I have covered the Central Park ducks in a separate post, but symbolism can be a matter of how far you want to take it.
The red hat could be just a way for Holden to have fun with something as functional as head protection during cold weather. It's probably something Salinger actually did as a kid at Valley Forge Military Academy, a gesture of defiance and independence or a way to get attention. It also serves as a gesture of intimacy when he and Phoebe swap it back and forth. There may be some significance to her slapping it back on Holden's head at the end, perhaps signifying he's been claimed as Phoebe's trophy for being rescued.
Or if you want to take the red hat thing deeper, Holden says it's "a people hunting hat." It's red. Allie's hair is red. Holden has Allie's baseball mitt. Holden wears the hat backwards, like a baseball catcher. Holden wants to be a "catcher in the rye" for children. Red and backwards are also signs of rebellion or defiance.
Either way, the red hat stands out. It makes us sit up and think. Any kid wearing a red hunting hat in the city, you'd think he'd just come from a sporting goods store. Or he was being silly or was a tad bit off-kilter, both of which apply to Holden.
The only name of outright significance to me is Ed Bankey, who is possibly named after WWII fighter pilot Ernest Bankey, famous for becoming Ace-in-a-day during the horrific Battle of the Bulge in which Salinger fought.
The name "Holden" could imply holding back from growing up, holding on to innocence, holding onto sanity, stopping time, although that seems rather weak.
If you're into Greek mythology, Phoebe was the Titan goddess of "bright" intellect, which resonates ironically with "Sunny," the child prostitute, tarnished, so-to-speak, by her profession, a shining example of the tarnished innocence Holden wants to protect. Seeing Sunny within the context of his own precious sister Phoebe could have erased any sexual desire Holden had after Maurice's proposition.
Relying on symbols that refer to Greek mythology is risky proposition because the meaning is lost on the vast majority of readers who are unfamiliar with Greek mythology. It can also be seen as elitist and alienate some readers. It can also be a crutch. An author who relies heavily on external works can be seen as either lazy or lacking imagination and ingenuity.
(My thanks to my lit-chums at Goodreads for pointing out some of this.)
The red hat could be just a way for Holden to have fun with something as functional as head protection during cold weather. It's probably something Salinger actually did as a kid at Valley Forge Military Academy, a gesture of defiance and independence or a way to get attention. It also serves as a gesture of intimacy when he and Phoebe swap it back and forth. There may be some significance to her slapping it back on Holden's head at the end, perhaps signifying he's been claimed as Phoebe's trophy for being rescued.
Or if you want to take the red hat thing deeper, Holden says it's "a people hunting hat." It's red. Allie's hair is red. Holden has Allie's baseball mitt. Holden wears the hat backwards, like a baseball catcher. Holden wants to be a "catcher in the rye" for children. Red and backwards are also signs of rebellion or defiance.
Either way, the red hat stands out. It makes us sit up and think. Any kid wearing a red hunting hat in the city, you'd think he'd just come from a sporting goods store. Or he was being silly or was a tad bit off-kilter, both of which apply to Holden.
The only name of outright significance to me is Ed Bankey, who is possibly named after WWII fighter pilot Ernest Bankey, famous for becoming Ace-in-a-day during the horrific Battle of the Bulge in which Salinger fought.
The name "Holden" could imply holding back from growing up, holding on to innocence, holding onto sanity, stopping time, although that seems rather weak.
If you're into Greek mythology, Phoebe was the Titan goddess of "bright" intellect, which resonates ironically with "Sunny," the child prostitute, tarnished, so-to-speak, by her profession, a shining example of the tarnished innocence Holden wants to protect. Seeing Sunny within the context of his own precious sister Phoebe could have erased any sexual desire Holden had after Maurice's proposition.
Relying on symbols that refer to Greek mythology is risky proposition because the meaning is lost on the vast majority of readers who are unfamiliar with Greek mythology. It can also be seen as elitist and alienate some readers. It can also be a crutch. An author who relies heavily on external works can be seen as either lazy or lacking imagination and ingenuity.
(My thanks to my lit-chums at Goodreads for pointing out some of this.)
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