WebCite This Essay. I started sweating like mad when he said that. I could do what they wanted when it made sense to. But if you get on the other side, where there arent any hot-shots, then whats a game about it? Here's an excerpt from my "diagnosis" of Holden. It might be that Holden feels stupid because things that are difficult for him, such as reading between the lines socially and picking up life skills, are easy for Phoebe and the late Allie. EVerything is internal, his thoughts One time that kid was staring out the window for an entire math class and when Mr. Atticus called on him, I swear, that kid started talking about spelling words, like he totally forgot what class we were in. All rights reserved I am also bipolar, and I find that I do not burn out so quickly when I am experiencing a serotonin high, but then eventually crash due to how much Ive been exerting my hypersensitive autistic brain (my serotonin is high during manic episodes). Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The darkest form of Holdens social disconnect is when he hints that he has been a victim of sexual violence before, which is more likely to happen with autistic kids because of a lack of a sense of danger. Holden acts this way to hide his own insecurities. Im pretty yellow. My English teacher in fourth grade wanted us to memorize the goddam Declaration of Independence and we had to listen to every goddam kid get up and recite it from memory. is alive and working as a writer in Hollywood. They said that I had to learn to follow directions. Depression is a serious issue and if it goes untreated for long enough, it can lead to one taking their life, Depression is a key risk factor for suicide (Suicide). The bullies that pushed James to his death were merely expelled from school and let off the hook. Holden also exhibits this behavior. Well, we do. I didnt know what the point was. WebThe character of Holden Caulfield in J.D. When I read Holdens point of view, I felt that I had some things in common with him. I don't remember anything they said about it other than that they claimed he was hallucinating a voice saying "F*** you" or something. Society and his own body are telling him that it is time for him to change. To those whom have read the book, you can see that he has some Aspie traits like social awkwardness. Carl went to another school a couple of years later and then I never heard anything about him. Holdens rebellion is not against some spooky threat like the establishment or capitalist America, but rather against something far more threatening to teenagers: maturity. The novel slowly details Holden's realization that you can't "protect the innocent" and they don't want to be protected in the first place. into the living room to fetch a cigarette from a small box on the table. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. He also doesnt give a crap. There is no definite answer to whether Holden Caulfield is gay or straight, but there are several pieces of evidence that can be used to make a case for either side. (LogOut/ One of the reasons why it matters that Holden may be gay is because of his unique sexuality. Holden obviously believes that he is more intelligent, more enlightened, or somehow better than all of those around him, but this is not the case. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. See ya, doc, I called out. Also, the event that probably destroyed all faith and trust he had in society and people were when James Castle from Elkton Hills, jumped to his death. Joined: 8 Mar 2008Age: 35Gender: FemalePosts: 10, This is my favorite book, and coincidentally, my college class just reviewed it as a young adult novel. Holden Caulfield (identified as "Holden Morrisey Caulfield" in the story "Slight Rebellion Off Madison" , and "Holden V. Caulfield" in The Catcher In The Rye) is a fictional character in the works of author J. D. Salinger. Holden Caulfield would probably have two hemorrhages if he heard someone say this, but its true that even for thoughtful and otherwise independent people it simply feels good sometimes to know youre doing the exact same thing as One thing I like?" The answer to that question is complex. This fiction reveals more truth about the world than an individuals reality can often supply. Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Most kids are. WebHolden often behaves as if he has been sent onto Earth to point out the wickedness or phoniness of others, but then makes excuses when he behaves [deviant]the same way as the individuals he deems morons. The cars zoomed by, brakes screeched all over the place, his parents paid no attention to him, and he kept on walking next to the curb and singing If a body catch a body coming through the rye. It made me feel better. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. In addition to social masking, Holden struggles with executive dysfunction, which is what gets him expelled at the beginning of the book. He talks all week about the players he thinks are the best and what he thinks are the biggest problems with the other team each week, but I see him read all of that stuff from a blog. His general health is poor. "Thats a deer shooting hat. Ultimately, it is up to the reader to decide what they believe based on the information presented. Holden has suicidal thoughts multiple times throughout the novel. He has the potential to be the first realistic teenage homosexual character in English literature, which would give him a special significance. