Holden Caulfield Research Paper

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Pages: 2

Holden Caulfield and Seasonal Affective Disorder

Holden Caulfield has been kicked out of his private school and is roaming around New York by himself with very weird emotions and is doing some weird things while he’s there. Holden Caulfield has Seasonal Depression or SAD. J.D. Salinger shows readers what seasonal depression looks like through the actions and thoughts of the main character in The Catcher In The Rye, Holden Caulfield.

J.D. Salinger is showing some of the symptoms of seasonal depression in Holden Caulfield such as sleep deprivation. There are multiple symptoms of seasonal depression but this is just one instance of Holden showing symptoms of seasonal depression. On MayoClinic.org it states that “People may experience: Sleep: Sleep deprivation”
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A major symptom of seasonal depression is social isolationism, “Symptoms include social withdrawal or isolation” (MayoClinic.org). This shows that social isolationism, which Holden exhibits is another symptom of seasonal depression. When Holden is contemplating whether to run away or not he shows a good example of social isolationism. “That way I wouldn’t have to have any goddam stupid useless conversations with anybody” (Salinger, 107). This quote shows and proves that Holden doesn’t want to talk to anybody which is social isolationism. Holden is showing more symptoms of SAD especially because of his social isolationism.

Holden Caulfield is a good example of what seasonal depression or SAD would look like in the real world through a book, The Catcher In The Rye. Treatment for Holden would be simply to exercise, antidepressant and, possible light therapy. Based on Holden Caulfield's emotions and actions he has seasonal depression or SAD, seasonal affective disorder and could be treated easily but as the name suggest is just