Main Cause For Holden's Depression example essay topic

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, portrays Holden Caw field a New York City teenager in the 1950's as a manic-depressive. The depressions of Holden start with the death of his younger and beloved brother Allie. Holden is expelled from numerous schools because of his bad academic work which is caused by his depression. Additional to his manic depression, Holden is also a big lyer, and very immature. The main cause for Holden's depression is Allie. Holden has a weird manner to look upon people which eventually leads to him being expelled from his school.

The reader can initially recognize his depression when Holden describes how he packs his bags to leave school after being notified that he is expelled. Holden leaves school and heads for New York City, where he finds himself to be more lonely and depressed than ever. He is all alone and thinks about suicide. This shows another property of his character.

He is not at all satisfied with his life. He is too ashamed of himself to return home because he knows that his mother will be upset and his father will be angry with him. Holden expresses many thoughts of depression. Compulsive lying is another characteristic that Holden shows. Holden would tell people lies just so they could not become closer to the real Holden. Holden tells lies on numerous occasions to gain attendance.

For example Holden pathetically tells Mrs. Morrow that he is going to have a tiny operation because he has a tumor in his brain. With this lie Holden achieves the Mrs. Morrow is sorry for him. Then he states that he can lie for hours if he feels like it. This compulsive lying shows that Holden is not satisfied with himself and that he feels that people will judge him critically.

Holden is also a very immature person. He becomes very jealous and he pretends that recess is everywhere. Holden shows his jealousy for example when he finds out that his roommate is dating Jane Gallagher. Jane is Holden's next door neighbor who he used to be friends with. Holden expresses these feelings to the reader while he is talking to Stradlater about Jane. The jealousy and immaturity of Holden leads them into a fight.

Another example is how Holden describes his relationship to females. He keeps on telling them how much he loves them, but really does not. I believe Holden is a very complicate character who criticizes everything that people around him do but really does the same things they do. He is very lonely but in his loneliness he tries to preserve the innocence of weaker people. Overall are his depressions very serious and need to be solved somehow.