Holden Caulfield's Depression In The Catcher In The Rye

There are instances of a death of a loved one causing harsh emotional strain on individuals for an extended period of time, where the pain can eventually worsen into a mental disorder, such as depression. Although some individuals are able to cope with and eventually overcome the death of a family member or friend, there are others who are not able to recuperate and will allow the grief to take over each aspect of themselves in their mourning state. Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye, is believed to be suffering a major depressive disorder due to the death of his younger brother, Allie. I support this viewpoint completely, because Caulfield’s depression is perceived in the novel throughout his words and actions amongst himself and others. Since the main character is shown at a young age and is easily depicted as a highly brash person, it can be conceptualized that his character and depression developed through his loss of Allie. People use different methods to cope with the passing of a loved one that could either

Thoughts of harming and even killing himself in morbid ways displays that it is apparent that Caulfield’s mind is not in the right place and that he is still having trouble seeking actual help. He considers how “[he’s] sort of glad they’ve got the atomic bomb invented. If there’s ever another war, I’m going to sit right on top of it. I’ll volunteer for it, I swear to God I will” (Salinger 156). To go as far as wanting to be killed by an atomic bomb, an unconventional item to use for suicide, reveals that Caulfield thought deeply over a period of time about how he could or would want to die. To go as far as the atomic bomb, something that was recently invented during that time, instead of the usual items or methods suicide victims reach out for, only emphasizes Caulfield’s depressed and bothered state of