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The novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is about the narrator, Holden Caulfield, and his tale of adolescence. At the beginning of the novel, Holden Caulfield is leaving Pencey Prep, the most recent of a few private high schools he has attended and dropped out of. The story then trails into his adventure after leaving Pencey early to explore his home of New York City before returning to family, leading him to discover and learn from the people he interacts with as he slowly succumbs to the angst of adolescence. One question drawn when reading the novel is Holden’s mental health, which is seen in his narration and his self-claimed depression. According to a journal about psychological health in adolescents, one might conclude that …show more content…
Holden suffers from social isolationism, and has poor psychological health as a teenager. According to a study of social isolation, psychological health, and protective factors in adolescence written by Jennifer A. Hall-Lande, Marla E. Eisenberg, Sandra L. Christenson, and Dianne Neumark-Sztainer “social isolation may influence psychological health in adolescents, but protective factors such as family connectedness, school connectedness, and academic achievement may also play a key role” (Hall-Lande et.al, 265). The statement draws the connection that social isolationism is key to the mental health in adolescents, but factors like family, education, and relationships are as well. Holden has certainly shown repeatedly throughout the novel that he is socially isolated and does not have the best of these “protective factors”, be it family connectedness or concern for academics. Holden has a poor connection with most of his family, for one, he looks down on his brother D.B. for being a sellout, saying “He used to be just a regular writer, when he was home...Now he’s out in Hollywood, D.B., being a prostitute” (Salinger, 1-2) and seems to have an unhealthy one with his parents too. When referring to them he always speaks in a negative way, such as when he mentions their likely reaction to having information mentioned: “my parents would have two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them. They’re quite touchy about anything like that” (Salinger, 1) or how he wanted to avoid speaking to his parents when he wanted to talk to his sister: “damn near gave my kid sister Phoebe a buzz…I certainly felt like talking to her...But I couldn’t chance on giving her a buzz...I thought of maybe hanging up if my parents answered” (Salinger, 66-67). It seems odd that with the context of what personal information Holden meant, which was that his parents were constantly occupied in his childhood, that his parents would be sore over the truth of how they’ve raised him. He also can’t bring himself to speak with his parents, showing a lack of communication or want to interact. He didn’t have his parents around often in childhood, doesn’t want to speak to them, and then there is the fact that they sent him out of New York to Pencey Prep in Pennsylvania, putting more distance in their relationship. His only real family connections are with his sister Phoebe, and his deceased brother Allie. As the study states: “protective elements of family connectedness appear to derive from the connection to at least one nurturing adult” (Hall-Lande et.al, 268), and Holden appears to be lacking that connection in his life and that supports his social isolationism and weakens his mental health. In terms of education, he appears to care little for both academic achievement or his connection to the schools. According to Holden, he was kicked out of Pencey Prep “on account of I was flunking four subjects and not applying myself and all. They gave me frequent warning to start...but I didn’t do it” (Salinger, 4). He blatantly disliked Pencey Prep, he claimed that the school was full of crooks, mean guys, and phonies as well. In another school, Elkton Hills, his reasoning for leaving was, as he states, “Because I was surrounded by phonies. That’s all.” (Salinger, 13). According to the portion of the study on academic achievement and school connectedness as protective factors, “Schools are a forum in which adolescents have the opportunity to achieve both academically and socially...low-grade point average and grade retention are associated with a variety of risk factors including higher levels of emotional distress...students with higher levels of school connectedness report significantly lower levels of psychological problems...Strong connections to school are associated with safer behaviors, improved health outcomes for adolescents-” (Hall-Lande et.al, 269). Holden doesn’t use Pencey, Elkton Hills, or the other high schools he’s attended as a forum to achieve academically or socially, he finds his peers to be dislikable people and phonies, as he calls them, and in turn disconnects himself from school, leading to risk factors. He isolates himself socially from his peers and performs poorly in school, opening him to a higher risk of psychological problems and emotional distress. While all that has been said up to this point is how he is socially isolated from family and peers and how he is at risk of poor mental health, they’re relevant to his behavior and emotions in the book.
