Depression, a very common mental disease among adolescents, is a reoccurring theme though Holden’s journey in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Although Holden, the main character of the story, is shown as a very cynical character who mocks others for not having his exact ideals, it is apparent he is struggling with a mental disorder and ridicules others for what he is most insecure about. Holden’s spiral into depression was most likely set in motion by the death of his younger brother Allie
Depression is a well-known mental illness currently affecting millions in the US. Although most people have knowledge of it, it is usually difficult to tell if a certain person is depressed. In J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher In The Rye, a teenager named Holden is expelled from his high school, Pencey Prep. He decides to stay in New York for a few nights instead of returning home, to let his parents’ anger subside. He makes progressively worse decisions throughout the novel, and it ends with his
Depression is one of the most destructive and common mental illnesses found in both adults and adolescents today. As a matter of fact, according to www.cdc.gov, about 1 in every 10 Americans will be diagnosed with depression during their lifetime. An article on www.WebMD.com states that this can prove to be extremely disastrous because untreated depression can have many side effects including insomnia, low self-esteem, and thoughts of suicide regardless of the cause of depression. J.D. Salinger demonstrates
Adolescent depression is a serious issue in real life that is touched upon in many literature works. These works include magazines, newspapers, books, and just articles in general. Even though these works may handle the concept in different ways, they still touch upon it similarly. So similar that parallels can often be made. An article by Mental Health America and the famous realistic fiction novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger have parallels that form. While the article directly talks
years; the struggles of school, maybe a childhood sweetheart, and taking that final step into the adult world. Now, imagine a strong obsession with depression. Envision being terrified at any form of rejection from others. Holden Caulfield experiences all the mentioned aspects when he recounts his own adolescent years. J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, depicts Holden Caulfield’s life after getting expelled from Pencey Prep, a prestigious private school based in Pennsylvania. After leaving school
“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved” Mother Teresa. J.D Salinger integrates loneliness into “Catcher in the Rye” and “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” to prove that each and every person needs love, family, and friendship to maintain a healthy and stable mind. Without valuable human connections, it can lead to insanity and depression. With no one to communicate with, it is understandable to feel isolated, misunderstood, and alone. The importance of connecting with
start missing everybody” (Salinger 277). Through this quote, JD Salinger, the brilliant author behind The Catcher in the Rye, gives us a deep perspective about his novel by showing the true feelings behind the complex character who is Holden Caulfield. Salinger was born on January 1, 1919 in New York City and became a world renowned author after the creation of his first novel, The Catcher in the Rye. In 1942, Salinger was drafted into the army after the invasion of Pearl Harbor where he devised multiple
This is how Holden who is the main character from The Catcher in the Rye (written by J.D Salinger) viewed society. Holden was very cynical and had a poor attitude about the world. He was defiant when it came towards his friends and displays an immature, foul behavior and makes careless decisions. Holden was also blind because his focus was on other people and not himself. Holden shows these traits throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye. Holden Caulfield is a cynical, isolated teenager who
The Catcher and the Rye What makes a person insane is when they start making irrational decisions. In, The Catcher and the Rye, Holden Caulfield faces many challenges growing up to his teenage years. Those challenges affect his state of mental health. Truly sane people can distinguish their perceptions and biases from outside sources and influences. People who are sane have a view of the world that coincides with reality. People who are sane accept things, even the bad things that happened and
Holden Caulfield spent most of the first and second acts of J.D. Salinger's novel, The Catcher in the Rye, desperately trying to find his calling in life. The book's narrative began shortly after Holden's expulsion from Pencey Prep, as he again veered off the path to a prestigious college and a suitable job set for him and the other 'high-class kids'. Holden decided to avoid his parents by going to New York, and although he arranged dates and socialized on multiple occasions, he internally derided