Symbolism of Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye is a book narrated by a 17 year old boy named Holden Caulfield who remains curious and naive throughout the story he tells. The story begins with Holden explaining how he was kicked out of a prep school and then takes us through his Christmas in New York while he waits until his parents have been notified of his expulsion. During the time he tries to keep himself busy in order to avoid his parents, he manages to experience many things for the first time and be able to act like he’s been through it all before. Holden is an immature boy who in trying to seem older tends to lean more towards phoniness, a quality he despises in others. Little things, such as his interest with the ducks in central park and the glass cases in the museum were not just put in to the story to fill pages, it has meaning behind it. Therefore, the symbolism in Catcher in the Rye adds to the plot and makes for a more interesting story.

Allie