As the study states: “...findings revealed that social isolation was associated with an increased risk for depressive symptoms, suicide attempts, and low self-esteem.” (Hall-Lande et.al, 265). There are countless moments showing his isolation and poor mental health in the novel. Of the many examples of Holden being depressed, one happened when he went to the dorm room of his neighbor, Ackley, whom he dislikes. After talking to Ackley, as he says: “I went over and laid down on Ely’s bed. Boy, did I feel rotten. I felt so damn lonesome.” (Salinger, 48). Holden hates Ackley, he hates Pencey, he practically hates everyone, making him socially isolated and lonely even though he was in the same room as Ackley, and gets depressed because of such loneliness. Another example is his random mention of committing suicide just after getting robbed of five dollars by Maurice and Sunny, as he says “What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window.” (Salinger, 104). He displays the symptoms enough to make it obvious that he clearly has mental health issues which stem from his relationship with
others. In the novel, Holden finds solace and an escape from his social isolation in his little sister Phoebe, who he can talk to comfortably. She acts as a sort of guide for Holden to come to understand and deal with his social isolation and mental problems. Her criticism of him not liking anything helps him realize his problem, and by the end, he decided to do away with his ideas of running away to live in the isolated woods, among other crazy ideas, and returns home, and is likely narrating from a mental hospital. The way his problem is dealt with in the story does not seem like a far cry from how people deal with their problems in the real world; coming to a revelation about themselves because of others and working towards improvement. But Holden’s case seems different from how social isolation is portrayed and dealt with in the modern era, where people enjoy their isolation, and if they don’t, they try finding happiness with others. Holden seems to not care about his mental health when interacting with others or exploring New York City in contrast, being in a state of disliking the isolation, but putting no effort into finding happiness with others. But it is also notable that Holden builds up the courage to face his problems and get help for them, while many people in the modern era would just silently try and deal with it, struggling against it.
As Eugene McNamara stated in his essay “Holden Caulfield as Novelist”, Holden, of J.D. Salinger’s novel Catcher in the Rye, had met with long strand of betrayals since he left Pencey Prep. These disappointments led him through the adult world with increasing feelings of depression and self-doubt, leading, finally to his mental breakdown.
The catcher in the rye by J.D. Salinger is about a boy named Holden Caulfield and his struggles in one part of his life. Holden seem very normal to people around him and those he interacts with. However, Holden is showing many sighs of depression. A couple of those signs that are shown are: trouble sleeping, drinking, smoking, not eating right, and he talk about committing suicide a couple times during the book. On top of that Holden feel alienated plus the death of Holden’s brother Allie left Holden thinking he and no where to go in life.
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.
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.
He's so used to the idea of being alone that it becomes what he wants. Holden is so petrified of losing the people he is closest to, so he decides to not be close with anyone. He is afraid of the same repercussions from Allie. He would rather keep to himself than risk contentment, rationality, and stability. He for so many days after his removal from Pencey would by himself go to bars alone and try to drink away his pain. “I guess it was because I was feeling so damn depressed and lonesome” (Salinger 198). It’s during this time that Holden is falling down a dark, bottomless pit of depression and loneliness. It eventually almost became the death of him when he had isolated himself so much. He became sick, depressed, and full of anxiety. His decision to distance himself weakened him beyond his belief. “I still had that headache. It was even worse. And I think I was more depressed than I ever was in my whole life” (Salinger 252). His depression was starting to get the best of him and all he needed was to be comforted by someone other than
In the book, “The Catcher in The Rye” by J.D. Salinger, the main character is very strange in numerous ways. His name is Holden Caulfield and boy has he got something wrong with him. He rambles on and on about nonsense for the first 20-something chapters of the book. He only likes 3-4 people in the book. He smokes and drinks heavily at the ripe age of seventeen. He has been expelled out of numerous prep schools, and feels abandoned and not wanted. He has some sort of mental illness and I think I know what it is. I believe that Holden Caulfield has a mental illness known as Borderline Personality Disorder, also known as BPD. The reasoning for my thinking is that Holden’s actions match up with the symptoms of this illness and the isolation he
Do you ever wish you could return to the early time of your existence where the innocence and purity of childhood enveloped you on a day-to-day basis? These were the times when committing wrong doings were not only met with meager consequences, but also expected of you by the parental guardians or guides in your life. In "The Catcher in the Rye" , written by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, expresses his yearning for this feeling continuously throughout this detailed depiction of a struggling young man who craves nothing more than to make the dream he has given his entire being to, into a reality he can physically experience. A simpler way to help readers understand his complex idea is to compare his dream to the dreams of the fabled "Fountain of Youth" that countless stories are written about. Instead of the physical attributes that staying young would give an individual, the mental ideals of innocence and purity are the cause of Holden's tireless pursuit and inability to interact and function in every facet of society. The tragedies and socially awkward life that Salinger's character endures would be extremely damaging to most any human being's, already precariously balanced, mental health. The symptoms of popular health disorders such as bipolar disorder, anti-social disorder, and anxiety disorders are expressed prominently by Holden Caulfield throughout the entire novel.
