How Does The Catcher In The Rye Relate To Psychology

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“The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger is considered one of the best books of all time. This book hit many people around the world on a personal level, affecting them both positively and negatively. People claim this book was written specifically for them because of how much they can relate to Holden. This, for some people, was a good thing and the main reason they enjoyed the book, but others took it the wrong way. The two biggest cases of this was John Hinckley and Mark David Chapman, both of which murdered or attempted murder because they felt the book was telling them they had to. I am going to take a psychological approach on why these two men thought this, other people who thought the same thing, and Holden’s own criminal mindset. 1981 John Hinckley attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. 1980 Mark David Chapman murdered John Lennon. These two murders have one thing in common, “The Catcher in the Rye.” In John Hinckley’s case he attempted the assassination of President Ronald Reagan. Although unsuccessful, according to Hinckley himself …show more content…

People claimed Holden was talking to them personally, that J.D. Salinger was helping them through their problems, and that Holden related to them perfectly. To most people, these ideas lasted only a short time and were not too serious, but to others it meant the world. Famous criminals such as Chapman, Hinckley, and Bardo killed because they felt the book was talking to them or they were inspired by the book. These criminals might have done what they did because Holden himself contained psychopathic tendencies. Holden showed severe signs of depression, suicidal thoughts, lying, manipulation, and mostly insanity. Although we will never know the truth of Holden Caulfield for sure, we do know we was having a mental breakdown and somehow related to so many people across the globe for years

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