He claims to see through the insincerity and inauthenticity of adult society, branding people around him phonies even people who perhaps dont deserve Holden Caulfield. Kenneth decides to go swimming and is knocked out by a wave. I felt like jumping out the window (Salinger 57). I now know I have adhd and autism. Aspergers is a term that is insulting. How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines, The Innate Intelligence Observed in the Dying Process. He wants time itself to stop. I think, even, if I ever die, and they stick me in a cemetery, and I have tombstone and all, itll say Holden Caulfield on it, and then what year I was born and what year I died, and then right under that itll say Fuck you. Im positive, in fact. This essay wont pass a plagiarism check! However, when examined by a keen eye, J.D. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. And I was wonderingwhat psychological "disorder" does Holden (main character) have? He is alternately depressed, confused, angry, anxious, perceptive, bigoted, resentful, thoughtful, kind, and horny. After his friend leaves he stays at the bar, getting very drunk, Boy, I sat at that goddam bar till around one oclock or so, getting drunk as a bastard. If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then its a game, all rightIll admit that. The hat reminds him of Allie and he feels safe in the hat. She didnt answer me. A major theme in The Catcher in the Rye is running away. I dont know what that has to do with anything, but he seemed to really want to know about how he died and whether I talked to anyone about it. Her green dress hanging in the closet and all. This leads to a number of bad decisions that occur over three days. One thing I like?" 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. I just finished reading the book, Catcher in the Rye. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. I decided to untag myself from that picture. It drove me damn near crazy. The trouble was, I couldnt concentrate too hot. One of the reasons why it matters that Holden may be gay is because of his unique sexuality. Especially in English class. So in order to cope with their emotions, they turn to alcohol and other forms of substance abuse, Among individuals with recurring major depression, roughly 16.5 percent have an alcohol use disorder and 18 percent have a drug use disorder (Substance Abuse and Depression). WebA brief note about Holdens name: a caul is a membrane that covers the head of a fetus during birth. At that point Vincent is a fellow soldier about to leave for the war. Joined: 13 Feb 2008Age: 37Gender: MalePosts: 43. Those suffering from depression tend to avoid admitting that they have a problem, Many people who have depression do not get help (Suicide and Depression). 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.") Well, we do. Sure I do. When they stop at a red light, Ernie starts caressing the steering wheel lovingly. WebIhab Hassan, in J. 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. Honestly, if he had forced me to stop and talk about next week, I probably would have. Updates? Most notably, in some Salinger short stories "Holden Caulfield" is a soldier in WWII who was missing in action in 1944 -- something that is thoroughly impossible to have happened to the 16-year-old Holden Caulfield of The Catcher In The Rye, which is set in 1948 or '49. The dorm was empty. Once home, he is not shown confronting his parents, who, according to the maid, are playing bridge. Youre by no means alone on that scoreMany, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. After Holden drops out of school, his roommate Stradlater brags to him about what a good time he had with Jane Gallagher. 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 People scream forever like anyone cares what they are complaining about as much as they do. [170]. Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via support@edubirdie.com. Holden even has a fantasy about pretending to be mute and living in the woods so he no longer has to meet peoples expectations. They didnt get sanctioned as severely as Holden expected. alt="wiki ommons" style='width:175pt;height:4in;visibility:visible; You cant ever find a place thats nice and peaceful, because there isnt any. He is constantly learning how people feel vs empathisizing. Autistic people tend to see rules and lines in places they might not necessarily be. I probably wouldve done it, too, if Id been sure somebodyd cover me up as soon as I landed. He wandered around from place to place because he refused to go home to his family. By the end of the novel, however, Holden realizes you cant protect anyone and you shouldnt to begin withyou should let them figure it out for themselves. Mostly I use my account so I can make comments on my sister, Pheobes profile. Joined: 19 Apr 2007Gender: FemalePosts: 649, oh no no no--you have it all wrong. My Dad always was sore as hell. I seek novelty, but tend to burn myself out pretty quickly when I do. In addition, some believe there isn't much a difference between sociopath and psychopath; they are the same disorder expressed differently. WebCaulfield is a brutally honest character in terms of his thoughts and questions. Ever. 