Catcher in the Rye Psychological Analysis Essay

J. D. Salingers The Catcher in the rye portrays Holden Caulfield, a New York City stripling in the 1950s, as a manic-depressive. or so critics of Salingers novel assert that Holden is too whiney and annoying as a character. What these critics fail to realize is that Holdens actions through come in the novel perfectly exemplify that of a get down teenager. Manic genial picture, compulsive lying, and immatureness through discover the novel characterize Holden. Holdens notion finds its roots with the death of his brother, Allie. Holden is expelled from numerous school days due to his poor academics brought on by his depression.The manner that Holden sees himself and how he sees others leads him to be expelled from school. harmonize to Michael Martins book titled immature slack, depressed teenagers can struggle with depression for month or years. It is a mental disorder which includes whole t iodines of worthlessness, trustlessness, guilt, problems with concentration (Teen Depression). Throughout the novel, Holden exhibits these manifestations kinda frequently. In fact, Holden constitutes his depression clear when he expresses how, packing depressed me a little, (51, Catcher).Holden expresses these feelings when he packs his bags after being notified that he is expelled. Holden leaves school and heads for New York City, where he finds himself to be much lonely and depressed than ever. When alone, Holden laments that what I authentically felt like doing was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out of the window. (104, Catcher). in addition ashamed to return home, knowing his get will be upset and his novice will be angry with him, Holden turns to thoughts of suicide. He also adds that I wasnt feeling sleepy or anything, but I was feeling sort of lousy. deject and all, I almost wished I was dead, (90, Catcher). Critics tend to trace Holden as being just an angst pierce teenager, whose perspective of the world around him is falsify. spot these critics may view these attributes as annoying, they genuinely serve to provide an emotional depth onset by Holdens depression. For example, negativeness and discouragement is often a symptom of depression, so when Holden narrates, Im fine sure he yelled depend up to(p) luck at me. I hope not. I hope to hell not. Id never yell practised luck at anybody. It sounds terrible, when you think approximately it. (78, Catcher) Salinger is simply channeling the thoughts of a depressed teenager.Depression is a disease which causes the victim to gain this hopeless state of mind, so by nature outside observers may be irked by Holdens actions. However, this excerpt clearly illustrates the warped mindset of a depressed teen. Depressed teenagers tend to believe that their situation is unaccompanied hopeless, and cannot possibly be rectified. The utter hopelessness which accompanies depression is not a uncommon phenomenon and is perhaps the most troubling eyeshot of the disease. Holdens actions in the novel could easy be attributed to these symptoms.According to Teen Depression, depressed teenagers tend to look for embossment in sex, drugs, or alcohol abuse. In the ill-considered time frame of the novel, Holden sought out 2 out of the 3 aforesaid(prenominal) items. These actions could be attributed to his desire to seek out a temporary form of relief in his life. Drinking allows Holden to escape from his heavy, pessimistic mentality. While Holden was with the prostitute, he was able to justify himself of his overwhelming isolation. Eric Lomazoff summarizes Holdens situation beat out when he differentiates that Holden was simply trying to make the best of his life, though ultimately loosing that meshing (Lomazoff).Holden Caulfield is not a bad person, as so many critics make him out to be. In fact, Lomazoff goes as far to say that Holden is a good guy stuck in a bad world. The of import reason why The Catcher in the Rye is so revered is because Salin ger is able to embody the perspective of a trouble teenager so seamlessly. Holdens depression is perhaps the most critical lot of Salingers story. It is clear that upon closer examination, one would discover that Holden is not just a troubled teenager, but a clinically depressed one.