Catcher In The Rye Depression Analysis

In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield has to deal with depression. The Catcher in the Rye is about a teen named Holden Caulfield who explores around New York City after leaving his boarding school. Most of the book, Holden was feeling depressed and at one point he wanted to commit suicide. Holden said that he had a lousy childhood and he missed his family. He hated the people changed into phonies. He also didn’t like talking to people except the little kids and his family. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye Holden deals with depression, which is due to a terrible childhood and he missing his family.

Holden claimed that he had a miserable childhood. Holden claimed that he has been abused when he was a child.

At the end of the book Holden stayed with Mr. Antolini, Holden’s old teacher. When Mr. Antolini patted Holden’s head he felt uncomfortable and left the house. Holden then said:
Thanks a lot,” I said. G’by! The elevator was finally there. I got in and went down. Boy, I was shaking like a madman. I was sweating, too. When something perverty like that, I sweat like a bastard. That kind of stuff’s happened to me about twenty times since I was a kid. I can't stand it (Salinger 213).
In Dark Moods by Pippa Wysong, Wysong said that “Personal experience also plays a role” and things like “sexual abuse” and “neglect and bullying are factors in increasing depression” (p.14). Holden also had to move to a lot of schools when he was a child. The reason why Holden moved was because he was failing classes and he had problems with school. When Holden visited his history teacher Old Spencer, Old Spencer said “If I’m not mistaken, I believe you had some difficulty at the Whooton School and at Elkton Hills” (Salinger 16). In conclusion, Holden claimed that he had a lousy childhood.
Holden had to deal with the death of his brother Allie.

Holden wished that Allie did not die. Melinda Smith and Jeanne Segal said that some of the signs and symptoms of depression are “Sadness or Hopelessness, poor school performance, and feelings of worthlessness and guilt” (2). Holden had to deal with guilt when he couldn't come to Allie’s funeral since, he was in the hospital. Holden feels guilty for not going and he mourns Allie everyday since his death. According to the article Depression, “Depression differs from grief, bereavement or mourning, which are appropriate emotional responses to the loss of loved persons or objects” (1). In conclusion, Allie’s death played a huge part in Holden’s

depression.
Holden being away from Phoebe played a huge part in Holden’s depression.

When Holden is away from Phoebe, Holden can not stop thinking about his sister and he feels depressed. Holden told the readers how Phoebe was a ”little kid (that was) so pretty and smart…” (Salinger 75). Holden loved hanging around with little kids especially Phoebe. He told Phoebe he wanted to be a Catcher in the Rye and to “catch everyone if they start to go over the cliff” (Salinger 191). That meant that Holden wanted to stop the children from becoming phonies. In conclusion, Holden misses Phoebe and wants to stop children from becoming phonies.

There are some counterclaims against Holden’s depression. At the beginning of the novel he told readers that he was “The most terrific liar you ever saw in your life” (Salinger 19). He could be lying that he is suffering from depression and he is suffering from something else. Holden has a lot of nostalgia and he wishes that he could go back in time. Holden probably had a great childhood until Allie died where his sadness began. In conclusion, Holden is a compulsive liar and he lied about his depression and that he was very nostalgic.

In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden has depression because he had a terrible childhood and he misses his siblings a lot. Holden’s depression played a major part in the story. Holden said that he was feeling depressed for most of the book. In conclusion, Holden’s depression was very important in the novel and it showed Holden

feelings.