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. She and I kind of have a friends with benefits thing, but I think she wants to be FBO. We were about to arrive in New York, but I wasnt tired. Since the book's publication, Holden has become an icon for teenage rebellion and angst, and is considered among the most important characters of 20th-century American literature. He is consumed with pointing out hypocrisy and phonies because he sees it and thinks about it. They were right. He just keeps falling and falling. WebAs a not autistic person myself, but someone who is emotionally intelligent/empathetic but introverted and awkward around people IRL, I also relate to Holden a lot. God, I love it when a kids nice and polite when you tighten their skate for them or something. Seems common for most people to go through that "wahhh I hate my privileged lifestyle and family" phase at that point in their lives now. The ducks are migrating and he wants to know where they are going. 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. But assume then your girlfriend disappears one day and leaving you with an untouchable smoothie all alone. I think you care deeply about many people, especially children. 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.. We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs. 2023 EduBirdie.com. WebCite This Essay. Previous He was just singing for the hell of it, you could tell. The fact that he lies about his age specifically might also mean he feels disconnected from his chronological age, which is another ND trait. But, in my opinion he isn't autistic, just has some personality "disorders". Since Aspergers syndrome is ruled out, and is within the highly functioning part of the Autistic Spectrum, anything lower such as LFA (Lowly Functioning Autism) can be ruled out. I decided I couldnt take it anymore, so I just packed up my things and left. "Because you dont," she said. And Im standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. Often considered a symbol of teen angst, key traits of Holden's include: a feeling of He also favors certain words, including preceding almost every name he mentions with old and saying goddamn an eyebrow-raising two hundred thirty-seven times. I think its a parallel showing the otherside of sociopath. Salinger was published 62 years ago today. There is some ambiguity here because Holden is both alive and a high school student in Catcher, which was written and published after the war, so it is not possible for him to have been a soldier during the 1940s and a high school student in the early 50s. LitCharts Teacher Editions. This essay is available online and was probably used by another student. Holdens biggest problem with other people is the lack of authenticity he often encounters. Although Sunny is the more frightening of the two, neither belongs there. prince george's county town hall meeting; baptist church long beach; why is it important to learn about serial killers The novel recounts Holden's week in New York City during Christmas break, circa 1948/49, following his expulsion from Pencey Prep, a preparatory school in Pennsylvania based loosely on Salinger's alma mater Valley Forge Military Academy. Down felt and thought like Holden but apparently they dont. Holden does the same. He shows that he is suffering, even though, to everyone else he may seem fine. [Ackley] took another look at my hat []. Holden is my hero. 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. The story is notable for the appearance of Phoebe and Vincent's statements about a child crawling off a cliff. Get your paper done in as fast as 3 hours, 24/7. But there was something about the way his face looked, like he never had a goddam pimple in his life or something that looked off. I don't think Holden has any sort of disorder at all, and I also don't think he is "better" than the people around him. A second reason why Holdens sexuality matters is because of how people treat him differently depending on whether or not they think he is gay. 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. From here on out, Holden was never the same. Im lonesome as hell. Thoughts of an autistic woman in the 21st century. And if she doesnt want to do something, she wont do it. Everyone was in the lounge watching the football game on TV. Loved his connection with Bills son and thought that might also suggest it. One of the reasons we like Holden is that he is so candid about how he feels. Terms of Use, Holden Caulfield: A Troubled Character With Signs Of Clinical Depression., Holden Caulfield: A Troubled Character With Signs Of Clinical Depression [Internet]. https://cdn.psychologytoday.com/sites/default/files/styles/article-inli. Ive had quite a few opportunities to lose my virginity and all, but Ive never got around to it yet. "This Sandwich Has No Mayonnaise" (Esquire, 1945) has a mention of Holden missing in action during the war. WebHolden Caulfield is gay because of the way he speaks about women, his interests, and his overall demeanor. In school, he expresses this to his professor saying, That is all I know about the Egyptians. If they fall off, they fall off, but its bad if you say anything to them. I care about you deeply, Holden. 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. Suicide rates have spiked in recent years and suicide is a huge problem, Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US (Suicide Statistics). Interestingly, Holden also struggles with his own authenticity. She would probably be asleep, but I wanted to see her anyway. 