Holden's Depression In The Catcher In The Rye

The classic novel, The Catcher in the Rye, follows a teenage boy with odd behaviors he seems to possess. Living during a time period of thriving and booming industries the teenage boy, Holden Caulfield has a difficult time fitting in within his society. As seen throughout the novel Holden lacks interest in various activities. Living in a world of “phonies”, he believes, makes him distance himself from others. He tries to associate with others, but he finds himself setting the thought of it aside, or just not enjoying the company of that person. When examining the novel further Holden’s deep-rooted problems can be seen. Throughout the novel it is evident that Holden suffers from depression that affects his way of thinking and living a life

Throughout the novel Holden expresses his feeling of deep sadness to the reader. Holden’s sadness is being triggered by small incidents that occur in his daily life. Holden’s inability to function within his society without feeling a rush of deep sadness shows that he is emotionally damaged. For example, when Holden went to the bar for a drink he was disgusted by the audience clapping for the excellent piano player that he believed was phony, he states, “I partly blame all these dopes that clap their heads off--they’d foul up anybody, if you gave them a chance. Anyway, it made me feel depressed and lousy again, and I damn near got my coat back and went back to the hotel, but it was too early and I didn’t feel much like being alone,” (Salinger 95). The way Holden overreacts about the crowd clapping to the point where he gets depressed it shows his suffering of psychological problems. The depression that he suffers from affects his thoughts and the emotional feelings he suffers from are not normal adolescent emotional behaviors. Holden finds himself drinking away his pain, or attempts to over the smallest incidents that occur in his life. Several times throughout the novel, his thoughts get too much for him he wishes he was dead. The unhealthy thoughts of this adolescent boy indicates that his thoughts are being influenced by his