Holden Caulfield Consequences

The inability to value consequences is expressed by J.D. Salinger in many of his writings, and is especially relevant in his award winning novel, The Catcher in the Rye. The central message in a majority of Salinger’s writings is that you cannot run away from your problems, for the consequences always catch up to you in the end. Balancing on the line of adolescence and adulthood, J.D. Salinger provides the reader with a first-hand psychological analysis on the struggles of a teenager entering the adult world; which is thoroughly revealed within Holden Caulfield’s rebellious attitude, critical thoughts, and unruly actions. Throughout the novel; The Catcher in the Rye, the rebellious attitude that the eminent protagonist, Holden Caulfield, exposes is insinuated by his …show more content…
The author of this piece had stated, “His inability to adjust and conform to societal expectations is construed as something of a mental illness, perception typical of postwar culture” (Salinger 4: 76). Holden’s fight against conforming to the cultural norms of society was interpreted as a mental illness. Many psychoanalysts of the time had diagnosed most mavericks as mentally ill. People who fell outside of society’s standards were “sick”, and it was up to the professionals to help the nonconformists readjust to the norms (Salinger 4: 76). Holden’s defiant actions seemed to be blown out of proportion and misconstrued, at least in society’s opinion. Holden might have been emotionally unstable, but he did not give the reader the impression that he is mentally ill. Holden’s inability to adjust was brought on by his many attempts at finding an individual who could actually understand him. Holden’s false perceptions on society, as well as the falsehoods and misunderstandings he gives off himself, result in his recalcitrant behavior and actions due to his many failed attempts at expressing