Catcher In The Rye Depression Essay

The novel "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger is very interesting novel in which the main character, Holden, intrigues the reader with his unpredictable actions and upfront judgments of his surroundings. Holden alienates himself to try and help protect him from the outside world and conserve his innocence. He constantly proves this to reader many in times in the novel by, telling characters he feels different, wearing clothing that makes him stand out even though it may make him look stupid, and failing to come through in relationships with characters in the story.

Teenage years are difficult. Time tells this story of struggle again and again. The Catcher in the Rye is a classic novel showing the struggles a teenager goes through while transitioning into adulthood. The main character, Holden Caulfield, is a judgmental and temperamental boy who struggles to see the positivity in life. Throughout the story, Holden searches to find himself, as he feels forced to grow up. He holds onto aspects of his childhood and isolates himself so much that it is even harder for him to transition. J.D. Salinger uses the red hunting hat, the museum and cigarettes as important symbols in the story to convey the themes of transitioning from childhood to adulthood, loneliness, and isolation.

Holden Caufield emphasizes on the loss of innocence in children. He feels that once they lose their innocence, they will soon turn into phonies like everyone else. The loss of innocence is very common in the development in human existence. It is caused by many factors. Past a certain age, children are either forced or led unintentionally into a pathway of corruption. A child is also known to lose their innocence by desires, fantasies, and attention. But once they lose their innocence, they tend to desire to go back and pretend to be young again. In the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden discusses the importance of innocence in children's lives. He feels that once a child loses his/her innocence, he/she will soon be leaded to a

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

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, portrays Holden Caulfield as a manic-depressive. Holden uses three techniques throughout the novel to cope with his depression. He smokes, drinks, and talks to Allie. Although they may not be positive, Holden finds comfort in these three things.

Depression, a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. This mental illness demonstrates to affect teens as much as it affects adults. Studies show that 20 percent of teens will experience teen depression before they reach adulthood. When you deal with depression, you often find it difficult to live an everyday normal life. The “Catcher in the Rye” written by J.D Salinger, narrates on the main character Holden Caulfield, a hostile and negative person, who suffers from severe depression.

Everybody feels depressed at some time or another in their lives.  However, it becomes a problem when depression is so much a part of a person's life that he or she can no longer experience happiness.  This happens to the young boy, Holden Caulfield in J.D Salinger's novel, The Catcher in the Rye.  Mr. Antolini accurately views the cause of Holden's depression as his lack of personal motivation, his inability to self-reflect and his stubbornness to overlook the obvious which collectively results in him giving up on life before he ever really has a chance to get it started.

Also, the switching of private schools and the way his parents are always neglecting him is another reason of his depression. An example of how they describe Holden’s depression is found early in the novel. In chapter 1, Old Spencer says “Life is a game boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules.” Then Holden replies with, “Yes sir. I know it is. I know it…Game my a**. Some game. If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then it’s a game, all right- I’ll admit that. But if you get on the other side, where there aren’t any hot-shots, then what’s a game about it? Nothing. No Game” (Salinger 8). This quote shows that Holden is a victim of depression and in his thoughts he compares himself as not being with the “hot-shots”, which means that he is alienated in society. However, in A Separate Peace, Gene doesn’t have this conflict because he belongs to a club. This club that he is in is called the Super Suicide Society in the Summer Session where his major conflict started. When Gene causes Finny to have and accident, it haunts him throughout the story. As it haunts him, it develops their friendship into a relationship with jealousy. While this continues, Finny encounters another accident from the confession of the first accident and breaks his leg again. As a result, Finny dies through a surgery from his injury and Gene puts himself in a situation of guilt because if he didn’t break Finny’s leg

Holden is in a cab on his way to Ernie’s and after he asks the driver with Holden. When Holden asks why he is “sore” about it, the cab driver denies being upset. Holden seems to constantly anger people throughout the story due to his blunt way of addressing topics and his inability to see the positive side of things. The cab driver on the other hand, is clearly upset, but is instead choosing to be passive aggressive by denying his anger. I do not like when people are passive aggressive. I would much rather someone talk to me directly and maturely if they are upset.

14.8 million Americans are affected by depression each year (ADAA/Depression) . Depression can affect people of any age, but it affects teenagers at a higher rate than any other age group. In the Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield goes through life changing events that make him develop depression. Throughout the novel, Holden displays clear symptoms of depression as he loses interest in everything he used to enjoy, has trouble at school and, has thoughts of suicide.

On the other hand, Holden has degraded and dehumanized adulthood to a sort of hell where people are phony, shallow, and everything wrong with the world. Holden makes life out to be as simple as innocence and good rest within childhood and phoniness and evil rest within adulthood. However, the world is not as simple as he depicts it to be, a factor that Holden is unable to accept which will contribute to his decrease in sanity and happiness. The ugliness of the world deeply affects Holden. He can’t come to terms with this ugliness and it is this harsh reality that starts to drive him mad.

“That's the whole trouble. When you're feeling very depressed, you can't even think.” During the 1940’s, author, J.D. Salinger was in World War II. The war traumatized him and many others tremendously, he became extremely scared and depressed. Salinger had PTSD and breakdowns from the war and ended up in a mental hospital.

“I swear to God I’m crazy. I admit it.” It is very easy to automatically assume that Holden Caulfield is crazy. It’s even a logical assumption since Caulfield himself admits to being crazy twice throughout the course of the book. However, calling Holden Caulfield crazy is almost the same as calling the majority of the human race crazy also. Holden Caulfield is just an adolescent trying to prevent himself from turning into what he despises the most, a phony. Most of Caulfield’s actions and thoughts are the same as of many people, the difference being that Holden acts upon those thoughts and has them down in writing.

After sitting in the rain for an hour, I decided to take old Phoebe home. We decided to walk. Phoebe started talking about the guy she liked, and it reminded me of Jane, the hell I know why. Honestly, I didn't listen to her at all, all I know about this guy is that his name his Bob and that he likes playing football. And then I heard Phoebe’s voice, “Holden you are coming home right?” I didn't know what to goddam say. I knew I couldn't, but I said “Yes”, I didn’t want to make her sad. When we got home my mom opened the door and she was so goddam happy to see me but even with all the happiness in her eyes you could see that something was wrong. I bet it had something to do with Allie.

Location is another thing that Holden and I have in common. He lives in New York City and the book was mostly set in NYC. That is my hometown; I was born there and lived there until I was six years old. I had many adventures along the streets of New York when I was younger, going to the museums and zoos. Holden created many memories in his weekend on the streets. He went to a museum and a zoo towards the conclusion of the book, too. Another location is Ivy League schools. In Chapter 12, Holden states that his father wants him to go to an Ivy League school such as Yale or Princeton. I can relate to this; my parents also want me and are pushing me to get into an Ivy League school. I am supposed to aim