Kevin Bliss, Charles Trafford, Kirsten Vesley 3rd period
Holden Caulfield
Symbol: Holden’s “people shooting hat”
“I took it off and looked at it. I sort of closed one eye, like I was taking aim at it. ‘This is a
people shooting hat,’ I said. ‘I shoot people in this hat’” (Salinger 22).
Represents his search for meaning and authenticity, his inability to deal with the pressures of
his life, and his hostility toward others he views as inauthentic.
Values/Desires
“I didn't answer [Ackley]. All I did was, I got up and went over and looked out the window. I
felt so lonesome, all of a sudden. I almost wished I was dead” (47).
Holden wants to connect with others, at the same time he is very judgmental of them, calling
them “phonies.” The tension between these two conflicting desires is what drives him to
wander throughout New York City without his parents’ knowledge.
Obstacle
“I also say ‘Boy!’ quite a lot. Partly because I have a lousy vocabulary and partly because I act
quite young for my age sometimes. I was sixteen then, and I'm seventeen now, and sometimes
I act like I'm about thirteen” (8).
Holden acknowledges that his own immaturity is a liability, and the reader can see that this
immaturity prevents him from being able to articulate what he wants from others. The irony
is he really values others’ ability to articulate their ideas, for example his brother D.B.’s short
stories.
Tactics
"Sunny," she said. "Let's go, hey."
"Don't you feel like talking for a while?" I asked her. I t was a childish thing to say, but I was
feeling so damn peculiar. "Are you in a very big hurry?" (95).
Holden’s attempt to engage the prostitute, Sunny, in conversation is only one example of his
tactic of engaging others in conversation to connect meaningfully with someone, anyone—
even a prostitute—no matter how out of place or odd others find it. Holden talks to the mother
of a fellow Pency student on the train (but gives her a false name), calls a perfect stranger,
Faith Cavendish, to get a date, asks an irritable cab driver where the ducks in Central Park go
during the winter, buys tourists from Seattle drinks, and so on. All of these illustrate
Holden’s engaging people in conversation but never achieving his desire to connect.