Growing Up: A Psychological Analysis Of Holden Caulfield

Growing up is a much different and challenging part of everyone's lives. Puberty and the stumbling journey of maturing into an adult are something we will all come to face. The conflicts we all face and the way we manage them all differs between each person. Some people may have a more problematic time dealing with internal conflicts while others may find it less strenuous. Holden Caulfield is faced with internal conflicts of struggling to stay in school, his depression and suicidal thoughts, and the debate of getting mental help. First of all, Holden Caulfield is faced with the internal conflict of struggling to stay in school. Holden has been enrolled in the popular prep schools of the 1950’s, his current school being Pencey Prep. Soon

Throughout the novel we see signs of Holden's depression from the way he throws around the word all the time, “Innarested in a little tail t'night?’ ‘Me?’ I said. Which was a very dumb answer, but it's quite embarrassing when somebody comes right up and asks you a question like that. ‘How old are you, chief?’ the elevator guy said. ‘Why?’ I said. ‘Twenty-two.’ ‘Uh huh. Well, how 'bout it? Y'innarested? Five bucks a throw. Fifteen bucks the whole night.’ He looked at his wrist watch. ‘Till noon. Five bucks a throw, fifteen bucks till noon.’ ‘Okay,’ I said. It was against my principles and all, but I was feeling so depressed I didn't even think. That's the whole trouble. When you're feeling very depressed, you can't even think.” (110). In this case, we see Holden’s depression affecting him by making him do things that he knows he shouldn’t. Spending a night with a prostitute is something Holden knows he shouldn’t do, but he is conflicted by his depression to do it anyways. Something else Holden struggles with is suicidal thoughts. The serious part about depression is leading to suicide which Holden eventually has conflicting thoughts about, “What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would've done it, too, if I'd been sure somebody'd cover me up as soon as I landed.” (127). It is obvious that the depressive thoughts Holden have faced have led to something much