Holden's Depression in The Catcher In The Rye Essay

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, portrays Holden Cawfield a New York City teenager in the 1950's as a depressed, mind decaying individual. Holden's depression starts with the death of his brother, Allie . Holden is expelled from numerous schools due to his poor academics which are brought on by his depression. Manic depression, compulsive lying, and immaturity throughout the novel lead to the eventual mental break down he has.

Events in Holden's life lead him to become depressed. Holden's depression centers on Allie. This seem to reflect on how Holden is seeing himself and how he sees others leads him to be expelled from school. Holden says, "One thing about packing depressed me a little," (51). 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. He is all alone and he laments, " What I really felt like doing was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out of the window," (104). Holden says this while he is all alone in his motel room. He is too ashamed of himself to return home, he knows that his mother will be upset and his father will be angry with him. He also adds that " I wasnt feeling sleepy or anything, but I was feeling sort of lousy. Depressed and all, I almost wished I was dead," (90). Holden states this during one of the first nights that he is staying in New York. Holden expresses many thoughts of depression.

Compulsive lying is another characteristic that Holden seems to enjoy using. Holden would tell people lies just so they could not become closer to his true self.. Holden tells lies on numerous occasions to gain. Holden pathetically tells Mrs. Morrow, " I have to have a tiny operation it isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on my brain" (58). She tells Holden that she is very sorry and she is hopeful that he shall be well soon. Holden then catches him self in a lie and he remarks, "Once I get started, I can go on for hours if I feel like it," (58). This lying problem shows that Holden is not happy with himself and that he feels that people will judge him critically.

Holden is also a very immature person. He becomes very jealous and he pretends that recess is everywhere. Holden shows his jealousy when he finds out that his roommate is dating Jane Gallagher. Jane is Holden's next door neighbor. He confessed," I could hardly keep my voice from shaking all over the place. Boy, was I getting nervous" (42). Holden expresses these feelings to the reader while he is talking to Stradlater about Jane. The jealousy and immaturity of Holden leads them into a fight. Holden is also immature in the relationships that he has with females. He explains the cab ride to the theater with Sally, " We horsed around a little bit in the cab on the way over to the theater. At first she didn't want to, because she had her lipstick on and all, but I was being seductive as hell and she didnt have any alternative"(125). He continues to tell her how much he loved her and then he regrets saying that because he really does not. He only shows how unsure of himself he is in this situation. Holden does not know how to react with all of this news, therefore his mind takes everything in the wrong direction. His lack of experience in life and relationships proves to do damage by the overwhelming depressing and the slow decaying of his mind.

Holden's depression, immaturity, and suicidal thoughts lead Holden to the rest home where he tells this story. All of theses issues are what provoke his expulsion and his inability to fit in. With every issue that come his way his mind takes a punch. He seems to think too much about specific issues and things he has come across. Which over work his mind causing him to become the Holden he is.