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. Holden Caulfield tells his story with surprising honesty from a hospital in California in a cynical and jaded language. By constantly asking him about girls, he makes Holden uncomfortable. But he despises the compromises, loss of innocence, absence of integrity, and loss of authenticity in the grown-up world. The events occur just after the death of Kenneth (later renamed Allie) and reveal the anxiety of Mary Moriarity, an actress and Caulfield's mother. mso-wrap-style:square'> Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. A third reason why Holdens sexuality matters is that it impacts his relationships with other characters in the novel, particularly Stradlater and Phoebe. The latter is an android/robot; but I can see where the comparisons stem from - an AI trying to fit into society by trying to understand "human" behavior is quite synonymous to what many autistic people might experience, namely by trying to mask and study common social cues in order to appear more in line and "socially adept" with the neurotypical crowd. I gotta run now, though. Holden hates this, Grand. (LogOut/ It has been suggested that Salinger himself related so closely to Holden that he was protective of the character. It begins with Caulfield standing on a hill at Pencey Prep watching a football game below, and develops as Holden visits with his history teacher, Mr. Spencer, for a talk about his expulsion from school and his future. But I didnt have the energy to start thinking about that now. Somebodyd written "Fuck you" on the wall. She hates them, that old Pheobe. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. In terms of interpersonal relationships, Holden seems to do all right on the surface, being able to name friends and ex-girlfriends confidently. He was a very peculiar guy (Salinger 10). 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). That was the only good part (Salinger 83). Nobodyd be different. WebThe obvious signs that Holden is a troubled and unreliable narrator are manifold: he fails out of four schools; he manifests complete apathy toward his future; he is hospitalized, and visited by a psychoanalyst, for an unspecified complaint; and I decided to take a look at that post on her profile. I tried to read it a few years ago; I couldn't get more than halfway through it. Thoughts of Allie lying in his grave in the cemetery in the rain, surrounded by dead bodies and tombstones, haunt Holden. Its the 49ers-th time theyve 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. Pencey is a good school, everyone always says, but it was filled with a bunch of phonies. Please. Struggling with distance learning? During this three-day period, Holden makes many bad decisions. It focuses on a fight between two characters named Bobby and Stradlater over Bobby's feelings about Jane Gallagher. 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 didnt want her to get the wrong idea. I agree he most definitely is ND. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Essay Service Examples Literature Holden Caulfield. There was a hole in the toe on his right foot. "This is a people shooting hat," I said. The Catcher in the Rye is a 1951 novel written by J.D. I could swear people a block away from our school could hear him wailing so much. He sounded just like a girl (Salinger 69). Its full of phonies, and all you do is study so that you can learn enough to be smart enough to be able to buy a goddam Cadillac some day, and you have to keep making believe you give a damn if the football team loses, and all you do is talk about girls and liquor and sex all day, and everybody sticks together in these dirty little goddam cliques.. WebHe is consumed with pointing out hypocrisy and phonies because he sees it and thinks about it. After being beaten up by Maurice, Holden lies on the floor and thinks, What it did feel like, though, was committing suicide. recalls the day his brother Kenneth (Allie) died. He has grown 6 1/2 inches in just one year. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Caulfield also figures as a character in the short story "I'm Crazy", published in Colliers (December 22, 1945), and other members of the Caulfield family are featured in "Last Day of the Last Furlough", published in The Saturday Evening Post (July 15, 1944) and the unpublished short stories "The Last and Best of the Peter Pans" (c. 1942) and "The Ocean Full of Bowling Balls" (c. 1945). The friend doesnt like the immature conversation they are having, so he decides to leave. (LogOut/ WebThe character of Holden Caulfield in J.D. Holden also says things like where do the ducks go in the winter? which seems completely obvious to me and I didnt understand until the 8th time I read this book that it is symbolic. Tips For Efficiency: Worldly Repository of Knowledge, Reasons Why Holden Caulaulfields Sexuality matters. Holden had a severely bad and difficult time to cope with the untreated grief as well as depression. 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. He carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. 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. One kid posted a picture of himself that made him look like a goddam model or something. All of these factors contributed to the mental hardships that he dealt with on a daily basis. He isnt autistic. Teachers and parents! 