Holden Caulfield's Red Hunting Hat Analysis
Holden Caulfield’s red hunting cap is a symbol for his individuality. Caulfield only wears his hat when he “d[oes]n't give a damn how [he] look[s]” and when he knows “[he] wouldn’t meet anybody that kn[ows] [him]” (88, 122). Caulfield is insecure about himself--this is demonstrated by his inability to connect well with others--and his “corny” hat is one of his insecurities (18). Despite how insecure he is about his individuality--and subsequently his hat--he still keeps it close by. Most of time, the hat is in Caulfield’s “pocket” (53). When Phoebe “put [the hunting hat] on [his] head,” she is telling Caulfield that she accepts him as an individual--quirky hat and all (212). The record that Caulfield buys for Phoebe, called “Little
Shirley Beans,” symbolizes innocence. After Caulfield buys the record, he says that “it made [him] so happy all of the sudden” (116). This is a dramatic change in his mood; moreover, Caulfield is only ever this happy when he talks about being “the catcher in the rye” (173). Later, however, Caulfield breaks the record “into about fifty pieces” after dropping it--a sort of literal and figurative fall (154). After the record shatters, Caulfield “damn near cried,” for he just destroyed some of his innocence, and some of Phoebe’s. Phoebe’s school notebook also represents youthfulness, innocence, and authenticity. Caulfield loves looking through Phoebe’s notebook, saying that it “killed [him]” to read that kind of stuff (160). Phoebe’s notebook is the opposite of what Caulfield spends the novel fighting against. Instead of being “phony,” it’s just an honest expression of what she is thinking, including how “she doesn’t like [her middle name]” (160). Towards the end of the novel, Caulfield begins to find graffiti all over the place that reads “fuck you” (201). This vandalism of places that Caulfield holds to be innocent--like Phoebe’s school and the museum--symbolizes widespread corruption. Even though he “rub[s] it out,” he still finds “another ‘fuck you’ on the wall” (210, 202). However, the second one is harder to remove because it was “scratched on, with a knife or something” (202). Although Caulfield knows that removing the corruption from this world is “impossible,” he still tries to preserve the innocence of others by erasing what he can. However, more just keeps showing up.
Shirley Beans,” symbolizes innocence. After Caulfield buys the record, he says that “it made [him] so happy all of the sudden” (116). This is a dramatic change in his mood; moreover, Caulfield is only ever this happy when he talks about being “the catcher in the rye” (173). Later, however, Caulfield breaks the record “into about fifty pieces” after dropping it--a sort of literal and figurative fall (154). After the record shatters, Caulfield “damn near cried,” for he just destroyed some of his innocence, and some of Phoebe’s. Phoebe’s school notebook also represents youthfulness, innocence, and authenticity. Caulfield loves looking through Phoebe’s notebook, saying that it “killed [him]” to read that kind of stuff (160). Phoebe’s notebook is the opposite of what Caulfield spends the novel fighting against. Instead of being “phony,” it’s just an honest expression of what she is thinking, including how “she doesn’t like [her middle name]” (160). Towards the end of the novel, Caulfield begins to find graffiti all over the place that reads “fuck you” (201). This vandalism of places that Caulfield holds to be innocent--like Phoebe’s school and the museum--symbolizes widespread corruption. Even though he “rub[s] it out,” he still finds “another ‘fuck you’ on the wall” (210, 202). However, the second one is harder to remove because it was “scratched on, with a knife or something” (202). Although Caulfield knows that removing the corruption from this world is “impossible,” he still tries to preserve the innocence of others by erasing what he can. However, more just keeps showing up.