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Examples Of Mental Illness In Catcher In The Rye

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Holden Caulfield’s Mental Health Argument Essay Insanity is adjective that is state of mind that prevents normal perception, behavior and or social interaction. It is characterized or caused by ‘madness’, a state of extreme annoyance or distraction, and extreme irrationality and foolishness. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger, the main character Holden Caulfield struggles to find his place as he continuously switches schools. As Holden walks around New York, he does very odd things such as ask his taxi driver where the ducks in the pond go during the winter when the pond freezes over. While his behavior may seem peculiar and off putting, in Holden’s case, these are usual for him. His behavior is consistent to what he has experienced.
Holden Caufield is not insane because he has never been diagnosed with a mental illness and his odd behavior is characterized by the situation that he is in.
Holden Caufield is not insane because he has never talked about being diagnosed with a mental illness. While Holden may show symptoms of many mental illnesses, it was never mentioned in the novel that Holden ever had a diagnosed mental illness. In the novel, Holden is the type of character to admit what he is thinking and be direct about what he is thinking. As the novel narrated by Holden Caulfield, he …show more content…

The novel was written in first person so that could give a first hand account of happened. Holden did not ever discuss him being diagnose with having a mental illness. He also is straightforward about what he is thinking and is honest in his own way. Holden’s behavior is typical of what has happened to him although his behavior may be perceived as odd. As Holden matures, he will begin to cope better with his surrounding environment and help him feel ‘normal’ again. What are considered Holden’s oddities could be found in almost everyone in different

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As the book starts Holden describes his childhood and how he has been kicked out of several school and once more again from his currently school, giving a sense of irresponsibility and no care in the world. Holden later on mentioned slowly the loss of his brother due to leukemia and how he reacted outrageously by breaking the windows of his garage home. As a reader one would view that behavior as abnormal, but Peter Shaw descried it as a normal behavior for a fictional character in the 1950s and by mentioning that Holden, “is presenting in a somewhat different manner than are the sentimentalized young people in other novels if his period” (par. 3), admitting that Holden was somewhat of an outcast of a character even for its time he is still considered normal. Shaw also challenged the reader’s view of Holden by emphasizing that Holden is not a real person, but a fiction character developed in the 1950s and in fact a mad psychological character is normal and made the reading rather more interesting and acceptable during that time. As readers someone may come across as understanding Holden’s behavior due to a loss and everyone mourns differently and as Shaw said, “ the one period of life in which abnormal behavior is common rather than exceptional” (par.

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Holden is unaware of his problem. When people try to help him he tells them there is nothing wrong with him. Holden wonders why he cannot connect with others. He blames it on other people when the source of his problems is himself. Holden’s past holds him back from connecting with others, but his fear of letting go of his past has him limited and scarred from making new relationships and connections.

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