Holden Caulfield Assessment Essay

Holden’s immaturity causes him many problems throughout the story. Although he is physically mature, he acts more like a child. “All of a sudden I

59) Holden's failure to find someone to call is when his isolation comes into view, and earlier in the novel, he admits to wanting to commit suicide because of how lonesome he is. "I felt so lonesome, all of a sudden. I almost wished I was dead." (pg. 48) Not only does Holden not have friends, but his own parents do not have a good relationship with him. In chapter seven, Holden talks about his mother buying him hockey skates instead of racing skates. "She bought me the wrong kind of skates-I wanted racing skates and she bought hockey-but it made me sad anyway." (pg. 52) Holden's present from his mother symbolzes she does not even know her own chld well enough to know his interests. Besides his absense of friends and distant relationship with his parents, Holden's biggest sense of lonliness comes from the death of his younger brother, Allie.

Holden Caulfield’s identity has been moulded by his environment, how he was raised the people he has met and the family he comes from. Holden comes from a family with four children and two wealthy parents who had built an image of

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a story about the trials of life and the toll it can take on the psyche. I believe that Holden Caulfield is an under credited hero. He is a teenager forced to grow up in a time of turmoil with severe emotional handicaps placed upon him by family, friends and life in general.

Holden Caulfield is a seventeen year old junior who was kicked out of Pencey Prep school in Pennsylvania for failing his academics. He lives in New York with his father, mother, and sister, Phoebe Caulfield who Holden adores for being so mature for her age. He has an older brother named D.B. who lives in Hollywood as a screenwriter and a brother named Allie who died from leukemia. Holden is very picky in taste when it comes to books- his favorite author is Ring Lardner, D.B., and war novels. Holden has a deep hatred for watching movies. He tries to quit smoking, but has an addiction to cigarettes (also drinking) which affects his health. Holden is the manger of the fencing team and is considered to be well off. He is a liar- he agrees with

From January to July 16th under observation Holden Caulfield has been diagnosed with PTSD and Recalling of Old memories. Holden has shown signs of stage C of PTSD which is known as complex trauma disorder. Holden has said before that he is doesn’t really care for school thinks that it is a waste of his time but particularly care what his teachers care about him. Also Holden has been expelled for not putting his best work into his work he says to his teachers that he put effort into his work but in his thoughts is a different though he doesn’t care. "When I was all set to go, when I had my bags and all, I stood for a while next to the stairs and took a last look down the goddam corridor. I was sort of crying. I don't know why. I put my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it, and then I yelled at the top of my goddam voice, 'Sleep tight, ya morons!'" (Chapter 7, pg. 52) When it comes to Holden’s Future Holden tends to see himself as having no

Holden Caulfield, the main protagonist of the book is a young, emotional, and a damaged person. He faces difficulty with the death of his brother, his family being disappointed about his work in school, and not only his innocence, but the innocence of his sister, Pheobe. Holden doesn’t like to acknowledge, but we know many people in his life care about his well being and his success and happiness. The issue Holden is dealing with is prevalent throughout the entire book leading up until the end, and that is his innocence. He can’t accept growing up and is scared of reality. This is crucial for the book, not just to captivate the reader with relatable narration and emotions, but for the forward movement of the story and plot.

Holden is detached from responsibilities, and life in general. Holden does not apply himself in school and shows that in his note to his teacher in an essay, “It is all right with me if you flunk me though as I am flunking everything else except English anyway, Respectfully yours, Holden Caulfield (12).” The reason Holden does not care about school is because he does not care about his future, “Oh, I feel some concern for my future, all right. Sure. Sure, I do...But not too much, I guess. Not too much, I guess (14).” Holden is also detached from his family, specifically his father, and not having a loving father figure can affect a person, “You can hit my father over the head with a chair and he won't take up, but my mother, all you have to do to my mother is cough somewhere in Siberia and she'll hear you. She's nervous as hell (158).” The only meaningful relationship Holden has is with Phoebe. Holden can not confide with anybody except for Phoebe and even if there was someone else to confide with Holden doesn’t have the will to explain the problems that are occurring, “I can’t explain what I mean. And even if I could, I’m not sure I’d feel like it (122).” Part of the treatment will be to help Holden to trust again. This trust will allow him to open up and not keep all of his problems to

