Theme Of Depression In Catcher In The Rye

First Draft Each year in the United States depression affects over 17 million people of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds. One in every eight teens are affected by depression (“Understanding Depression”). Depression can be defined as a mental illness where the person affected feels very sad and melancholy. Most people have passed through a stage or a short period of time where they have felt downhearted. In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield, a 16-year old boy, can be viewed as insane in the eyes of many readers because of his behavior and actions. Despite this common belief, Holden most likely suffered from depression. Some symptoms which convey Holden was depressed was his mood, lack of sleep, and his suicidal

Dejection can affect the emotions a person can be feeling, “this can mean feeling down, irritable, pessimistic, guilty, [...] empty, etc,” (“Depression”). Holden feels very downhearted. He experiences loneliness and he tries to keep talking to people, but few hear what he has to say. “I’m a moron,” Holden says to Mr. Spencer, his history teacher, (Salinger 14). Holden felt sad and empty. Throughout the book, Holden keeps saying he wants to call Jane Gallagher, an old friend, because he needed to speak to someone to share his feelings. Also, Holden seems very pessimistic towards a lot of people by calling them phonies. About 35 times the word phony was used in the book (“Catcher in the Rye: Student Resource). Holden had the option of expressing his feelings on how he appreciated or loved certain people, but most of the time Holden had a sad and negative view of the world. Moreover, Holden observes small details, which seem very irritable to him. For example, ‘“Absolutely nothing,” he said over again. That’s something that drives me crazy. When people say something twice that way, after you admit it the first time,” (Salinger 10). Holden did not quite like it when Mr. Spencer had repeated a phrase and it may have drove Holden crazy because Mr. Spencer’s remark, stating Holden had done nothing, only made him feel more downhearted. In addition, Holden remembers a time where he excluded Allie, Holden’s deceased younger brother, from a BB gun game. In his hotel room, Holden’s mind swift 's back and remembers this incident. He feels absolutely guilty because Holden said “So once in a while, now, when I get depressed, I keep saying to him, “Okay. Go home and get your bike and meet me in front of Bobby’s house. Hurry up,” (Salinger 99). Because Holden still tells Allie to meet him in front of Bobby’s house and because he stills remembers this event even though time has passed, it indicates Holden’s