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Catcher In The Rye Depression Research Paper

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Depression is an active theme in J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye.” Holden does not properly treat his depression because he ignores help, abuses substances, and bottles up his emotions. Before reading “The Catcher in the Rye,” I believed that depression is completely not a choice, but after I realized that although it isn’t a choice, there are still ways of treating depression.
Holden refuses to accept help from other people. As soon as I was inside, I couldn 't think of anybody to call up. My brother D.B. was in Hollywood. My kid sister Phoebe goes to bed around nine o 'clock— so I couldn 't call her up...My parents would be the ones...Then I thought of calling up this guy that went to the Whooton School when I was there, Carl Luce, …show more content…

Holden uses cigarettes and alcohol to cover up his depression but this leads to addiction which makes Holden more depressed. “Would you care for a cigarette? I asked her. She looked all around. I don’t believe this is a smoker, Rudolf...That killed me. That’s all right. We can smoke till they start screaming at us” (p.55-56) Holden smokes to relieve stress but what he doesn’t realize is that it only makes him sick.
Holden keeps quiet about his suicidal thoughts. I thought probably I 'd get pneumonia and die. I started picturing millions of jerks coming to my funeral and all. My grandfather from Detroit, that keeps calling out the numbers of the streets when you ride on a goddam bus with him, and my aunts – I have about fifty aunts – and all my lousy cousins. What a mob 'd be there. They all came when Allie died, the whole goddam stupid bunch of them. (p.154) Holden’s depression and feeling are very important but Holden bottles up his emotions by refusing to tell anyone about his suicidal thoughts.
Holden ignores help from other people, gets addicted to smoking and alcohol, and bottles up his emotions. The text clearly proves that Holden does not accept help from other, has addictions, and bottles up his emotions. Holden clearly does not treat his depression

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