How Does Holden Present Depression In Catcher In The Rye

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Picture those teenage 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 two days early, Holden decides to spend his time exploring the streets of New York City. Along the way, he interacts with old teachers, nuns, prostitutes, and his youngest sister Phoebe. Throughout the narrative, Holden toys with language of depression, which hints at how he truly feels. In the novel, Holden’s disturbed state of mind stems from the terror of adulthood and the lingering…show more content…
Holden is scared of growing up because the older he gets, the higher the expectations from other people become and it becomes more evident that the past cannot be altered. Throughout the novel, he recalls specific events that he wishes he could change, like when he talks about his younger brother Allie or his friend Jane Gallagher. In addition, Holden’s constant dread of rejection often leads him to make impulsive decisions that end up affecting him negatively. At one point in the novel, Holden carelessly hires a prostitute. In addition, Holden avoids calling up Jane throughout the entire book because he is scared of what she will say to him. Like any normal person, Holden often wishes that he could go back in time and perhaps make smarter choices that would affect his life for the better. However, unlike normal people, Holden is not content with some of the choices that he made a long time ago. He is scared of becoming an adult because deep down he knows those decisions are permanent, and the weight of the responsibly that comes

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