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs I dont know why. Those reading this will probably recognize Catcher in the Rye as one of those books you had to read in high school, one of those classics. Holdens most obvious and unique trait is his speech, both inside and outside of his head. Once home, he is not shown confronting his parents, who, according to the maid, are playing bridge. He states, The worst part was, the jerk had one of those very phony, Ivy League voices, one of those very tired, snobby voices. This story appears to form the basis for several key scenes in the first several chapters of The Catcher in the Rye. Holden Caulfield tells his story with surprising honesty from a hospital in California in a cynical and jaded language. That's what i suspect too especially over season 2. Holden later refers to Sally as the queen of all phonies (Salinger 63) and calls her snotty, She was still being snotty on account of her ankles when she was skating (Salinger 70). This is because some events impact the way the body reacts to fear and stressful situations (Depression). Holden becomes very upset and spends the next several hours talking about her. How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines, The Innate Intelligence Observed in the Dying Process. And I was wonderingwhat psychological "disorder" does Holden (main character) have? He just keeps falling and falling. But can you tell me more what you were feeling at that moment, he would always say. The result is depression and hospitalization. One thing Holden constantly brings up is the ducks in Central Park. During this three-day period, Holden makes many bad decisions. This was the 1940s, when ADHD was unheard of and autism was new, so adults in Holdens life assumed he was a bad kid and punished him. When people think something is important to them, they just assume that its so goddam important to everyone else. Whenever Brian showed up or was mentioned on screen I immediately thought he was autistic. The fact that Holden seems to be analyzing and categorizing everyone else he speaks to, such as his description of Stradlater as what might be the first example of a Chad jock and of Ackley as an abhorrent, socially unaware loser that Holden is glad he is not, contributes to this. Salinger's various stories (and one novel) featuring a character named Holden Caulfield do not share a cohesive timeline, and details about "Holden Caulfield" and his family are often inconsistent or completely contradictory from one story to another. Having one train of thought is a foreign concept to him. Then he started asking me about Allie. I dont really like that.. Shes really pretty, but sometimes I cant stand listening to her talk. He was just singing for the hell of it, you could tell. ., Thats the queerest thing I ever heard, [Phoebe] said. When speaking about schools, he says, The more expensive a school is, the more crooks it hasIm not kidding (Salinger 2). I said. He wants time itself to stop. An earlier version of this story, titled "Are You Banging Your Head Against a Wall?" He wandered around from place to place because he refused to go home to his family. A fantasy Holden has is to run away and live in the forest with Sally, I know this guy down in Greenwich Village that we can borrow his car for a couple of weeks What we could do is, tomorrow morning we could drive up to Massachusetts and Vermont, and all around there, see Well stay in these cabin camps and stuff like that till the dough runs out. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. WebIhab Hassan, in J. Salinger 's novel, Catcher in the Rye, is an excellent example of a psychologically sensitive portrayal of a child with autism spectrum and any corresponding bookmarks? Real-world depression patients often have a cynical outlook on life and are untrustworthy to cope with their depression, Cynicism is part of a defensive technique taken as protection (Depression and Cynicism). Except Carl really needed them to focus his parents told him. He is consumed with pointing out hypocrisy and phonies because he sees it and thinks about it. But, in my opinion he isn't autistic, just has some personality "disorders". I said no, there wouldnt be marvelous places to go to after I went to college and all. I felt more depressed than sexy, if you want to know the truth. WebHolden Caulfield is teen angst bull-crap with a pickax. One of his favorite insults is phony, and he is always going off about other people at his school posturing and protecting their images. The way Holden treats sexuality is reflective of the time period in which the novel was written, when society was just beginning to accept alternative lifestyles. I put my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it, and then I yelled at the top of my goddam voice, "Sleep tight, ya morons!" I think you feel sad about your own childhood.. (LogOut/ I was sort of crying. Some people see him as a whiny proto-emo, some see him as just a stupid teenage boy, and some see him as a misunderstood anti-hero. That kills me. He is both an antihero, a protagonist with qualities at odds with the stereotypically "heroic" image, and an everyman, whose experiences are to some degree "universal," at least in his respective culture. Holden even has a fantasy about pretending to be mute and living in the woods so he no longer has to meet peoples expectations. I now know I have adhd and autism. "Name one thing. My theory is that Holden has too much of a sense of himself, he knows that he is different, and he is attempting to mask because being Holden has been shown to be a negative thing. They made me see a therapist for a bunch of years after that. Then I got the hell out. Girls, says Caulfield, she was probably getting groiny and everything. I have always felt like Holden was the same type of alien as me. I cant seem to get very interested in them although your lectures are very interesting (Salinger 7). He