Catcher in the Rye ducks in the pond Symbolism Essay Essay

In The Catcher in the rye whiskey J.D Salinger intakes Holdens recurring mentions of the ducks in rudimentary park to reveal the child wish crotchet and genuine side of meat to Holdens regularly blunt and overwhelmingly cynical character. During his starting signal of several taxi rides in the city, Holden, fazed by the thought of perpetual form yet intrigued by the thought of how others dole out with change begins to ask his cab driver the whereabouts of the ducks in Central jet when the lake freezes over. therefore I thought of something, exclusively of a sudden. Hey, listen, I said. You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South?That little lake? By any hazard, do you evanesce to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? Do you happen to know, by any chance? I realized it was only hotshot chance in a million. He off around and looked at me like I was a madman. Whatre ya tryna do, bud? he said. Kid me? NoI was provided intere sted, thats all. (60). As exemplified by many types throughout the book such as the wax museum, Holden finds solace and comfort in things that are constant and dont change. Holdens interactions are sabotaged by his cheekiness of phoniness and his prominent and overly judgmental side, endlessly overwhelming and undermining the genuine and caring side seen only when Holden feels comforted and welcomed by his environment. His red hunting cap is another symbol of protection for Holden. Ackley took another look at my hat . . .Up home we take on a hat like that to put one over deer in, for Chrissake, he said. Thats a deer shooting hat. Like perdition it is. 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. (22). When Holden says I realized it was only one chance in a million. (60), as he poses his question about the ducks to the cab driver, is his manner of people shooting as de monstrated by his cap, a way of making the distinction between soul who would answer his question honestly, or mortal in his mind phony, or disingenuous, clouded by the cruel realities of matureness and the adult world. This one in a million chance is Holden referring to his realization that the odds of a complete stranger say his question seriously, are as true as none. Moreover, the continuous change and constant moving in Holdens liveness, some(prenominal) of which he utterly resents are emblematical of the ducks.Holdens changing from school to school is almost cyclical, as is the migration and the return of the ducks when the pocket billiards returns to its original raise. Ultimately, Holden finds himself trapped in a state of longing for his puerility, his frequent use of alcohol and cigarettes and sense of maturity, all a faade, masking his yearning for a life of innocence and honesty. It was partially frozen and partly not frozen. But I didnt see any ducks around. (154). Finally, Holdens state of being is defined by the lagoon, not frozen, not unfrozen. He is exactly that, in a transition between childhood and adulthood, half frozen and half not, the ducks in the pond being an everlasting symbol for the reluctance he shows to transition to adulthood, and his purposeless attempts to slow the inevitable process of maturity.