Catcher In The Rye Holden Grief Analysis

Protection Through Depression “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear” (C.S Lewis). In the novel Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, faces severe emotional struggles that are reflected through his actions after his younger brother’s death. An important symbol in the novel is Allie’s baseball glove, and it symbolizes Holden’s deep grief and love for his brother, Allie. Though grief is significantly represented throughout the novel, Holden’s fears and hopes are also demonstrated. The catcher in the rye represents Holden’s desire to save children and their innocence. Holden wants to be able to save both himself and others from growing up into a hypocritical, adult world. The Museum of National History is …show more content…
As Holden struggles to find a descriptive subject for Stradlater's composition, he thinks of Allie and his baseball mitt and realizes “It was a very descriptive subject. It really was” (38). Holden questions his ability to write a great paper, but he finds motivation as he thinks of his younger brother. Holden finds a light of inspiration when he expresses his feelings towards Allie’s death and his significant belongings, which leads him to write a very descriptive paper. When Holden receives the news about Allie’s death he “slept in the garage.. and [he] broke all the goddam windows with [his] fist, just for the hell of it” (39). Holden truly admires Allie and for this reason Allie’s death has a tremendous impact in his life, an impact that leads Holden into a path of depression. Along with Allie’s death, Holden’s parents inability to cope with the loss of their youngest son affected Holden’s emotions and views on the world that surrounds him. Though Holden begins to face emotional struggles after Allie’s death, he displays his ability to maintain some hope, despite the negative influences caused by this