Living with Depression
The Catcher in the Rye (1951), written by J.D. Salinger, illustrates the life of Holden Caulfield as he shares his experiences from traveling from Pencey Prep in Pennsylvania to New York City. This book analyzes the sixteen year old's life during the 1950s. Holden suffers from depression which affects his daily behaviors and thoughts and causes him to experience mood swings such as anger, impulsiveness, confusion, sensitivity, nervousness, solitariness, and sadness. Through Holden’s actions and behaviors caused by his depression, Salinger suggests how it is important to understand human behavior to help them cope with their illness.
Initially, Holden identified himself as being depressed which affects his emotions and …show more content…
Holden states, “In a way, it s sort of depressing, too, because you kept on wondering what the hell would happen to all of them” (Salinger 137). It is important to note the number of times which Holden identified himself as depressed or that something depresses him. According to Edwin Miller, Holen stated some form of “depression” about 50 times in the novel (133). This information is crucial to understand that Holden suffers from a mental illness: depression.
Depression causes Holden to experience moods resembling an emotional roller coaster. At times, Holden feels hatred to the point where he wants to kill another for doing something wrong or upsetting (Salinger 46-49, 221). His hatred is exemplified when his roommate, Stradlater, did not like an essay Holden wrote for Sadler's homework assignment (Salinger 46-49) this infuriates him because the essay was about his brother who had died. In addition, he also thought Stradlater took advantage of Jane, a woman Holden used to go out with, in the back of car (Salinger 46-49). Another time, wanted to kill someone when he saw an inappropriate word written on the school wall (Salinger 221). These last two
The Catcher in the Rye (1951), written by J.D. Salinger, illustrates the life of Holden Caulfield as he shares his experiences from traveling from Pencey Prep in Pennsylvania to New York City. This book analyzes the sixteen year old's life during the 1950s. Holden suffers from depression which affects his daily behaviors and thoughts and causes him to experience mood swings such as anger, impulsiveness, confusion, sensitivity, nervousness, solitariness, and sadness. Through Holden’s actions and behaviors caused by his depression, Salinger suggests how it is important to understand human behavior to help them cope with their illness.
Initially, Holden identified himself as being depressed which affects his emotions and …show more content…
Holden states, “In a way, it s sort of depressing, too, because you kept on wondering what the hell would happen to all of them” (Salinger 137). It is important to note the number of times which Holden identified himself as depressed or that something depresses him. According to Edwin Miller, Holen stated some form of “depression” about 50 times in the novel (133). This information is crucial to understand that Holden suffers from a mental illness: depression.
Depression causes Holden to experience moods resembling an emotional roller coaster. At times, Holden feels hatred to the point where he wants to kill another for doing something wrong or upsetting (Salinger 46-49, 221). His hatred is exemplified when his roommate, Stradlater, did not like an essay Holden wrote for Sadler's homework assignment (Salinger 46-49) this infuriates him because the essay was about his brother who had died. In addition, he also thought Stradlater took advantage of Jane, a woman Holden used to go out with, in the back of car (Salinger 46-49). Another time, wanted to kill someone when he saw an inappropriate word written on the school wall (Salinger 221). These last two