Ducks as a Symbol

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Ducks as a symbol in The Catcher in the Rye.
A symbol is anything that presents a notion or an idea through relating to different situations in a storyline or context of a story. Salinger employs extensive use of symbolism to develop characters and also make the intended message more understandable. To achieve that, the author used many symbols and the paper will focus on the ducks (Bloom 50). Ducks are birds which thrive and breath in a similar manner to the human beings. They also adapt to various environmental changes that happen at different times of the year and that influences their activities. Salinger used the above concepts to develop a storyline and showcase symbolism connecting to the main character who is Holden. The author delivers his message through the symbol by repeating it several times all across the novel making it easier for a reader to identify it easily.
The use and development of the ducks as a symbol came from an idea which the author natured so well incorporating it into the story. Considering the various elements of the novel, both symbolism and the characters relate hence helping in the delivery of the message. The manner in which the symbol disappears and reappears in the story represents the falling and raising of different parts of the story. Regarding the main character, the disappearance and reappearance try to show the two sides of his life and the things that he experiences (Bloom 120). All the above appears in a repeated manner which the author uses as development technique.

Salinger also presents the symbol by directly relating the main character’s life and the occasional activities of the ducks at different times. The above method ensures that the readers get deeply drown into the concepts represented and the prevalence of the symbol will give him the ability to look at the story from different perspectives.
The use of ducks as a symbol in the story presents different meanings and significances. All that revolves around the life of the main character and the experiences that he happens to go through. Regarding that, Holden sets out to search for the duck and learns about their occasional disappearance and reappearances (Bloom 54). The above develops the meaning that the protagonist is getting aware of his youthfulness. Being young comes with unlimited curiosity to explore different things that exist in the environment together with the humans and Holden honors that through the above action. The significance of symbols in a story is that they present a situation as it is. In Salinger’s novel, the ducks offer the author the freedom to interpret the above and evoke the reader’s interest to find out the intent of the author.
The overall message of the story revolves around Holden’s journey towards maturity after getting expelled from school. In his consciousness, he recognizes that he is lost and also confused on how he should navigate the outside world and at the same time, many things happen in his life. His considerations of the ways that he can use to move out of the confusion lead him to the ducks of the central park, and through them, the author gets the reader into the perspective of the protagonist. From the quote “I was wondering where the central park ducks went… I wondered if some guy came in a track and took them away…” (Bloom 49) During winter, the lake in central park freezes and the dusks disappear which leaves Holden asking himself whether someone takes them away to look after them or they embark on their own. That also helps him in consideration of whether he should devise ways of living on his own or he should go back to his parents. The process above continues and every time the ducks reappear, Holden’s maturity increases hence they contribute significantly towards the delivery of the message.
Works CitedBloom, H. (2009). J.D. Salinger’s The catcher in the rye. New York: Bloom’s Literary Criticism.