Phone Booth Symbolism In Catcher In The Rye

Salinger uses symbolism to reveal that though loss will have a negative impact on one’s emotions, poor coping mechanisms will only lead to further problems. The phone calls and phone booth symbolize Holden’s wish for isolation and the reason behind his depression. When Holden arrives at Penn station, the first thing he does is go into “[a] phone booth” (77). Once Holden steps into the phone booth, he is disconnected and shut off from the rest of the world. His need for isolation from society is a symptom of his depression. Often times when people are depressed, they believe that nobody around them understands, so the victim of this mental condition thinks they cannot tell others about their suffering. This is exemplified when Holden tries to