As Holden Caulfield interacts with others and meets new challenges, he reveals his innermost feelings throughout The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. Some may interpret his behaviors as teenage angst, but others find that Holden reveals traits of a mental disorder. Specifically, Holden suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder. Borderline Personality Disorder “is a serious mental illness marked by unstable moods, behavior, and relationships” (NIMH). He often experiences uncontrollable rage that results in altercations and behaves on impulse when handling money. He also shows signs of addiction when consuming alcohol. Additionally, Holden has trouble maintaining positive relationships with
This is the first psychiatric hospital admission for the patient, a 17 year-old male. The subject freely admitted himself to care at 13:00 hours on November 28, 1958. Mr. Holden Caulfield arrived at the hospital in the company of his parents--whose consent was necessary given Holden's legal status as a minor--and his younger sister Phoebe. His induction took place without any incident.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about one in four American adults suffer from a mental disorder. This means that 57.7 out of 217.8 million people over the age of 18 are ill; never mind that mental illnesses are the leading cause of disability in Canada and the United States. Holden Caulfield, the controversial main character of J.D Salinger’s novel Catcher in the Rye, spends much of the book wandering through the streets of New York City. Kicked out of boarding school for the umpteenth time, he does many odd things: he calls a prostitute, tries to befriend a taxi driver, drinks with middle aged women, and sneaks into his own house in the middle of the night. While many of these things seem outré, some may even go as far as to say that he is mentally disturbed. From a psychiatric standpoint, main character Holden Caulfield exhibits the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder (manic depression), and psychosis throughout the infamous novel Catcher in the Rye.
It is a mental illness that can sometimes occur in teenagers as a response to a sudden traumatic experience or abandonment. Symptoms of depression that directly relate to Holden’s behaviour include: loss of appetite, depressed or irritable mood, failing relations with family and friends, faltering school performance, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or self-hatred and obsessive fears or worry about death. Holden lost his younger brother Allie to cancer when he was only thirteen years old. An event such as this is can be traumatic to a young person and cause feelings of sadness and/or depression. Thoughts about suicide is another common symptom of depression. Holden expresses thoughts about committing suicide in Chapter 14 after Maurice assaults him: “What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would've done it, too, if I’d been sure somebody’d cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn't want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory” (Salinger,
Psychoanalysis is a psychoanalytical theory and therapy that aims to treat mental disorders by investigating the conscious and unconscious elements in a human mind by bringing fears to the conscious mind. According to Sigmund Freud, “The unconscious silently directs the thoughts and behavior of the individual” (Freud 95). Holden Caulfield, the main character in J.D Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, is sixteen years old and does not act his own age for he is stuck in his own private world, filled with pain and suffering. In the novel, Holden can be observed through a psychoanalytical view, which provides the reader a clear understanding of his unconscious mind. Holden is displayed as a troubled and foolish teenager who is flunking from another private school for boys. This in the story is ironic for, Holden states, “’That sonuvabitch Hartzell thinks you’re a hot-shot in English, and he knows you’re my rommmate” (Salinger 28). Teacher’s think that Holden is good in school, but his mental issue affects him academically and in addition to his inability to deal with life. Salinger begins his novel with Holden explicitly stating, “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like…” (Salinger 1). Seeing Holden through a psychoanalytical point we can assume that his lousy childhood can be the cause of his feeling of being lost, repression, and his unstable emotions if depression and isolation. According to another psychologist that agrees to Freudian theory, Lacan states, “Human behavior is often something of puzzle, requiring concerted acts of investigation to discover root causes and multiple effects” (Hall 105).
A major theme throughout The Catcher in the Rye is the feeling of sadness. The amount of times that Holden uses the words “depressed” or “depressing” is innumerable compared to the amount of times he says “happy.” No matter what he’s doing or who he’s talking to, Holden always finds a way to feel sad and depressed. Today, this would be called Clinical Depression. It goes along with his many psychological problems that are obvious in the book. Because of his depression and various problems, throughout the story there are many examples of Holden being depressed for no apparent reason and very few of him being happy.
J.D Salinger’s novel, Catcher In The Rye is about a teen, Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the narrative. Holden is full of unique problems and most of the time lost in his own world, that can’t face reality. The psychoanalytic theory arranges a lens of definition when working at Holden Caulfield. Holden is seen as a lonely, rebellious teen who flunked out of an all boys private school, Pencey Prep. Failing school exemplifies how Holden controls his own decisions in the real world. As stubborn Holden is, opening up his persona and experiences to people is very hard for him, “I’ll just tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me…” (Salinger 1). From a Freudian psychoanalytical perspective Holden would seem to keep all his thoughts all bottled up, not speaking, and opening up to people. “The preconscious holds information we’ve stored from past experience or learning. This information can be retrieved from memory and brought into awareness at any time.” (Nevid 469). Holden is one step closer to becoming a better changed person by speaking to his psychiatrist, and there is only way to find out if he did.
People’s shortcomings cause them to look at themselves and the environment around them, Holden does this multiple times throughout the book. “It’s a funny kind of yellowness, when you come to think of it, but it’s yellowness, all right. I’m not kidding myself,” (100). Holden doesn’t delude himself into thinking he’s perfect, which will allow him to better understand himself and his needs, but it also causes him some problems, like depression. Depression is said to ail everyone at least once at some point in their lives, Salinger makes it apparent that Holden is suffering it throughout the novel. “What I really felt like doing, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would have done it, too, if I’d been sure somebody’d cover me up as soon as I landed,” (116-117). Depression and suicide are still present in today’s society, and unfortunately a part or many people’s lives, contributing to the American