In 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D Salinger, a variety of themes
show up throughout the novel. One of these themes is depression which the
character Holden struggles to overcome in a variety of ways. Depression is bad
because it makes him think negative and feel alone which then relieves himself
in smoking cigarettes.
Holden is struggling with depression the novel and as
he deals with these emotions he feels alone and with no one to rely on. For
example in the following quote, "Anyway, it made me feel depressed as lousy
again, and I damn near got my coat back and went to the hotel, but it was too
early and I didn't feel much like being alone." (110). This quote demonstrates
that Holden doesn't want to be alone at all; it was something he didn't want to
deal with. It also shows that the place where he was made him feel uncomfortable
and depressed. Holden not only feels depressed in outer places but also objects
make him feel depressed. Like for example," It isn't important, I know, but I
hate it when somebody has cheap suitcases. It depressed holy hell out of me, and
I wanted to throw mine out something, or even trade with him. " (141). The quote
demonstrates that he has a sense of depression towards objects that make him
feel that way, like they don't deserve to be there or even make him feel those
objects are just as bad and because they are bad they just make him upset, even
if they aren't his. In the end, there is different type of ways Holden feels
depressed and it's not only in outgoing places but in the small details.
Depression can make certain people act differently and can defiantly change
people's mood. Like in chapter 14 that states, “I felt so depressed, you can't
imagine. What I did, I started talking, sort of out loud, to Allie. I do
sometimes when I get really depressed." (129). In the following lines it
demonstrates a stage of depression Holden face, almost like a loneliness phase.
This explains that since he is feeling alone, he starts to talk to his passed
away younger brother Allie to not feel alone. Overall, Holden's one way to deal with
depression is by talking to his brother and trying to find ways to not feel as
solitary and face his depression status.
As we see throughout the novel,
the main character is been affected way to much by depression which makes him
think negative or makes him feel alone and think differently. In the quote from
chapter 13, "I was feeling so depressed I didn't even think. That's the whole
trouble. When you're feeling depressed, you can't even think." (119). It clearly
states how Holden reacts when he comes in shock of depression. He doesn’t think
at all and he ends up with a not clear mind of what he should think in that
moment. For this reason, in the novel Holden is constantly put in the situations
of depression and consequently make him not think quickly and have the lack of
processing thoughts in his head.
As a result, the main character in the
novel, Holden deals with a variety of different moods that make him think and
act differently. One of the moods he faces is depression, and depression is bad
because it makes him think negative and feel alone as well as thinks differently
consequently because of the main reason of feeling depressed. Therefore, it
makes him think differently act differently and have loneliness emotions because
he might not be able to have someone to talk to while going though this phase.
So we all need someone in order to let all the negative shadows come out; it's
just a matter of how and maybe with who we need to let it all out
with.
show up throughout the novel. One of these themes is depression which the
character Holden struggles to overcome in a variety of ways. Depression is bad
because it makes him think negative and feel alone which then relieves himself
in smoking cigarettes.
Holden is struggling with depression the novel and as
he deals with these emotions he feels alone and with no one to rely on. For
example in the following quote, "Anyway, it made me feel depressed as lousy
again, and I damn near got my coat back and went to the hotel, but it was too
early and I didn't feel much like being alone." (110). This quote demonstrates
that Holden doesn't want to be alone at all; it was something he didn't want to
deal with. It also shows that the place where he was made him feel uncomfortable
and depressed. Holden not only feels depressed in outer places but also objects
make him feel depressed. Like for example," It isn't important, I know, but I
hate it when somebody has cheap suitcases. It depressed holy hell out of me, and
I wanted to throw mine out something, or even trade with him. " (141). The quote
demonstrates that he has a sense of depression towards objects that make him
feel that way, like they don't deserve to be there or even make him feel those
objects are just as bad and because they are bad they just make him upset, even
if they aren't his. In the end, there is different type of ways Holden feels
depressed and it's not only in outgoing places but in the small details.
Depression can make certain people act differently and can defiantly change
people's mood. Like in chapter 14 that states, “I felt so depressed, you can't
imagine. What I did, I started talking, sort of out loud, to Allie. I do
sometimes when I get really depressed." (129). In the following lines it
demonstrates a stage of depression Holden face, almost like a loneliness phase.
This explains that since he is feeling alone, he starts to talk to his passed
away younger brother Allie to not feel alone. Overall, Holden's one way to deal with
depression is by talking to his brother and trying to find ways to not feel as
solitary and face his depression status.
As we see throughout the novel,
the main character is been affected way to much by depression which makes him
think negative or makes him feel alone and think differently. In the quote from
chapter 13, "I was feeling so depressed I didn't even think. That's the whole
trouble. When you're feeling depressed, you can't even think." (119). It clearly
states how Holden reacts when he comes in shock of depression. He doesn’t think
at all and he ends up with a not clear mind of what he should think in that
moment. For this reason, in the novel Holden is constantly put in the situations
of depression and consequently make him not think quickly and have the lack of
processing thoughts in his head.
As a result, the main character in the
novel, Holden deals with a variety of different moods that make him think and
act differently. One of the moods he faces is depression, and depression is bad
because it makes him think negative and feel alone as well as thinks differently
consequently because of the main reason of feeling depressed. Therefore, it
makes him think differently act differently and have loneliness emotions because
he might not be able to have someone to talk to while going though this phase.
So we all need someone in order to let all the negative shadows come out; it's
just a matter of how and maybe with who we need to let it all out
with.