Catcher in the Rye ducks in the pond Symbolism Essay Essay

In The Catcher in the Rye J.D Salinger uses Holdens take place mentions of the ducks in primeval park to reveal the childlike curiosity and genuine side to Holdens regularly blunt and overwhelmingly cynical character. During his first of several(prenominal) taxi rides in the city, Holden, bothered by the thought of constant change yet intrigued by the thought of how others cope with change begins to ask his cab driver the whereabouts of the ducks in Central Park when the lake freezes over. Then I thought of something, all of a sudden. Hey, listen, I said. You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South?That little lake? By either chance, do you happen 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 one chance in a million. He turned around and looked at me like I was a madman. Whatre ya tryna do, bud? he said. Kid me? NoI was just interested, thats all. (60). As exemplified by many symb ols 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 resentment of phoniness and his prominent and overly faultfinding(prenominal) side, constantly overwhelming and undermining the genuine and caring side believen only when Holden feels comforted and welcomed by his environment. His red hunting cap is another(prenominal) symbol of protection for Holden. Ackley took another look at my hat . . .Up home we wear a hat like that to shoot cervid in, for Chrissake, he said. Thats a deer shooting hat. Like hell 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 way of people shooting as demonstrated by his cap, a way of making the greenback between someone who would answer his question honestly, or someone in his mind phony, or disingenuous, clouded by the cruel realities of maturity and the bragging(a) world. This one in a million chance is Holden referring to his realization that the odds of a complete stranger answering his question seriously, are as well behaved as none. Moreover, the continuous change and constant moving in Holdens life, both of which he utterly resents are symbolic of the ducks.Holdens changing from shoal to school is almost cyclical, as is the migration and the return of the ducks when the pond returns to its original state. Ultimately, Holden finds himself trapped in a state of longing for his childhood, 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 partly frozen and partly not frozen. But I didnt see any ducks around. (154). Finally, Holdens state of being is defined by the la goon, 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 futile attempts to slow the inevitable bear on of maturity.