case, yet there are still symbols that Holden encounters that slowly but surely matures him, makes him responsible and helps him obtain integrity.
He remarks about the Museum that he likes the glass cases that the museum officials place all of their exhibits in. He wishes he could place parts of his life in glass cases because they won't change. In the end, he decides not to go into the museum. He likes the museum because he used to go there in his younger years every Saturday with his teacher, Miss Aigletinger, a time that he remembers with happiness. Since the glass cases inside the museum don't allow anyone to change anything, it would be the one place for Holden to go if he wanted everything to be as it was during his childhood. However, he chooses to remain outside because he is afraid that there is a chance that the museum might have changed. Jane Gallagher changed since his childhood and Holden thought that was unbelievable, so if Jane could change, perhaps the museum could change, as well. Jane was a friend of Holden's. When they would play checkers, she would always keep all of her kings in the back row for some odd reason. Holden knows that if the museum does not remain the same, it could hurt him, so he makes a conscious decision not to enter, even if his reasons are