Of Mental Health In Catcher In The Rye, By J. D. Salinger

“Having depression is like being scared and tired at the same time. It’s the fear of failure, but no urge to be productive. It’s wanting friends, but hating socializing. It’s wanting to be alone, But not wanting to be lonely.” In the story, Catcher in the Rye J.D Salinger explores the topic of mental health. Through his main character, Holden Caulfield, Salinger implies the protagonist is dealing with depression.

The book, Catcher in the Rye takes place in the 20th century, specifically the 1950’s. the public viewed mental health issues in much narrower minded terms. Having a rejecting attitude toward people with a mental illness was more common. For example, in chapter 12, when holden has a conversation with Horwitz, his cab driver. Holden asks, “You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South? That little lake? By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? Do you happen to know, by any chance?” (Salinger 35) . One can notice the cab driver becomes angry and annoyed. Horwitz responds irritated from holden’s stupid questions.

The way holden interacts and his repetitive questions show his “inability to adapt to his surroundings”. Holden’s character portrays a person dealing with a mental illness, and the cab driver cannot stand holden’s behavior.
Holden Caulfield shows several signs of depression. When wondering what could be causing him to be depressed the reasons are clear. Throughout the story it is almost as if holden is searching for someone or thing. It is revealed in chapter 5, on page 22 that holden’s younger brother, Allie died when holden was just 13. Losing a younger brother is something that could easily make a person depressed. The loss of holden’s brother affectfs how he doesn’t connect with other people. Holden rejects people who have lost their childhood innocence and calls them all words like “phony”. The night that allie died, Holden slept in the garage and broke all the windows with his bare hands resulting in being hospitalized and missing Allie's funeral . By holden reacting to allie's death, by harming himself, it shows the reader he probably harms himself because physical pain is easier to deal with than mental pain. Allies death gives context for Holden’s struggles with depression. Allie’s death impacts Holden's attitude, behavior and perception of life. Holden keeps all his emotions inside but when he talks about Allie we say a deeper, emotional side to holden. Realizing this tragedy holden went through, we see how his past still dictates his future.
Another major reason holden could be depressed is due to being neglected from his parents. In the novel, we rarely hear about Holden’s parents. He barely mentions them. The story starts out when holden is attending Pencey, a private school. We learn in the story that Holden has been kicked out of at least 3 schools. He flunks all of his classes except english at pencey prep,” I said I’d flunked out of pencey” ( Salinger 102). He also was kicked out of a preparatory school in pennsylvania. It seems as if Holden’s parents just send him off where ever and neglect his emotional needs. Holden goes searching for companionship since his parents are emotionally unavailable. An example of holden looking for companionship is when he gets off the train and looks for someone to call. But, holden has trouble thinking of whom to call, “ i couldn't think of anyone to call up”(salinger, 34). When he can’t think of who to call he starts a conversation up with his cab driver. Another example of Holden searching for companionship is when he invites Mrs. Marrow for a cocktail. “C’mon join me why dont you?” ( sallinger, 34) . In chapter 7, holden says he wants to come home after his parents have found the letter of him flunking out of pencey. “. I didn’t want to go home or anything till they got it and thoroughly digested it and all. I didn’t want to be around when they first got it. My mother gets very hysterical. She’s not too bad after she gets something thoroughly digested, though.” (Salinger 30). In chapter 21, Holden addresses the fact his mother is a light sleeper, “You can hit my father over the head with a chair and he
won’t wake up, but my mother, all you have to do to my mother is cough somewhere
in Siberia and she’ll hear you.

She’s nervous as hell. Half the time she’s up all night

smoking cigarettes.” (Salinger, 93). It is clear that holden doesn’t really have a strong relationship with either of his parents. Holden sneaks into his apartment and listens to his mother yell at his younger sister phoebe. While Holden hides he can’t even find the confidence to confront his mother. In chapter 23, Holden says his mother often has headaches, “She gets headaches quit frequently . She really does.” (Salinger 105). Holden describes his mother as suffering with constant headaches and says she is still experiencing grief. Holden knowing his mother still has grief makes him feel guilty about being an extra problem in her life. Being neglected by his parents has only increased holden’s

depression.
As a result of holden being depressed he alliniates himself. Holden has difficulty making friends. In holden’s mind everybody is a “phony”. Everyone to holden is a suck-up. Holden is so quick to call every person a name because it is easier in case they reject him. If they reject him he can just call them a “phony”, or a “moron” and move on.
Another result of Holden’s depression is flunking out of Pencey prep. Holden’s lack of motivation and effort says something. “One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies. That's all. They were coming in the goddam window. For instance, they had this headmaster, Mr. Haas, that was the phoniest bastard I ever met in my life. Ten times worse than old Thurmer. On Sundays, for instance, old Haas went around shaking hands with everybody's parents when they drove up to school. He'd be charming as hell and all. Except if some boy had little old funny-looking parents. You should've seen the way he did with my roommate's parents. I mean if a boy's mother was sort of fat or corny-looking or something, and if somebody's father was one of those guys that wear those suits with very big shoulders and corny black-and-white shoes, then old Hans would just shake hands with them and give them a phony smile and then he'd go talk, for maybe a half an hour, with somebody else's parents. I can't stand that stuff. It drives me crazy. It makes me so depressed I go crazy. I hated that goddam Elkton Hills.”( Salinger, 8). Holden seems to have problems with the people, rather than the school. Holden could do well school but chooses not to. Holden has gone through a very traumatic event and maybe getting kicked out of school is a behavior he has developed and expresses himself through it. Holden does not have friends, is not popular, athletic, or rich and is always being forced to go to a new school. Maybe holden flunking out is a way he feels something,
Lastly, Holden shows he is depressed by not returning home immediately after flunking out of pencey prep and adventuring New York. Holden does not want to return home until his parents receive the letter stating he has flunked out so he stays at a hotel in New York. Holden’s actions and encounters add to the fact he has a mental illness with no attention drawn to it from anyone. In chapter 12, Holden becomes more depressed and lonely. He wants to feel accepted and hang out. Holden talks to many characters but still feels lonely until he plans to return home. Holden talks to his cab driver, Horwitz “hey Horwitz” (salinger, 47). He talks to lillian simmons, Nuns, a prostitute and many more but still is depressed, seeking for someone to help him, “he is desperately hoping to have someone beside him in a world he can't fit himself into.”.
Some signs of depression are “feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness. loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities, thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts, aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment”. Holden seems to experience all of these symptoms. In chapter 18, Holden says “It took me quite a while to get to sleep- I wasn’t even tired- But finally i did. What i really felt like, though was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window”.(Salinger 62). It is obvious Holden Caulfield is dealing with a mental illness. The reasons and evidence are there. Holden is lonely, and missing his brother constantly. Being neglected by his parents does not help his issue. Holden is depressed and is struggling.