The feeling of being trapped is overwhelming and can be extremely difficult to overcome. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, demonstrates the negative effects that feeling stuck can have on a person. Salinger’s use of ice as a leitmotif may seem disconnected and even trivial at first, but it is actually immensely significant to the complexity of Holden Caulfield, for it relates to Holden’s inner thoughts and misfortunes and is representative of his eventual growth. Initially, the idea of ice and freezing symbolizes Holden’s view of the world and the people around him. Specifically, Holden’s thoughts regarding the museum shows what he believes to be a perfect life. Holden remarks, “The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. […] Nobody’d be different” (Salinger 121). This reveals Holden’s ideal world. As Holden is incapable of dealing with the confusion and conflict of reality, he finds the frozen and unmoving state of the museum comforting. This mindset is crucial to Holden’s character and is further exhibited as the novel continues. For example, Holden sees it as his responsibility to stop children from growing up. When Phoebe asks him what he wants to do with his life, Holden responds, “What I have to do, I have to catch everybody [the kids] if they start to go over the cliff — I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them” (Salinger 173). Holden…show more content… The concept of ice and being “frozen” is continually repeated to emphasize Holden’s inner thoughts, the adversities he must conquer, and his own personal growth. Understanding Holden’s struggles can help readers recognize that no problem is ever permanent if one remains strong in the face of their