“I’d say to him,’Allie, don't let me disappear. Allie, don't let me disappear. Allie, don't let me disappear. Please, Allie.’ And then when I'd reach the other side of the street without disappearing, I'd thank him”. (Salinger 258). In Catcher in the Rye, by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield, the main protagonist, experiences many deaths throughout his journey. One of these deaths being Allie Caulfield, Holden’s long lost brother. Allie dies of leukemia in the year of 1946, at the age of eleven. As Holden progresses throughout the book, the reader comes to understand that Allie’s death begins to degrade Holden, to the point where he wants to remain in his childhood years.

Consequently, as Holden is expelled from Pencey Preparatory, he is affected negatively by the belief that he will never truly fit in due to his inability to conform. Moreover, Holden is badgered to conform by people he trusts and wishes to be accepted by. For example, Holden’s history teacher Mr Spencer, who he admires more than any other teacher at Pencey Preparatory, is appalled at Holden’s apparent indifference to his own future. It is apparent Holden admires Mr Spencer as he reminisces that he “used to think about old Spencer a lot” (6). However, Mr Spencer’s disdain in Holden’s shortcomings is apparent as he questions, “Do you have absolutely no concern for your future, boy?”

After psychoanalyzing Holden Caulfield, for over a month, I have come to the conclusion that Holden suffers from Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar disorder “is a mental health condition that causes one to experience extreme mood swings that include emotional highs and emotional lows.”  Holden, before coming out to California, to be checked into a mental hospital, attended Pencey Prep, and was a troubled teen that was lost, depressed, and confused about his purpose in life. Holden was so depressed and lost in life that he actually was failing all of his core classes, excluding English. With Bipolar Disorder, one of the main symptoms for teenagers, around Holden’s age, according to my research, is low performance in school. This disorder, in most cases, is caused by “past abuse, or significant loss.” While Holden recounted his life to me, he

It is very clear that Holden is immature. One of the most obvious times that this is shown is when Holden is talking with Luce. Luce says, “ Same old Caulfield. When are you gonna grow up?” (Salinger 144).

The patient is Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old teenage boy. Caulfield's appearance is tall for his age and surprisingly has quite a few gray hairs at the age of sixteen. Holden comes from an upper-middle class family. His family has enough money to support Holden with many luxuries including skates and expensive suitcases. It appears that Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield aren?t there to talk, care, and be there for Holden, which seems to drive Holden away from his family. However, he has an intimate bond with his younger siblings, who embody innocence and youth. The death of his brother Allie has left a large scar on Holden. He has a cherished and intimate relationship with his young

Youth is the time of deadly dangers. It is a time where one simple mistake can spiral the rest of one’s life out of control. Although trials and tribulations await for those who enter this stage of life, there are many of those who have survived through this treacherous storm of confusion and angst. Two of these contestants that have made huge strides in this game are Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye, and Junior from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Holden, a youth from New York, has been expelled from his high school: Pencey Prep. Finally, having enough of his life, he goes out and ventures onto wherever the wind blows. With only himself and his pessimistic personality to brave the world, he desperately clings

He drinks, he smokes and rebel against both his teachers and adults. Holden is a very negative person and is constantly trashing other people, if not he is lying to them. He likes calling people ‘phonies’, even tough he acts like a phony himself. And this is his hefty scare, he is terrified of growing up, yet he realises it is time for his body is changing and turning him into a man. Holden has had an uncomplicated life if you disregard away from his brother’s death. He comes from a good family, has never lacked anything and has agreeable opportunities. An instead of using this to his advantage, he gets sucked down into a pessimistic and sad vortex. He never feels at home anyplace or feels a strong connection to people. Rebelling is an ordinary thing to go through in your adolescence and Holden has it bad. He is indeed a ‘rebel without a