wants this innocence back. But assume then your girlfriend disappears one day and leaving you with an untouchable smoothie all alone. WebHolden is a highly layered character, and to make a distinction as black and white as him being good or bad diminishes his humanity. The schools are filled with lies and cruelty, ranging in degree from the relatively harmless Pencey school motto ("Since 1888 we have been molding boys into splendid, clear-thinking young men.") Previous He asks many adults in the novel where the ducks go, and either they dont have an answer, or they give a nonsensical onewhich shows that adults dont know too much about growing up either. Available from: https://edubirdie.com/examples/holden-caulfield-a-troubled-character-with-signs-of-clinical-depression/. WebHe is consumed with pointing out hypocrisy and phonies because he sees it and thinks about it. Holden is actually questioning what happens when children become adults (or when they are forced into the winter or adult world) this concern can apply to other children or Holdens feelings about himself. Essay Service Examples Literature Holden Caulfield. Because of Holdens extreme lack of interest, he fails four out of five classes. Many people with depression, dont get professional help. Instead, he goes to speak to Phoebe. The fact that he lies about his age specifically might also mean he feels disconnected from his chronological age, which is another ND trait. I felt like jumping out the window. Allies death took away Holdens innocence. He probably does this because the words feel good in his mouth or head or because they are words he has learned to say in certain situations, in other words, scripting. Game, my ass. There was a hole in the toe on his right foot. Where are you going? He was crying and crying. Holden Caulfield is the narrator and main character of The Catcher in the Rye. This is exactly the sort of thing a neurodivergent person who thinks concretely and does not understand social facades would be mad about. Suicide and suicidal thoughts often are only a part of a bigger issue, Roughly 50% of people who died by suicide had a known mental disorder (Risk of Suicide). Several other details match those found in the first chapter of Catcher, including a reference to the mother of one of Caulfield's schoolmates and to his own mother sending him a gift of ice skates, but the story ends with his returning home instead of running away from school. When J.D. Holden talks about his siblings and refers to them both as smarter than he is, but we can see that Holden is quite an articulate, observant, and creative boy. His feelings are typically adolescent, feelings shared by virtually everyone who is or ever has been his age. Wed have to phone up everybody and tell em good-by and send em postcards from hotels and allIt wouldnt be the same at all. It would also fit in with the theme of the 1970s/80s being different from our time and socially acceptable and perfectly okay things today were looked at as taboo/bad (Wendy being a lesbian for example). I decided to take a look at that post on her profile. He was probably just getting up because our session ended. It made me feel not so depressed any more. "I do! The plot of the book, with Holden running away, having frequent crying spells, freezing in the middle of tasks, and generally losing his grip on his emotions, could be explained as him encountering burnout and fatigue from masking and not knowing how to cope. For example, I, lacking theory of mind almost entirely, view everything as fake and am very cynical. Did You Know Anxiety Can Enhance Our Relationships? Especially my roommate. I mean, you couldnt deny that. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. But why should I have to memorize something that I could Google anytime I wanted. All rights reserved, Holden Caulfield and Preserving Innocence in Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield's Journey from Depression to Happiness, Holden Caulfield as the Main Character of the Book Catcher in the Rye, The Challenges of Holden Caulfield and Mark Zuckerberg, Analysis Of Holden Caulfield As A Typical Teenager In The Catcher In The Rye By J.D. In fact, when he talks about Stradlaters date with Jane Gallagher, he seems more disgusted than anything else.I couldnt see what was so hot about him.. Near the beginning as well as the end of the novel, he feels that he will disappear or fall into an abyss when he steps off a curb to cross a street. Holden Caulfield is so very dear to my heart. Holden does the same. Nobodyd be different. ", "Like hell it is." But no matter what I said, he asked me to say it again. I mean, I just have a Finsta. Holden is a 16 years old teenager living in America. Sure I do. There was another post from this girl who went to the school across from Pencey. If Holden were just autistic, he might have returned home toward the familiar immediately, but as an ADHD-autist, his novelty-seeking brain led him through several new experiences instead. "The Last and Best of the Peter Pans" relates the story of Vincent's draft questionnaire being hidden by his mother. But she never posts any selfies. Still trying to answer Phoebes question, Mr. Antolini elaborates on his ideas, telling. WebHolden Caulfield Character Analysis. In chapter twenty, Holden is feeling very lonesome so he calls a friend to have a few drinks with. You should have seen all of the comments on his post. It was the third school I had flunked out of, and my Dad was going to be sore as hell. Why did you want to do that?. He begins to see the world as unfair, after Allies death. I always just assumed everyone deep Holden wants to tell what happened over a two-day period the previous