From the day Catcher in the Rye came out, Holden Caulfield has become a representation of aguish, depression and angst. Even at the start of the novel the reader is instantly aware of his troubled past. Holden has flunked out of many schools and expresses a dislike for everything he comes across. J.D Salinger, the author of Catcher in the Rye, reveals Holden’s personal thoughts through first person narration. Holden often acts impulsively due to the fact he has a lack of self-control. Along with that, he is also a habitual liar. Holden lies freely, which ends up ruining most of the relationships he makes with the other characters in the novel. Although never clearly stated, Holden Caulfield’s mental instability is implied through his constant lying, lack of self-control, and his deliberate alienation from anyone he …show more content…
For example, when Holden was thirteen, Allie, his younger brother, passed away. Flooded by emotions, Holden impulsively broke all of the windows in his garage because he was too blinded by anger to think through his actions before he executed them. He then claims that it was “just for the hell of it” (39). This on its own suggests that he is not a psychologically healthy teenager, due to the fact that he doesn’t have a thought process behind his actions. Through times of extreme stress or trauma isn’t the only time this lack of self control is shown, it is also shown through his everyday life. Blinded by the heat of an argument, Holden tries to punch his roommate, Stradlater. He says, “I tried to sock him, with all my might, right smack in the toothbrush, so it would split his goddam throat open” (43). His violent behavior towards Stradlater was baffling due to the fact he had just described Stradlater as “a pretty friendly guy” (26). “Holden’s repeated lack of control is not normal adolescent behavior and is a clear indication that he is not mentally sound.”