What Does The Hat Symbolize In Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a book about a highschool student, Holden Caulfield. Holden thinks most everything is fake. The people he goes to school with are fake, the people ice skating are fake, and the movies in the cinema are fake. The Catcher in the Rye has many different symbols that reveal Holden’s character. In The Catcher in the Rye Holden Caulfield is always talking about how fake everyone is or “phony.” Holden has this one hat that is referenced continuously in the book. Holden expresses, “The way I wore it, I swung the old peak way around the back, very corny, i'll admit, but I liked it that way. I looked good in it that way” (Salinger, 24). Holden likes this hat because of it’s uniqueness. To Holden everyone around him is phony, and the same. The hat, to him, is a symbol of uniqueness. Being different was very special to Holden. Near the end of the book Holden goes home to see his sister, before he sees his parents. Holden expresses a lot of care toward his sister Phoebe and when he leaves he gives her his hunting hat. Holden does this on page 233 of The Catcher in the Rye, ”Then I took my hunting hat out of my coat pocket and gave it to her. She likes those kinds of crazy hats.” Holden giving Phoebe his hat is giving her
In The Catcher in the Rye there are many moments where Holden thinks about his past. Holden talks about all of the girls he has met and all of the guys he has been roommates with that “weren't all that phony” is what Holden would say. One could say holden was lonely.Because of Holden's other personality traits he never admits he is lonely; although their are many times where this is shown. One of these times fall on page 79 of The Catcher in the Rye, “Well, take me to Edmont then,” I said. “Would you care to stop on the way and join me for a cocktail? on my i’m loaded.” Holden is so determined to find some companion to be around he asks the cab