How Does Holden Alienate Himself

In the Catcher in the Rye, by J.D Salinger the anti-hero, Holden, seems to be disposed to some psychological issues. Holden is a sixteen year old trying to survive life while being surrounded by many phonies or so he says they’re phonies. He lives in New York. He’s naive but resentful towards the adult world. He’s has a younger sister named Phoebe,which he adores, a older brother named D.B Caulfield,whom works in Hollywood and a brother named Allie but,unfortunately passed away. He has both his parents his dad is very strict and his mom still hasn’t seem to be able to get over losing her son. He just recently funked out of a private school called Pency. Holden’s childhood wasn’t the best and in cause of this, Holden alienates himself, is hypercritical …show more content…
One of the main causes is his younger brother’s death. In the article Understanding and Dealing with Loss states “The human response to loss most often manifests in grief. One school of thought relegates this response to a cycle that including five stages. These include denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.”(“Understanding and Dealing with Loss”). In addition, Holden shows all these five stages throughout the novel. Moreover, Holden is in a state of denial because he still talks to Allie, he’s angry when he breaks all the windows in the garage, Holden’s way of bargaining is begging Allie not to let him fall when he’s drunk and can’t walk, Holden is depressed throughout the whole novel many because of his brother’s death, and lastly at the end of the novel he accepts that he can’t be a catcher in the rye. Another reason Holden is the way he is because his parents never took him with a professional to help him, and he didn’t have anyone to talk to. Holden even realizes that any sort of help would of helped him when he said “ I was only thirteen, and they were going to have me psychoanalyzed and all, because I broke all the windows in the garage. I don’t blame them. I really don’t” (Salinger …show more content…
He needs to find someone to talk to quoting back to the article it states “In coping with the intense emotions associated with loss, many turn to professional guidance … Those who have suffered a loss often find it comforting to discuss it with professionals, as well as family and friends.” (“Understanding and Dealing with Loss”). Furthermore, Holden should get closer with his family since they are going through the same thing it will be a benefit for the whole family to become closer. Holden should simply become less judgmental and try to find help and compassion. Consequently, in a documentary it states “Living with family, community with people helping you out and type of social bonding and interaction, cooperation and compassion leads to happiness.”(Happy). Simultaneously, another recommendations which is also stated in the documentary is “Care about something bigger than yourself and simply doing acts of kindness.”(Happy). Any of these recommendations will alleviate and lessen all of Holden’s