Book Cover Weblog

The most significant parts of this book are the ducks that are flying away. Holden talks about the ducks in the central park pond quote often. When he asks the taxi driver about where the ducks go during the winter time, Holden is indirectly asking for direction in his future. The question can be translated to “What should I do when I have nothing left?”. Holden is a confused teenager who is unsure about his future. I think the ducks in the pond also indicates a similar situation that Holden is in. During the winter, the pond starts freezing from the edges, and starts narrowing down the pond’s area as the weather gets colder. In the end, the ducks will have a smaller place to stay, causing them to leave and look for another place when the whole pond freezes. While the ducks represent Holden, the freezing ice represents the pressures around Holden. There are certain pressures in Holden’s life that he wants to escape from in order to move on to his future but he cannot find the answers to do so, which is why he asks the taxi driver his question.

Another important part of the cover is Holden’s red hunting hat. I think this hat is linked into Holden’s personality. It represents his individuality because of its bright colour. However, the way Holden doesn’t wear it around others tells the reader about his confidence. I think he doesn’t want to be judged for who he is, which is why he doesn’t want to show his hat that defines him. When Holden puts on his hat, it’s when he decides that the pressure and judging around him isn’t there. Although Holden might be confused about his future, his hat somehow relieves him of the pressures around him .