By Kiley
The Catcher in the Rye shows the destructive nature of unattended depression. Holden, the protagonist is faced with the grief of losing his brother, Allie, whom he describes as the most intelligent and nicest member of the family. Allie died of Leukemia three years before the novel begins. Around this time Holden begins to get kicked out of every school he’s sent to, this shows his broken will to thrive. He also carries around Allie’s baseball glove and treasures it showing that he’s still very attached to his brother. Perhaps the death of his brother is the root of Holden’s lack of meaningful connection with anyone else since then. Holden rambles on about how sweet and special the boy was all the while he himself seems to get progressively worse as the novel unfolds. He speaks in circles in his mind and accuses everyone of being a phony. Holden is one of the biggest phonies in the story, he claims to be a pacifist, yet he makes violent remarks and gets into physical fights. Holden is struggling between who he actually is and who he wants to be. This coming-of-age issue is amplified by his grief.
After his brother’s death, Holden isolates himself to an extreme measure. He wanders the streets of the city alone and only engages in shallow relationships with the people he meets. This story shows the dangerous repercussions of unattended mental disorder and the contradictory actions that may prompt. Holden is a relatable character even now, many adolescents face depression and grief all alone and face the danger that follows. Getting help may ease the reckless thoughts and actions of these people, improving their lives and helping them to live better lives.
After his brother’s death, Holden isolates himself to an extreme measure. He wanders the streets of the city alone and only engages in shallow relationships with the people he meets. This story shows the dangerous repercussions of unattended mental disorder and the contradictory actions that may prompt. Holden is a relatable character even now, many adolescents face depression and grief all alone and face the danger that follows. Getting help may ease the reckless thoughts and actions of these people, improving their lives and helping them to live better lives.