The Catcher in the Rye

1
The Catcher in the Rye

• Chapters 4-6

2
The Hunting Hat

• After he left, I put on my pajamas and bathrobe
  and my old hunting hat, and started writing the
  composition (Salinger 37).
• I kept sitting there on the floor Then I got
  up. I couldnt find my hunting hat anywhere.
  Finally I found itI put it on and turned the old
  peak around to the back, the way I liked it
  (Salinger 43)

3
Holdens Red Hunting Hat

• Serves as a source of protection
• When does Holden wear the hat?
• Indicates that he doesnt care what people think
  of him.
• Source of self-conscious embarrassment
• Represents how he wants to rebel against the norm
  and how he doesnt fit in.

4
Holdens Inconsistent Opinions Actions

• I asked Mal if he minded if Ackley came along
  with us (Salinger 36).
• Kind to Ackley in chapter 5
• Feels sympathetic towards him
• His behaviors and actions are inconsistent
• His discussion about Jane with Stradlater
• See a sense of normalcy

5
Holden and Allie

• Hes dead nowHe was terrifically intelligent
  (38)
• and they were going to have me psychoanalyzed
  and all, because I broke all the windows in the
  garage. I dont blame them. I really dont. I
  slept in the garage the night he died, and I
  broke all the goddamn windows with my fist, just
  for the hell of itI hardly didnt even know I
  was doing it, and you didnt know Allie (39)

6
Allie

• Emotional response to death
• The beginning of his breakdown
• Cynicism to avoid his sadness about Allies death
• Couldnt protect Allie
• Sees others adapting to cruelty of world
• Doesnt understand

7
Holdens Increasing Breakdown

• Some things are hard to remember. Im thinking
  now of when Stradlater got back from his date
  with JaneI was so damn worried (40)
• You always do everything backasswards.No
  wonder youre flunking the hell out of hereYou
  dont do one damn thing the way youre supposed
  to. I mean it. Not one damn thing (41).
• Feels increasing pressure
• The elements of Holdens environment parallel
  this pressure
• Holdens breaking point begins to lose control

8
Holdens Increasing Breakdown

• I didnt even bother to get up. I just lay
  there on the floor for a while, and kept calling
  him a moron sonuvabitch. I was so mad, I was
  practically bawling (45).
• I couldnt find my goddam hunting hat anywhere.
  Finally I found it. It was under the bed. I out
  it on, and turned the old peak around to the
  back, the way I liked itI had blood all over my
  mouth chin and even my pajamas and bathrobe. It
  partly scared me and it partly fascinated me
  (45).
• Erratic behavior and actions
• Cant control his emotions