What motif plays a crucial role in the novel and how is this motif significant?

Thesis: In The Catcher in the Rye, the motif of Holden’s red hunting hat is mentioned through out the book and plays an important role because the hat helps him differentiate and alienate himself from society.

Holden buys this hat he sees in a window of a sports store when he gets out of the subway. He says, “I put on this hat that I’d bought in New York that morning. It was this red hunting hat, with one of those very, very long peaks. The way I wore it, I swung the old peak way around to the back—very corny, I'll admit, but I liked it that way. I looked good in it that way. (17). Holden thinks the hat looks good on him but it really makes him look different …show more content…
His alienation is the way he protects himself from people. He feels like the hat protects him and also helps him look different but what it really does is make him look weird, which really just reinforces his alienation. The hat is also a symbol of Holden's attachment to his childhood because it’s not anything an adult would wear. He usually wears the hat when he is by himself because it reminds him that he is unique and also gives him comfort and makes him feel less lonely. " My hunting hat really gave me quite a lot of protection, in a way, but I got soaked anyway." (213). Holden doesn’t want to look different all the time, so when he checks into the Edmont Hotel in New York he takes the hat off. He says, “I took it (the hat) off before I checked in. I didn’t want to look like a screwball or something” ( 61).

The red color of the hat may be symbolic of both Holden’s younger brother, Allie, who died when he was eleven and his sister Phoebe who both have red hair. The hat may remind him of his brother and sister who are the people he really cares about. The hat may help Holden hold on to the memory of Allie. Not only does the hat make Holden feel unique, it also reminds him of his connection to his