Holden Caulfield's The Catcher In The Rye

Words: 569
Pages: 3
Open Document
Holden Caulfield had always felt bad about himself. He has many problems, but depression is a big part of his life. Some problems, such as Allie’s death, could’ve triggered ‘Situational’ Depression, and Major Depression. These make Holden’s life more difficult and confusing than other people’s lives. Holden has constant thoughts of killing himself, which is a sign of Major Depression. Most people don’t have to be a doctor to know that if someone thinks of killing them self often, they are depressed. Doctors online state that, “Some other symptoms you might have are: Thoughts of suicide…” (Major Depression). Holden says multiple times while feeling lonely or sad that maybe killing himself would make everything better for him. When Holden was beat up by Maurice, he felt sad and wanted the pain to stop. He told himself, “What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would’ve, too…” (Salinger 105). He wants to escape the feelings he’s going through, so he thinks maybe suicide will make it better, and he won’t have to worry about anything anymore. Holden’s depression doesn’t just end with …show more content…
With Situational Depression a person can get sad or angry when something tragic happens, “You can have a depressed mood when you’re having trouble managing a stressful event in your life, such as a death in your family…” (‘Situational’ Depression). This could also lead into why he has Major Depression, and for Holden, his situational depression is caused by Allie’s death because he’s unable to handle the stress. Holden couldn’t take the stress so he, “Slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist,” (Salinger 39). Holden might’ve thought that letting out all his anger would cure the pain he feels about Allie’s death. He can’t quite handle the pain he feels about Allie’s death; therefore, getting Situational
Show More

Related Documents: Holden Caulfield's The Catcher In The Rye

Catcher In The Rye Research Paper

this phase. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye explores how adult life appears complex and incomprehensible to teenagers on the brink of entering it. Holden Caulfield’s transition from being a pessimistic and antagonistic teenager to a caring mature adult is clearly evident throughout the novel. The meaning of The Catcher in the Rye represents Holden’s view of himself as an intermediary of children who aren’t even aware of his existence. At the start, Holden has no sense of direction, until…

Words 681 - Pages 3

English Essay

In the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Holden Caulfield is a boy of rebellion, disrespecting authority, suffering from feelings of neglect and striving to keep the youth in young generations. Throughout the novel Holden figures out what he wants to be and what he aspires to do. He wants to be the “Catcher in the Rye.” By being the Catcher in the Rye Holden’s job is to save the children of the world that are in the rye that is their youth and innocence from falling over the edge of it into the…

Words 538 - Pages 3

Holden Caulfield Isolation

The Catcher in the Rye A person is indubitably shaped by their surroundings. Children grow up to be like their parents, just as people of faith aim to live as proper of a life as possible. J.D Salinger carefully illustrates this universal truth in The Catcher in the Rye. In the novel, Holden Caulfield is an isolated, depressed, 16 year old boy struggling with the reality of growing up. The novel takes place in the late 1940s, where the protagonist Holden narrates a series of past events from a sanatorium…

Words 1125 - Pages 5

Catcher In The Rye Psychoanalysis Essay

psychologically and change their perspectives towards the real world. Holden Caulfield, the sixteen year old protagonist of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, narrates the book as he spends his weekend through New York in the 1950’s. Holden’s life is not an easy walk through the park, as his entire family is still recovering from the tragic death of his little brother, Allie. The psychoanalytical theory by Sigmund…

Words 1213 - Pages 5

Essay on Modern Works

the essence of what makes us human? The Catcher in the Rye, written almost sixty years ago, tells the story of an adolescent caught in a society where growing up directly correlates to losing the innocence of your childhood. The boy, Holden Caulfield, is surrounded by other teens that are turning more “phony” with each day they mature. One such boy, Stradlater, happens to be Caulfield’s roommate at the prestigious boarding school Pencey. When Holden learns that his childhood sweetheart is going…

Words 975 - Pages 4

Persuasive Essay On Catcher In The Rye

makes you want to meet him. The Catcher in The Rye captures just a glimpse of the struggles and mistakes in Holden Caulfield's life. Holden is always criticizing his school and everyone in it, also just people in general. In The Catcher in The Rye, Holden constantly critiques society. In The Catcher in The Rye Holden always is saying cruel and unnecessary things everyone that goes to Pencey Prep. He even calls his friends mean names (and he also swears at them). When holden was at Pencey prep, he would…

Words 576 - Pages 3

Catcher In The Rye Dialectical Journal

“Catcher In The Rye” by J.D Salinger is a book set in the 1950’s about a teenager named Holden Caulfield. Holden is the narrator of the book and tells what happens in the weeks leading up to his mental breakdown that causes him to go to a mental hospital. The author uses many literary terms in this book, but the three i chose were symbol, theme, and mood. The first literary term used in “Catcher In The Rye” is symbol. The first example of symbol is on page 21. It is the red hunting hat that…

Words 811 - Pages 4

Holden Caulfield Research Paper

Mrs. Kehrmeyer AP Language 19 March 2018 Diving deep into the MInd (Holden Caulfield) Make sure to mention mental issues in youth Often times writers enjoy integrating their struggles and experiences in their works to engage their audience with a particular narrative or express an opinion. One such writer is Jerome David Salinger author of the novel, The Catcher in the Rye who has a direct parallel with the books protagonist Holden Caulfield. Salinger was born in Manhattan, New York on January 1,…

Words 1246 - Pages 5

Catcher in The Rye VS Of Mice and men Essay example

In J.D Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, the main character Holden says, “What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.” (Salinger, ) Catcher in the Rye contains the voice that is present in all teenagers: a voice that is sarcastic, rude, and abrasive. The earlier quote shows this voice through language such…

Words 646 - Pages 3

Holden Caulfield Research Paper

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…

Words 399 - Pages 2