Examples Of Clinical Depression In Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher in the Rye was written by J.D. Salinger in 1951. It focuses on a teenage boy named Holden who struggles with symptoms of clinical depression. Clinical depression is a serious mood disorder that causes symptoms that affect how one feels, thinks, and handles daily activities. Throughout the novel, Holden displays several of the symptoms of clinical depression, including persistent sadness and feelings of hopelessness, guilt, and worthlessness. His depressive characteristics negatively affect his relationship with others and his ability to function in his daily life. Holden is forced into a private school that promotes the conformity of its students to the wealthy class. He does not feel as if he belongs, and his attendance makes him

Before attending Pencey Prep, Holden went to a school called Elkton Hills. He transferred out of the school because he “was surrounded by phonies” (17). Holden gives a specific example of the headmaster of Elkton Hills, Mr. Haas, acting phony. He says that Mr Haas would shake all of the parents’ hands and be polite and charming, but whenever he saw parents that looked unusual, such as a father wearing a suit with “very big shoulders and corny black-and-white shoes” (17) he would briefly greet him and resume a conversation with wealthier appearing parents. Holden says, “I can’t stand that stuff. It drives me crazy. It makes me so depressed I go crazy” (17). Throughout the novel, Holden repeats that he hates phoniness. When Holden goes home and talks with Phoebe, he explicitly says: “‘All you have to do to depress somebody is give them a lot of phony advice while you’re looking for your initials in some can door’” (186). Holden describes the situation that he was in at Pencey. On Veterans’ Day, Pency’s previous graduates would come back and visit the school with their families. When he attended the school, one of the alumni carved his initials into the bathroom door. He went to look to see if they were still there on Veterans’ Day while he was giving Holden and Stradlator advice for their futures. Holden finds the advice phony and it reminds him of the little hope that he has for his