ROUGH+DRAFT


 * INTRO-** Something as small as an article of clothing can define some of the biggest aspects of someone's being. The red hunting hat symbolizes a few themes in the novel //The Catcher In The Rye// by J.D Salinger. It helps show who Holden really is behind his lies. The red hunting hat defines Holden and show's his uniqueness. Holden is very particular about who he wears the red hunting hat in front of, and that shows that he trusts few people in his life. After Holden encounters a tough situations he sits and thinks, and he wears his red hunting hat while he thinks. Holden is a very unique person and the hat shows that about himself. He does not wear the hat in front of people because he is fearful of others judging him.
 * BODY1-** Holden normally only wears his red hunting hat when he is alone, because he is scared of being judged. When Holden is around Phoebe he feels comfortable about himself and does not try to hide things. Phoebe does not judge Holden for anything he has done wrong. Holden can talk to Phoebe about anything, and thinks for a nine year old she is very wise. He does not have that many relationships like that and that is what he craves most. In the novel when Holden was wearing the hat he mentions not wearing it around other people.
 * BODY2-** After Holden's encounter with Stradlater he goes back to his room to think and get away from everybody. "I could not find my goddamn hunting hat anywhere. Finally i fount it. It was under the bed. I put it on, and turned the old peak around to the back, the way i liked it." (45). Holden usually after ever tough situation he went through in this novel always sat down in the end, put his hunting hat on, and smoked a couple of cigarettes because that is who he is, and with nobody around he was free to be himself.
 * BODY3-** Holden mainly wears the hat to feel connected to his deceased brother, Allie. The reason he connects with Allie while wearing the hat is because the hat and Allie's hair are the same color, red. Holden viewed Allie to be very innocent. "People with red hair are supposed to get mad very easily, but Allie never did, and he had very red hair" (38).
 * CONCLUSION-** The red hunting hat is a very important symbol in this novel. He wears it when he feels confortable, and thats usually when he is alone or with Pheobe. He also wears it to feel a connection with his brother Allie. Since the hat is red and so was Allie's hair, there is a strong connection.