The Ducks in Central Park

In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, the ducks in Central Park are a symbol for how Holden Caulfield sees himself. Holden feels like he is being pushed out of childhood much like the ducks are pushed out of the pond when winter comes around. He wants to know if someone comes to take them to the zoo (where someone else will take care of them) or if they will fly south (where they will have to take care of themselves). At first, it is just a little thing in the back of his mind but then he talks to Horwitz, the cab driver about it who snaps at him (107). This shows that as he gets closer to leaving his childhood behind, the matter of the ducks (and himself) becomes more of a puzzle to him. Salinger probably included this symbol because it shows that Holden's biggest worry is leaving his childhood behind. The duck's in Central Park are a symbol for the childhood of Holden Caulfield.