Holden's Obsession With The Future

The novel Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger effectively communicates Holden's obsession with the future and his anxiousness about moving on from a negative past. The symbolism of the ducks and the ice covering the pond inspires the question of how any living thing can return to a place or person after tragic events or harsh circumstances take place. Holden’s personal losses that he attributes to his hometown adds to his mental debate about why returning to something is important in the process of moving on. The constant back and forth between Holden’s boarding schools and New York City arises the conflict of whether continuity or change creates a better future that one can later learn from and reflect on.