What does the Central Park duck symbolism primarily signify?

• A. Holden's anxiety about change and search for stability.
• B. Holden's affection for waterfowl.
• C. An incidental detail with no thematic meaning.
• D. A nod to the local wildlife.

Answer: (A)

The duck in Central Park is a symbol of Holden’s fear of change and his longing for something steady to hold onto as life shifts. When Holden watches the ducks, he wonders where they go when the pond freezes, and that question mirrors his own anxiety about what will happen to him as circumstances change—school, friendships, family dynamics, and the pull toward adulthood. The ducks’ hidden destination becomes a stand-in for his desire to find a stable place or plan that won’t be disrupted by growing up, loss, or uncertainty.

That’s why the best answer is about anxiety over change and the search for stability. It’s not simply a matter of affection for waterfowl, nor is it a trivial or incidental detail; the recurring image functions as a meaningful cue to Holden’s inner struggle with transition.