Friday, May 14, 2010

Why is Holden Caufield's hunting hat red?

Holden Caulfield is the main character in The Catcher in the RyeWhy is Holden Caufield's hunting hat red?
Well, first of all, it is the same color of Allie's and Phoebe's hair, which could mean that the hat is his way of connecting with their innocence. Also, red is a unique color, so it is a way for Holden to break away from the phony world and grab attention.Why is Holden Caufield's hunting hat red?
Yeah the last answer was right, it was because Allie's hair was red.





But according to sparknotes.com:


Holden鈥檚 Red Hunting Hat


The red hunting hat is one of the most recognizable symbols from twentieth-century American literature. It is inseparable from our image of Holden, with good reason: it is a symbol of his uniqueness and individuality. The hat is outlandish, and it shows that Holden desires to be different from everyone around him. At the same time, he is very self-conscious about the hat鈥攈e always mentions when he is wearing it, and he often doesn鈥檛 wear it if he is going to be around people he knows. The presence of the hat, therefore, mirrors the central conflict in the book: Holden鈥檚 need for isolation versus his need for companionship.


It is worth noting that the hat鈥檚 color, red, is the same as that of Allie鈥檚 and Phoebe鈥檚 hair. Perhaps Holden associates it with the innocence and purity he believes these characters represent and wears it as a way to connect to them. He never explicitly comments on the hat鈥檚 significance other than to mention its unusual appearance.
You would wear a red hat so other hunters could see you.

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