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Character analysis of catcher in the rye
Character analysis of catcher in the rye
Character analysis of catcher in the rye
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Holden Caulfield’s early loss of innocence causes him to fiercely guard the innocence of others, resulting in pain for him when he realizes that his attempts are futile. Holden’s negative experiences with the adults in his life lead to his valuing the idea of innocence. Despite his bad role models, Holden clings to the concept that integrity is the most important quality in a person. While reflecting on one of his old boarding schools, he expresses his dislike for its “phony” headmaster, Mr. Haas. He complains, “[O]ld Haas went around shaking hands with everybody's parents when they drove up to school.
We learn that through the book he has many breakdowns and outbursts of emotion and feelings. Holden says, “He got leukemia and died when we were up in Maine, on July 18, 1946.” Holden says this with deep sadness and sympathy for the death of his brother. However, his day to day emotions are entirely different. His view of life is that everyone and everything in our society is a “phony.”
Mental Breakdowns During High school many students struggle with grades and what they want to be when they are older. Holden Caulfield doesn’t worry about these things. He doesn’t apply himself in school which causes him to be kicked out repeatedly. Throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Sallinger Holden struggles with depression and mental breakdowns.
While it is clear that teenagers typically suffer from mood swings and unsettling behavior, this is not the case for Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye. J.D Salinger portrays his protagonist, Holden, as a cynical and unstable character whose issues may seem dismal; however, his actions and recurring thoughts prove to be much graver than expected and correspond to many of the signs of a psychological disorder described in the article “What’s Normal and What’s Not”. Often, Holden does appear to be dealing and coping with his issues like any other teenager. For example his cynical judgements, listless attitude, and need for independence can very well be perceived as normal rebellious behaviors seen in adolescents.
Holden´s Behavior Holden Caulfield is a teenager growing up in 1950’s America. He has been through an ordeal, both physically and mentally, and is going through a pivotal time in his life, arguably caused by the death of his brother, Allie, only a few short years before. Holden runs away from his school, Pencey Prep, and wanders around New York for the vast majority of the story. During this journey, he is faced with the fact that he must grow up, something he does not take lightly. While it may be noted that Holden Caulfield wasn’t quite able to express himself through practical means, his thought processes can be surmised as identical to those of the typical teenager.
Emotional pain is present in everyone's life, and this is seen again In the novel, “The Catcher in the Rye”. The main character, Holden, experiences pain due to the fact that he is different from all the other kids, and doesn’t fit in the way he desires. This leads him to realize his desire to be alone, and to escape the control of others. Holden receives pain when he isn’t accepted. For example, when he sees his old friend, Sally, he tells her his idealistic plan to escape together to live in a cabin- where no adults are.
Growing up was the last thing Holden ever wanted to do. Though Holden tries utmost to fit in the adult world, but he can’t find the right path to follow to. He sees the world in with a different view of the people and society. The number of people he enjoys being with are as many as how many fingers in a human’s hand. Everywhere he seems to go, he has some bad things to say about it.
Numerous young adults currently struggle with mental health and the psychological disorders that come along with it. Holden Caulfield, the main character in the novel The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger. I am a salinger. Holden consistently portrays traits of mental illness that affect him daily. He grows up in a home where his parents do not properly care for him, and his brother sadly passes at a young age.
Holden’s background reflects the way depression occurs in adolescents of his age. Many attributes to depression included in the article such as “Poor performance in school, Lack of enthusiasm, etc.” (Mental Health America, 1) cause Holden to have emotions related to depression. Holden feel this way because his past experiences including the stress and pain he has worsens his mood and demeanor. Also contributing to his depression, everyone around does not realize the pain he is in so he smokes and drinks to get rid of his pain.
Many people in our society refuse to think that mental illness is something real or that it affects many people. Mental illness is something that is looked over and never gets any real attention. Many people are not able to get help because they don’t have the resources or it is considered to feminine. “The C-Word in the Hallways” by Anna Quindlen and the book, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger and the movie Dead Poets Society, explore society’s attitude towards teenage mental health. Anna Quindlen explained that if people aren’t able to get proper mental health care, then they could possibly do something harmful to themselves or others.
Holden Caulfield Is Mental Roughly three percent of the United States population, approximately 314,341,830 people, suffers from bipolar disorder. Holden Caulfield, from Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, has bipolar II disorder. This particular disorder is when an individual displays two extreme demeanors, yet not at persistent levels as shown in bipolar I disorders. This novel was written during an era that did not acknowledge mental illness very often; therefore Holden did not have the tools at his disposal to learn healthy coping mechanisms.
Every child wishes to grow up without fully comprehending that adulthood is a cruel reality. Once that child becomes an adult, he immediately wishes for a younger, simplified lifestyle. Through the use of symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger demonstrates the theme that a manipulative and corrupt adult world revokes childhood innocence. The red hunting hat symbolizes individuality that the adult world criticizes.
It 's feeling everything at once than feeling paralysingly numb,” writes Maria Henriksson. Mental illness refers to many conditions that individuals could go through. For example depression, addictive behaviors, and eating disorder have effects that could indicate whether or not an individual has a mental illness. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, Holden faces many hardships after his brother 's death. Holden 's mental illness is inferred through his lack of control, isolating himself from others, and relieving the past which caused him to not move
Boy gone crazy or depressed? Holden is in a deep depression but, does he stay depressed or go crazy? After Holden’s brother (Allie) dies he gets very depressed. Holden wasn 't even able to attend the funeral.
Sickness comes in many forms, but perhaps the most misunderstood form happens mentally. All of the events that happen to the main character in The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield, are caused in some way or another by his mental illness. Holden Caulfield is a boy who drops out of school and travels to New York City. Holden makes irresponsible decisions like when he travels to New York City by himself without permission which affects him mentally. Holden’s mental illnesses affects his decision making,specifically his decision to stay in school and his inability to connect with people.
