Catcher in the Rye Psychological Analysis Essay

J. D. Salingers The Catcher in the rye whiskey portrays Holden Caulfield, a New York City teenager in the 1950s, as a manic-depressive. any(prenominal) critics of Salingers novel assert that Holden is too whiney and annoying as a character. What these critics fail to realize is that Holdens actions through break the novel abruptly exemplify that of a down(p) teenager. Manic printing, compulsive lying, and immaturity throughout the novel characterize Holden. Holdens depression finds its roots with the death of his brother, Allie. Holden is expelled from legion(predicate) schools due to his poor academics brought on by his depression.The manner that Holden sees himself and how he sees others leads him to be expelled from school. According to Michael Martins book titled juvenile Depression, discourage teenagers fire struggle with depression for month or years. It is a mental disturbance which includes feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, guilt, problems with concentration ( Teen Depression). Throughout the novel, Holden exhibits these symptoms quite frequently. In fact, Holden makes his depression clear when he expresses how, packing depressed me a little, (51, Catcher).Holden expresses these feelings when he packs his bags after being notified that he is expelled. Holden leaves school and heads for New York City, where he finds himself to be more lonely and depressed than ever. When alone, Holden laments that what I really felt give care doing was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out of the window. (104, Catcher). Too ashamed to return home, knowing his spawn will be upset and his father will be livid with him, Holden turns to thoughts of suicide. He also adds that I wasnt feeling sleepy or anything, but I was feeling sort of lousy.Depressed and all, I most wished I was dead, (90, Catcher). Critics tend to describe Holden as being just an angst pierce teenager, whose perspective of the world around him is warped. While these critics may v iew these attributes as annoying, they actually serve to provide an emotional depth onset by Holdens depression. For example, Negativity and hopelessness is often a symptom of depression, so when Holden narrates, Im pretty sure he yelled vertical luck at me. I hope not. I hope to nether region not. Id never yell Good luck at anybody. It sounds terrible, when you think about it. (78, Catcher) Salinger is simply channeling the thoughts of a depressed teenager.Depression is a disease which causes the victim to enter this pessimistic state of mind, so by nature outside observers may be irked by Holdens actions. However, this excerpt intelligibly illustrates the warped mindset of a depressed teen. Depressed teenagers tend to rely that their situation is entirely hopeless, and cannot possibly be rectified. The utter hopelessness which accompanies depression is not a rare phenomenon and is perhaps the most troubling construction of the disease. Holdens actions in the novel could ea sily be attributed to these symptoms.According to Teen Depression, depressed teenagers tend to look for relief in sex, drugs, or inebriant abuse. In the short time frame of the novel, Holden sought out 2 out of the 3 aforementioned items. These actions could be attributed to his desire to seek out a temporary form of relief in his life. Drinking allows Holden to ply from his heavy, pessimistic mentality. While Holden was with the prostitute, he was able to rid himself of his overwhelming isolation. Eric Lomazoff summarizes Holdens situation trounce when he says that Holden was simply trying to make the best of his life, though ultimately loosing that battle (Lomazoff).Holden Caulfield is not a seriously person, as so many critics make him out to be. In fact, Lomazoff goes as utmost to say that Holden is a good guy stuck in a bad world. The main reason why The Catcher in the Rye is so revered is because Salinger is able to embody the perspective of a debauched teenager so seaml essly. Holdens depression is perhaps the most precise component of Salingers story. It is clear that upon closer examination, one would discover that Holden is not just a troubled teenager, but a clinically depressed one.