Catcher Journal 1

In the first half of Catcher In the Rye by J.D. Salinger the theme of hunting in memories is very apparent in the character Holden Caulfield whom is narrating the story. Holden's favorite hunting cap which he bought in New York for a dollar seems to be a major part of the character's personality. A countless number of time he rambles on about how he likes it to look this way or that, and how much he loves the way it looks. He never directly says that in the past he had a hat like this or that he went hunting when he was young but there is a feeling he did. There is a blot of blocked memory on his parents and it could be assumed that he went hunting with his father. Therefore he never comments on hunting because he rarely comments on his parents.

His distaste might come from his parents as well as he feels a diconectedness from them. He seems to be upset with 99% of the world for being phonies because they are not as open as he is. I believe that he was not close to his parents resulting in a distasteful feeling of everyone who is not entirely open and attached to him.

Another sign of the hunting symbols is Holden's wondering of where do ducks go in the the winter. He seems fairly sure that they do not get frozen into the pond, even though he has a need to ask everyone. But if they do not get frozen, where do they go? Does anyone know? It seems peculiar that he was never taught that ducks fly south in the winter. Though, maybe if this block out of memories of his parents is true, his father may have told him, and Holden is holding that information back from himself.