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. Subreddit for the David Fincher Netflix show "Mindhunter". By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? He is out of shape because he smokes too much. He begins to see the world as unfair, after Allies death. He started talking a lot about automatic thoughts, about expecting people to disappoint me, and about anxiety over my relationships. "Yes I do. That makes sense. His life was complicated by the death of his younger brother, and the negative reaction that it invoked from his parents. . Posted on 26/01/2012 Anyone whos read The Catcher in the Rye probably thought, at one point or another, that Holden Caulfeld is flat out bipolar. 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!" Those suffering from depression often, blame others, push others away, and refuse to help themselves. I have 26 followers and I dont post that much. 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). Holden is self-medicating with alcohol because he doesnt know what else to do, or who else to turn to. He was singing that song, If a body catch a body coming through the rye. He had a pretty little voice, too. She had a horrible face, but she was a great dancer. There can be high functioning on the autism spectrum though. Salinger: The Normalcy Of Holden Caulfield, Explanation Behind The Sporadic Actions Of Holden Caulfield, Evaluation Of Holden Caulfield in Catcher In The Rye By J.D. "Last Day of the Last Furlough" relates the final day of Babe Gladwaller before he leaves to fight in World War II. 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. This is exactly the sort of thing a neurodivergent person who thinks concretely and does not understand social facades would be mad about. He has trouble being very intimate unless he knows the girl well and likes her a lot. Wed have to go downstairs in elevators with suitcases and stuff. Instant PDF downloads. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. I don't remember the story well enough to even remember that happening. Holden Caulfield grew up with little to no parental guidance. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com, Open Letter to a Recently Diagnosed AutisticAdult, Why School and Holden Caulfield Failed EachOther. But as soon as he got up, I started to grab my phone and open the door. We are here 24/7 to write your paper in as fast as 3 hours. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. His feelings are typically adolescent, feelings shared by virtually everyone who is or ever has been his age. An earlier version of this story, titled "Are You Banging Your Head Against a Wall?" If you want to know the truth, Im a virgin. (The Ackley thing might be a bit of internalized ableism poking through, now that I think about it). He mainly shows signs attributed to depression. Did You Know Anxiety Can Enhance Our Relationships? He kept asking me about my feelings and I was happy to tell him. Salinger, Holden Caulfield Its interesting that this book has been censored in many schools, I suppose people are scared away by all the goddamns. This indicates that he does not share their lifestyle or views on sexuality. In a dialogue between Holden and his sister Phoebe, he confesses his fear of people thinking he is queer: He is very attached to his younger sister, Phoebe. She doesnt always have anything good to say, but she never stops talking. The problems that Holden and Mark face are distance, selling out and character. Webduncan hines devils food cake brownies. Download. He also has a very negative view of homosexuals and calls them perverts and queers. Holden resents the adult world and resists entry into it, but he has little choice. I have always felt like Holden was the same type of alien as me. One time the weather The story was reportedly sold to a magazine, only to be taken back by Salinger before publication. 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. Kids always have to meet their friend. WebHolden Caulfield character explanations intentions communication concepts 03 Share This fall I think youre riding forits a special kind of fall, a horrible kind. Salinger where Holden Caulfield, an adolescent, is the protagonist and narrator (first person omniscient). Also, the meeting with Carl Luce is considerably briefer in the story than in the novel. The novel is a frame story (a story within a certain fictional framework) in the form of a long flashback. 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. Ive been thinking about it, and he does show some symptoms (special interests he likes talking a lot about, inability to read social cues, and general social unawareness). The way the content is organized. 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. One thing Holden constantly brings up is the ducks in Central Park. I could do what they wanted when it made sense to. 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). It's all scripted and fake when he speaks. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. You should have seen all of the comments on his post. I cant seem to get very interested in them although your lectures are very interesting (Salinger 7). I felt lonely, so I started looking through profiles of a few people from my dorm. He is alternately depressed, confused, angry, anxious, In particular I thought it was really interesting to watch Holden "mask" trying to learn social cues. He was crying and crying. WebI don't think Holden Caulfield has ASD, but he is definitely not neurotypical.