In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, a sixteen year old boy named Holden Caulfield gets expelled from his school and runs away before his parents find out. He goes to his home town, New York, and encounters many people. Throughout the novel, Caulfield is still coping with the death of his brother Allie. His attitude slowly decreases and various signs of a mental disorder are exhibited through his actions and his thoughts. Some people believe that he does not have a mental disorder, he is just grieving; however, he has clear symptoms that he is suffering from depression and anti-social disorder. These disorders are shown when Caulfield takes everything in a negative way, talks about being depressed, thinks that everyone is “phony”, and talks about his deceased brother.
First, Caulfield takes everything in a negative way. One example is when he says, “I'm pretty sure he yelled "Good luck!" at me. I hope not. I hope to hell not. I'd never yell "Good luck!" at anybody. It sounds terrible, when you think about it” (Salinger 15-16). Caulfield takes this phrase as meaning that he needs good luck. He takes a simple phrase like, “Good luck” and turns it into something that is depressing. This is a sign of depression: having a bleak outlook.
Another example that proves that Caulfield has a bleak outlook is when he says, “Almost every time somebody gives me a present, it ends up making me sad” (Salinger 52). Presents are supposed to be enjoyed, but Caulfield thinks of them as being morbid. He most likely is melancholy about this because the present that he really loves is the glove that his brother, Allie, gave to him. Every time someone gives him a gift, it just makes him think about the glove and about his dead brothe...
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... Caulfield takes everything in a negative way, talks about being depressed, thinks that everyone is “phony”, and talks about his deceased brother. However, I do understand how people can see that Caulfield does not have any mental disorders. I believe that Caulfield’s depression and anti-social disorder started when Allie died and he just could not get over his brother’s death. Many people have depression and anti-social disorder and that is perfectly fine, but what matters is how we deal with it.
Works Cited
“Antisocial personality disorder: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” U.S. National Library of
Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine,n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013
“Depression Symptoms & Warning Signs.” Recognize Depression Symptoms & Get Help. N.p.,
n.d. Web 12 Nov. 2013
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.1951.Print.
In J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in The Rye Salinger writes about the main character Holden Caulfield and his life. Holden is a teenager who comes from a wealthy family, he loves his family and lives very happy until the death of his brother Allie. After his brother died Holden becomes troubled, being kicked out of school again and again developing a negative view of the world. Holden throughout the book shows anger,denial, and acceptance over the loss of his brother.
Nineteen million American adults suffer from a major case of depression (Web MD). That is a staggering one in every fifteen people (2 in our classroom alone). Holden Caulfield is clearly one of those people. Depression is a disease that leads to death but is also preventable. Psychology, stressful events, and prescription drugs are causes of depression. Stressful events brought on Holden’s depression. Holden has been trying to withstand losing a brother, living with careless parents, and not having many friends. The Catcher in the Rye is a book that takes us through the frazzled life of Holden Caulfield, who appears to be just a regular teen. But by hearing his thoughts and through heart-wrenching events in the book, the reader learns that Holden is not the innocent boy that he once appeared. In his book, The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger shows that Holden’s depression is not only affecting him, but also the people around him through Sally, Phoebe, and Sunny.
“I swear to God I’m crazy. I admit it.” Throughout the novel, The Catcher in The Rye, Holden Caulfield is shown to have multiple manic and depressive episodes within the course of a few days, hinting at him having Manic Depression in ultradian cycling.
Catcher in the Rye is one of the most famous books in American literature. Written by J. D. Salinger, it captures the epitome of adolescence through Salinger’s infamous anti-hero, Holden Caulfield. Holden Caulfield learns about himself and his negative tendencies, and realizes that if he does not do something to change his perspective, he may end up like his acquaintance James Castle whom he met at Elkton Hills. Holden tries to find help to mend his outlook on life through Mr. Antolini so he does not end up like James, who did not want to face the problems he created for himself. This is proven by the similarities between James Castle and Holden, Mr. Antolini’s willingness to try and help Holden, and Holden’s future being forecasted by James.
