Better late than never?
---Red Hunting Cap
- Symbol of Holden's uniqueness and individuality (shows he wants to be different from everyone around him, so much so he needs a corporeal object to portray that desire with, ironically- the hat barely serves its purpose as Holden; throughout the duration of the novel seems to be reluctant to be seen wearing the cap)
- He always mentions when he wears it
- He doesn't wear it if he is going to be around people he knows.
- Materialises Holden's inner conflict with his need to prove himself worthy of his own thoughts versus his desire to feel connected with someone other than himself.
- The hat shares the color of Allie and Phoebe's hair- perhaps shows his desire to create a link with them he can see and feel.
- He always mentions the cap in a very specific manner; the fact that its a HUNTING cap or hat. He never refers to it as just a hat, or a cap.
- In chapter 3: "I shoot people in this hat" shows the length of Holden's contempt for his surroundings.
- A cap is worn around the head. Holden wears the hat when reading or as warmth against the cold. Either way the hat protects Holden's head. He wears the hat to feel comfort, and to feel secure- as if he's almost.... scared that he'll lose his mind if he doesn't.
- Its a hunting cap- Holden is hunting something.
- He wears the bill pointing backward, the way he likes it. This is reminiscent of catchers on a baseball field. Also a long bill might obscure his vision. Holden values his observation skills, he doesn't want to lose what he feels to be his strongest connection to the world. What he sees.
- In chapter 13, he wears it walking to the hotel, after which Holden goes off on a colossal tangent about his yellowness; it is during this tirade that Holden is honest with himself; without caring for the implications of the realization that he would rather walk away than get into a fist fight as is the manly way he would stick to his guns- appearances in society wouldn't matter more than his own morals (being a pacifist), ironically- self-importance is still an issue. ALSO; here, he stops himself before he can make excuses about why he acts the way he acts- he is self aware that his behaviour isn't any better than many of the people, though many times, he makes excuses for it (its the only way to survive);
one) "I'd probably go down to the can and sneak a cigarette and watch myself getting tough in the mirror" rather than engaging in physical combat.
two) "I never seem to have anything that if I lost it I'd care too much. Maybe that's why I'm partly yellow. It's no excuse though. It really isn't"
Perhaps Holden also bought the cap to hunt for something he'd care for if he lost it. Grief and perhaps guilt is evident here- ALLIE- maybe he is regretful of not appreciating his time with his brother, he never knew what he had until it was gone.
- "I didn't give a damn how I looked. Nobody was around anyway" Holden wants to be an individual, but he's scared of the implications that come with becoming one.
- Holden is implied to be a dark haired Caufield sibling, yet it is made clear that Phoebe and Allie were both redheads. This might be because D.B. - wasn't specified whether he had dark hair or red hair- has a similar color to Holden's. Holden doesn't want to follow in D.B.s footsteps- he doesn't want to sell out to "Hollywood"( society), and he doesn't want to prostitute himself. Again, the hunting cap being red can be seen as a way to be closer to both Phoebe and Allie. This is also social commentary as Allie and Phoebe are both the younger half of the Caufield siblings. Holden is portrayed to be in a hurry to become an adult- maybe he sees it as a way to be truly independent or as a way to escape from the uncertainty that comes with the adolescent age- and yet, he seems to admire both Phoebe and Allie's innocent, untainted, childish characteristics more so than D.B's adult conformity. Yet again, Holden is shown to be a paradoxical character.
- In the middle of the book, during Holden's lonesome adventure in the adult world, the red hunting cap protects him from various maelstroms of weather. This is symbolic of how when faced with problems in society, the only thing an individual can do is depend on themselves. Also, as the hunting cap is seen by Holden as a rather juvenile item, the fact that he clings to it hesitantly represents how unready he is to be by himself, to become an adult.
- When Phoebe is shown running towards Holden wearing the Red Hunting Cap near the end of the book, Holden is discouraged from running away from home because he sees that someone he knows- someone he is close too shares something with him and when Phoebe puts it on his head, she reassures him that she does love him, individuality, corniness and everything in between.
