Similarities Between Catcher In The Rye And It's Kind Of A Funny Story

The Novel The Catcher in the Rye and movie It’s Kind of a Funny Story take the reader on a journey into the minds of two teenage boys as they struggle with depression. Holden from the novel The Catcher in the Rye is an immature yet snarky sixteen-year-old boy that struggles after significant factors, including the death of his younger brother. He fails to make connections with others and fears adulthood. However, Craig from It’s Kind of a Funny Story wants to end his life but soon realizes it might not be the right decision. This results in him checking himself into a hospital to seek help due to the depression and pressure he feels from his parents. Craig is shy but artistic and hilarious once you get to know him. Both characters struggle

Craig and Holden similarly struggle with depression and can create a deep connection with the reader. Overwhelmed by the world, these characters become unable to remain content with their lives. It is this that ultimately makes them relatable characters as they fight an internal conflict throughout the story. Holden’s struggle with transitioning into adulthood and Craig’s undeniable pressure from his surrounding circle are topics that many teenagers can identify with. When Holden is in central park and passes by a lagoon, he says, "I was wondering if it would be frozen over when I got home, and if it was, where did the ducks go. I was wondering where the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over"( ). This is symbolism for Holden, the ducks representing his desperate attempt to cling to childhood. He, just like Craig struggles with this depression that he can't let go. This idea of fear can be related to

Holden is a very judgemental and immature character and often has vulgar language. Holden often criticizes everyone he comes in contact with and does not try to comprehend the mindset they may have. His childish nature and vocabulary are what make most of his comments laughable. “It was funny. You could tell the waiter didn’t like her much, you could tell even the Navy guy didn’t like her much, even though he was dating her. And I didn’t like her much. Nobody did. You had to feel sort of sorry for her, in a way” (). This demonstrates Holden’s failure to understand people and the judgemental thoughts he has. He often has these judgemental thoughts to distance himself from others. Craig however is a quiet character that soon becomes talkative and amiable when in contact with others. He creates emotional connections and bonds with many people in the hospital, an ability Holden lacks. When he becomes friends with Noelle, he realizes he can be himself around her because she accepts him as he is. He is artistic and creative, using art and music as an escape from his suffocating gloom and