By: Samantha Gilkey
Coming into reading this book I had a feeling of dread. All year, as well as the previous, I'd heard about how poorly written Catcher in the Rye is and how all Holden Caulfield does is whine about sex and life. I had no strong ambitions for this book. However, when I did eventually sit down to read it, it left me pleasantly surprised. Catcher in the Rye is the tale of a teenage boy who's circumstances and hormones drive him deep into a depression. From the unique point of view of Holden's own mind we see someone spiral out of control from what little he had left. While many people do realize that his general behavior is that of someone who is not happy, many of my peers have failed to go below the surface of his moods.
All good stories should be able to reveal something to the reader about themselves. In the Catcher in the Rye, an undertone rings within readers who have struggled with depression. They may not be able to put their finger on it initially, but as they delve further into the brain of Holden Caulfield they realized their thoughts run in similar circles. Readers who connect with Holden's apathetic confusion may feel hurt or isolated by their friends who witness all of the signs happening and merely find Holden to be annoying or shallow.
Depression can effect many people in many ways. One of which is a sneaky kind of apathy and confusion demonstrated by Holden throughout the story. Holden often looks down upon others with distain for their lack of realism. He finds everyone to be a phony, a fake, in personality and in character. He finds it difficult to believe that anyone who remains happy and content in their situation can actually be happy and content without even a glimmer of something deeper. Holden recognizes a darkness within himself, a kind of suffering, and appears frustrated that others cannot see what he feels and that they show no signs to their feelings either. He believes all people are as hurt inside as he is and calls them phonies for not showing it. Along with Holden calling everybody and their mother a phony, this presents itself in the only person who Holden felt a strong connection with that wasn't family. Jane, who Holden meets one summer, appears to be a wonderful girl whom Holden is infatuated with. He discovers more of her below the surface one afternoon when she's crying because of an abusive or destructive situation with her father. Throughout the book Holden remembers her and wishes to call her to stay in touch. She isn't once called a phony or a fake. Holden has been allowed to see the depth of her emotions and holds her as a kindred spirit.
Another effect of depression is confusion. Holden often talks himself in circles in the book in an almost dizzying narrative. He jumps from one thought to another often only barely making the landing before whizzing elsewhere. It's only on topics of great sadness to him that he's able to linger for any period of comprehensive thought, such as any monologue about his now deceased brother, Allie. Holden finds himself only able to grip onto the bad in life and runs his good feelings in circles until they collapse, exhausted, into a track of hurt or anger.
Like many teenagers, Holden has failed to truly come to terms with what's happening to him and to his relationships with others. Catcher in the Rye should be a warning for teens, and adults, facing depression about the kind of spiral that can occur if one isolates themselves from others. It should also serve as enlightening literature to anyone not facing depression, or who has never dealt with it, to the inner workings of an example of depression. With an opened mind, the world might be a brighter place for more people.
Coming into reading this book I had a feeling of dread. All year, as well as the previous, I'd heard about how poorly written Catcher in the Rye is and how all Holden Caulfield does is whine about sex and life. I had no strong ambitions for this book. However, when I did eventually sit down to read it, it left me pleasantly surprised. Catcher in the Rye is the tale of a teenage boy who's circumstances and hormones drive him deep into a depression. From the unique point of view of Holden's own mind we see someone spiral out of control from what little he had left. While many people do realize that his general behavior is that of someone who is not happy, many of my peers have failed to go below the surface of his moods.
All good stories should be able to reveal something to the reader about themselves. In the Catcher in the Rye, an undertone rings within readers who have struggled with depression. They may not be able to put their finger on it initially, but as they delve further into the brain of Holden Caulfield they realized their thoughts run in similar circles. Readers who connect with Holden's apathetic confusion may feel hurt or isolated by their friends who witness all of the signs happening and merely find Holden to be annoying or shallow.
Depression can effect many people in many ways. One of which is a sneaky kind of apathy and confusion demonstrated by Holden throughout the story. Holden often looks down upon others with distain for their lack of realism. He finds everyone to be a phony, a fake, in personality and in character. He finds it difficult to believe that anyone who remains happy and content in their situation can actually be happy and content without even a glimmer of something deeper. Holden recognizes a darkness within himself, a kind of suffering, and appears frustrated that others cannot see what he feels and that they show no signs to their feelings either. He believes all people are as hurt inside as he is and calls them phonies for not showing it. Along with Holden calling everybody and their mother a phony, this presents itself in the only person who Holden felt a strong connection with that wasn't family. Jane, who Holden meets one summer, appears to be a wonderful girl whom Holden is infatuated with. He discovers more of her below the surface one afternoon when she's crying because of an abusive or destructive situation with her father. Throughout the book Holden remembers her and wishes to call her to stay in touch. She isn't once called a phony or a fake. Holden has been allowed to see the depth of her emotions and holds her as a kindred spirit.
Another effect of depression is confusion. Holden often talks himself in circles in the book in an almost dizzying narrative. He jumps from one thought to another often only barely making the landing before whizzing elsewhere. It's only on topics of great sadness to him that he's able to linger for any period of comprehensive thought, such as any monologue about his now deceased brother, Allie. Holden finds himself only able to grip onto the bad in life and runs his good feelings in circles until they collapse, exhausted, into a track of hurt or anger.
Like many teenagers, Holden has failed to truly come to terms with what's happening to him and to his relationships with others. Catcher in the Rye should be a warning for teens, and adults, facing depression about the kind of spiral that can occur if one isolates themselves from others. It should also serve as enlightening literature to anyone not facing depression, or who has never dealt with it, to the inner workings of an example of depression. With an opened mind, the world might be a brighter place for more people.