Holden Caulfield is a typical teenager, with normal depression caused by overdramatics and worrying. His depression to me is solely based on his huge obsession of worrying, which is a behavioral symptom. While the other symptoms do affect him greatly, his constant fear of being alone, growing up, and fitting in causes his depression to grow. Even though he has such a negative view on life, it can be changed by a change in heart and
I believe that Holden Caulfield is mentally disturbed and shows many signs of it throughout the novel. Problems in Holden’s life that have led him to this rest home are the death of his brother Allie, his multiple failures throughout his academic career, and his distress about moving on in life. Holden deals with these problems by drinking and smoking throughout the novel. He also shows depression throughout the novel by being kicked out of multiple schools and being over-critical of people when he describes them. I feel that he is very disturbed and had not been able to deal with his problems before. Unfortunately his feelings such as the loss of Allie ha...
Thousands of teens in the U.S. suffer from depression caused by losing a loved one at a young age. In J.D. salinger's book “The Catcher in the Rye” he introduces a character named Holden Caulfield. This character’s younger brother Allie had died while he was young. J.D. Salinger illustrates with amazing symbols how Holden is finding ways to cope with his brothers death.
...ality in the narrative is having to deal with alienation and how he deals with it, with the world. One of his other psychological features is having depression, which elucidate to Sigmund Freud. Holden’s last trait has to do with having immature relationships with women and focuses on both the author and Holden. Holden Caulfield could also be known as a wallflower. He is shy, always excluded to the world, and is always focusing in his own mind, which somewhat makes him have a normal trait. But that doesn’t cover his mental disorders.
On the darker and more atypical side of Holden Caulfield's character is the alarming mental health issues. Holden Cauldfield sadly has a plethora of these types of internal conflicts. Holden Caulfield is a pathological liar, “ If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even if somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. “(16). Holden is also constantly changing his name throughout the novel. Holden is sel...
Holden Caulfield showed many disorders throughout the Catcher in the Rye specifically Conduct Disorder having the three symptoms of isolation, drug use, and persistent lying.
Many young people often find themselves struggling to find their own identity and place in society. This search for self worth often leaves these young people feeling lonely and isolated because they are unsure of themselves. Holden Caulfield, J.D. Salinger's main character in the book The Catcher In the Rye, is young man on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. One contributor to this breakdown, is the loneliness that Holden experiences. His loneliness is apparent through many ways including: his lack of friends, his longing for his dead brother, and the way he attempts to gain acceptance from others.
Manic-Depressive Behavior Exhibited in The Catcher in the Rye. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, portrays Holden Cawfield, a New York City teenager in the 1950's, as a manic-depressive. Holden's depression starts with the death of his brother, Allie. Holden is expelled from numerous schools due to his poor academics, which are brought on by his depression. Manic depression, compulsive lying, and immaturity throughout the novel characterize Holden.
The diagnosis for Holden Caulfield is co-occurring bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The was conjectured because of his recent manic episode, excessive spending and depression, increased energy, constant “loud speech”, inflated self-image, feelings of guilt, suicidal and racing thoughts, obsessiveness with childhood, innocence, and a fear of change [or what can be seen as abnormal requirement for stability]. Recommended treatment is referral to a psychiatrist for medicinal help, short-term therapy, and slow reinstitution into the general population.
... what has been psychologically observed, the patient evidently has shown trademark signs of bipolar disorder and multiple personality swings; Holden is unknowingly infatuated with finding the fault in others and blaming the world for his problems and mistakes, ultimately, putting him in a severely depressive state. Holden needs to continue with his institutional life and will need to be further evaluated. Once Holden realizes what he wants, that not everybody is out to get him, and that everything happens in life for a reason, the better off he will be. Psycho-analysis most people find invasive and frightens most people, but is necessary as seen with close-watch patient Holden Caulfield. Whether Holden will regain mental health stability or continue with psychological disturbance and angst that will inevitably lead to emotional destruction is to be further observed.
Holden Caulfield suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder throughout the course of the novel. In fact, the root of all his problems come from Allie’s passing; he died from leukemia. Holden used to be extremely close with him and his imminent death changed his entire life and psyche. Holden seems to relive the event of his beloved little brother Allie’s death over and over. “What is clear, however, is that many of the symptoms Holden displays in the course of the novel mirror the classic symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The death of his younger brother, Allie was a traumatic event in Holden Caulfield’s life and is perhaps at the root of the depression he battles in the novel. The death of a sibling can trigger post-traumati...