December, beginning on the Saturday afternoon of the traditional season-ending football game between his school, Pencey Prep, and Saxon Hall. At that time, D.B. While the cause of death in Catcher is leukemia, here it is due to an unspecified heart condition. WebA brief note about Holdens name: a caul is a membrane that covers the head of a fetus during birth. And besides, I dont think I could ever do it with somebody that sits in a stupid movie all day long. ", "Because you dont. Have you ever heard of a hostile attribution bias?. She and I kind of have a friends with benefits thing, but I think she wants to be FBO. I could puke every time I hear it (Salinger 57). Holden is one of the first "teenagers" in American literature, and his main struggle is the realization that he is leaving childhood and entering an unsure world of adulthood. He is every teenager caught between the crapy little games of high school (youre supposed to kill yourself if the football team loses or something) and the fear of adulthood (going to get an office job and make a lot They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Everyone just started, but no one else went. Written by J. D. Salinger (no one knows what J. D. actually stands for, though he has claimed it is juvenile delinquent), Catcher in the Rye was originally published serially between 1945 and 1946 and then converted to book form in 1951. Feeling terrible for running from Ernies. I probably wouldve done it, too, if Id been sure somebodyd cover me up as soon as I landed. Honestly, if he had forced me to stop and talk about next week, I probably would have. However, it can stem from trauma and other bad experiences from the past, Early childhood trauma can cause depression. It has been suggested that Salinger himself related so closely to Holden that he was protective of the character. Holden wants to keep running away from his problems and never face them. Some people see him as a whiny proto-emo, some see him as just a stupid teenage boy, and some see him as a misunderstood anti-hero. Inability to keep attention in one place is a classic ADHD thing, and a skewed idea of importance is something relatable to ADHDers and autists alike, since we actually prioritize things in our heads based on interest. All the kids kept trying to grab for the gold ring, and so was old Phoebe, and I was sort of afraid shed fall off the goddam horse, but I didnt say anything or do anything. As in the trauma he might have experienced before he was with Trench. The community od ppl in the autistic spectrum have been fighting against that word for years now. She said she had to meet her friend. We were about to arrive in New York, but I wasnt tired. Then, when the dough runs out, I could get a job somewhere and we could live somewhere with a brook and all and, later on, we could get married or something (Salinger 71). As Mr. Antolini holds forth with his advice. However, when examined by a keen eye, J.D. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. I told him about breaking the windows in my garage. Aspergers is a term that is insulting. He never made any sense. Some people love the sound of their own voice. Holden Caulfied looks at things in such a negative tone throughout the novel, Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has a very negative view on everything besides his little sister, Phoebe, he loves her and cares so much for her. He simply didn't fit into a NT world as hard as he tried. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Down felt and thought like Holden but apparently they dont. At the very end, he went on Adolescence is defined as, the period of life when a child develops into an adult, the period from puberty to maturity terminating legally at the age of majority, the state or process of growing up, a stage of development (as of a language or culture) by the Merriam-Webster dictionary. In some literary works, unseen characters influence and move the narrative forward despite otherwise not serving as main characters. Unlike the similar sequence in the novel, Caulfield is on a Christmas break from school, and, in the story, the interlude with Sally is split into two occurrences. She wasnt very good at conversation. He is the most relatable fictional character I have ever come across. Its no secret that he suffers frequent mood swings, specifically bouts of depression and anger For example, one might argue his chronic depression [141] and his inability to emotionally connect to people fit in with a form of Autism known as Aspergers Syndrome. When I got up there I kept my head down and couldnt stop looking at the teachers shoes. I was so hopeful about the therapist subplot because I thought he was finally going to be diagnosed and given help. I had to stop taking them every few weeks so it didnt stunt my growth, and there was no difference in how well I listened when I was on them or off them, so my mother stopped giving them to me by the end of that year. By understanding what these clues mean and how they reflect on Holdens character, we can come to a better interpretation of one of literatures most iconic figures. You dont.". No game. Those goddam pills didnt really do much for me. Holden is constantly running away from his problems, like being expelled, and avoids them. Salinger himself is a reclose and has never surfaced since the book. Good old Carl another kid that started taking pills in kindergarten like me. Teachers and parents! The rephrasing might be evidence that Holdens brain moves at a different speed than his mouth does, which is something some hyperverbal NDs have trouble with. WebHolden Caulfield (identified as "Holden Morrisey Caulfield" in the story "Slight Rebellion Off Madison" , and "Holden V. Caulfield" in The Catcher In The Rye) is a fictional character in the works of author J. D. Salinger.He's most famous for his appearance as the lead This is one of my favorites. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. Salingers Catcher in the Rye. Its the 49ers-th time theyve I also had my biggest major elopement (during which I ended up temporarily homeless and didnt return home) during the most intense manic episode of my life just recently. WebThe character of Holden Caulfield in J.D. In particular I thought it was really interesting to watch Holden "mask" trying to learn social cues. In fact, he seems to be disgusted by the idea of having a relationship with a woman. Life is change. Holden Caulfield is the main character of J. D. Salinger's renowned coming-of-age novel, The Catcher in the Rye (1951). prince george's county town hall meeting; baptist church long beach; why is it important to learn about serial killers As an ADHD-autist myself, I have to agree. Ill bet I woke up every bastard on the whole floor. I didnt want her to get the wrong idea. When he asks, she responds with, Thatd be grand (Salinger 57). WebCaulfield is a brutally honest character in terms of his thoughts and questions. It was really a bunch of garbage, I thought. The trouble was, I couldnt concentrate too hot. In "The Stranger", published in Collier's December 1, 1945, Babe Gladwaller and his sister Mattie (a proto-type for Phoebe) visit Vincent Caulfield's former girlfriend, now married, to tell her about his death and deliver a poem he wrote about her. (including. Initially, he gave up on reading it after dropping out from Pinole Valley High School when he was 18 years old. He was singing that song, If a body catch a body coming through the rye. He had a pretty little voice, too. So they gave up looking. I thought he was the typical moody middle-classer that we now call emo. Refine any search. So, Holdens main problem is he cant let his image of innocence he sees in children be shattered because he is nostalgic and uncertain about his own future. An edited version of this short story later became the basis of several chapters in the middle-late section of The Catcher in the Rye dealing with Caulfield's date with Sally Hayes, during which he confesses his desire to run away with her, meets Carl Luce for drinks, and makes a drunken phone call to the Hayes' home. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Do you know what that means?. I was only thirteen, and they were going to have me psychoanalyzed and all, because I broke all the windows in the garage. from your Reading List will also remove any Holden is my hero. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He is out of shape because he smokes too much. When they stop at a red light, Ernie starts caressing the steering wheel lovingly. He tells her when he leaves Pencey that he would like to sleep with her in the same bed. He mocks a past roommate for wanting to make sure his suitcases were visible because it would make both of them appear rich and rolls his eyes about the headmaster of his school acting totally different on parent night than he does with the students during the school day. for their second studio album, Kerplunk (1991) after lead singer and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong read The Catcher in the Rye. He claims to see through the insincerity and inauthenticity of adult society, branding people around him phonies even people who perhaps dont deserve The way the content is organized. Joined: 12 Nov 2007Age: 65Gender: MalePosts: 7,015. Thus, the caul in his name may symbolize the blindness of childhood or the I really dont. In "The Ocean Full of Bowling Balls", Vincent (D.B.) Webleo encinas cruz birthday; rever d'embrasser une femme islam; sadlier grammar for writing grade 7 answer key pdf; protuberances abound, regolith That was the same day that he told me how much he cared about me. Holden becomes very nervous and tells him, Take it easy with that wheel.. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then its a game, all rightIll admit that. Thousands of little kids, and nobodys aroundnobody big, I meanexcept me. But they are pretty catty. It was the third school I had flunked out of, and my Dad was going to be sore as hell. She is hysterical, old Pheobe. She was depressing. Attached: 220px-Rye_catcher.jpg (220x346, 33K) April 2, Thoughts of Allie lying in his grave in the cemetery in the rain, surrounded by dead bodies and tombstones, haunt Holden. There are many reasons why Holden Caulfield is straight, but the most convincing evidence is that he does not exhibit any of the common signs or symptoms of homosexuality. If you want to know the truth, Im a virgin. From his outlook on the world to his actions, and even his past, it is very easy to see that he An interpretation of Holden Caulfield on the cover of the 2012 book, Learn how and when to remove this template message, The Catcher in the Rye - and related matters, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction, A Young Girl in 1941 with No Waist at All, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Holden_Caulfield&oldid=1142721913, Fictional characters with psychiatric disorders, Characters in American novels of the 20th century, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from October 2016, All articles needing additional references, Articles needing additional references from March 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, In Japan, most of the short stories are already translated into Japanese (compiled in two volumes) and still commercially available with the approval of Salinger's agents (, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 00:58.