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. I really dont. You can order a unique, plagiarism-free paper written by a professional writer. The result is depression and hospitalization. Holden Caulfield is a character close to my heart, and I see him as an example of a teenager with a misunderstood brain that no one knew what to do with. Returning to the bar after his phone conversation with Sally. "Name one thing. He is alternately depressed, confused, angry, anxious, Once home, he is not shown confronting his parents, who, according to the maid, are playing bridge. WebA brief note about Holdens name: a caul is a membrane that covers the head of a fetus during birth. (The Ackley thing might be a bit of internalized ableism poking through, now that I think about it). The way the content is organized. He often wears the hat when feeling awkward, embarrassed, or uneasy. Holden is not interested in men and does not seem to understand homosexual relationships or attractions. They got out of break a little earlier so I could see that she was hanging out at the skating rink with these two other girls. The Catcher in the Rye is a literature classic that follows the story of Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old student. I love you both so much! Vincent announces that his brother, Holden, has been declared missing in action. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. He also has some unusual ideas of what is important, such as his recurring question about where the ducks go when the pond freezes over. It just didnt make any sense to me. During this three-day period, Holden makes many bad decisions. I always just assumed everyone deep That was the only good part (Salinger 83). After a night of drinking, Holden decides to sit out in the freezing cold with no jacket on and he almost dies, Anyway, I kept worrying that I was getting pneumonia, with all those hunks of ice in my hair, and that I was going to die (Salinger 83). Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye. Joined: 12 Nov 2007Age: 65Gender: MalePosts: 7,015. You could go there a hundred times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish, the birds would still be on their way south, the deers would still be drinking out of that water hole, with their pretty antlers and their pretty, skinny legs, and that squaw with the naked bosom would still be weaving that same blanket. Essay Service Examples Literature Holden Caulfield. Why do you think you are frustrated?. He both condemns and accepts it at different points, but his feelings are ultimately ones of confusion and discomfort. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. 7 Ticking Time Bombs That Destroy Loving Relationships, An Addiction Myth That Needs to Be Revisited, 5 Spiritual Practices That Increase Well-Being. When he goes to his old school and sees a curse word scratched on the wall in chalk, he thinks a "pervert" must have snuck in during the night to write it, when it was most likely another kid. In J.D Salingers The Catcher in The Rye, the reader is presented to Holden Caulfield, a 17-year-old whos retelling the story of him at 16 facing rough times. A sensitive, rebellious 16-year-old, Caulfield is expelled from prep school. It made me even more depressed when she said that. I was afraid some teacher would catch me rubbing it off and would think Id written it. Holden, just home from camp, is waiting on the porch with his suitcases as Vincent comes back with Kenneth's unconscious body. One of the reasons we like Holden is that he is so candid about how he feels. The main character of the book is Holden Caulfield, he is also the narrator of the book but he is not very specific about where he is telling this story. WebHe is consumed with pointing out hypocrisy and phonies because he sees it and thinks about it. 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. You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South? Character Analysis She wasnt very good at conversation. But I dont think you are callous and unemotional. 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. He decides its best if he stays away from home. He couldn't relate to his peers because he was so far beyond them--like an old soul. [170]. But they are pretty catty. I agree he most definitely is ND. I mean, I really enjoyed dancing with her even though she kind of looked terrible. "I do! Allies death took away Holdens innocence. I think you care deeply about many people, especially children. Boy, was she depressing me. What a deal that was. Holden Caulfield, the 17-year-old narrator and protagonist of the novel, speaks to the reader directly from a mental hospital or sanitarium in southern California. 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. He was pushed around from school to school, failing and being expelled from the majority of them due to his poor behavior. 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. This story appears to form the basis for several key scenes in the first several chapters of The Catcher in the Rye. There was this one time, however, that he told me something I really remember. Another mistake is not owning up to his being expelled from his parents and instead, running away. Holden Caulfield is one of the most enduring characters in 20th-century American fiction. Those suffering from depression often, blame others, push others away, and refuse to help themselves. Holden tends to rephrase things repeatedly and add on signature phrases such as that it did. Joined: 13 Feb 2008Age: 37Gender: MalePosts: 43. The fact that he lies about his age specifically might also mean he feels disconnected from his chronological age, which is another ND trait. Joined: 19 Apr 2007Gender: FemalePosts: 649, oh no no no--you have it all wrong. As Mr. Antolini holds forth with his advice. When J.D. The problems that Holden and Mark face are distance, selling out and character. This fiction reveals more truth about the world than an individuals reality can often supply. When Phoebe finishes riding the carousel, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Well, we do. I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of itIt was a very stupid thing to do, Ill admit, but I hardly didnt even know I was doing it, and you didnt know Allie. 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. This shows a lot about Holdens own mental disorders and the mindset he is perpetuating. [citation needed]. He thought he had to be the catcher, the protector of all young children so that they didn't fall off the side of the cliff. He bought a red hat at the beginning of the novel. 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. Growing Up Twitbook: Top 10 Predictions Of Life in 2024! This fall I think youre riding forits a special kind of fall, a horrible kind. In his confusion, he sees this behavior as a weakness that may even call for psychotherapy. Salinger 's novel, Catcher in the Rye, is an excellent example of a psychologically sensitive portrayal of a child with autism spectrum I couldnt tell if he was looking at me or the clock behind me which had just buzzed because it was three oclock. He is the most relatable fictional character I have ever come across. Salinger never explicitly stated that Holden was homosexual, there are many clues throughout the book that suggest this to be true. Salinger himself is a reclose and has never surfaced since the book. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples. He was a very peculiar guy (Salinger 10). 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. That is what the protagonist of the novel, Holden Caulfield feels like. Gladwaller spends part of the day with his little sister before Vincent Caulfield arrives. Chapters 25-26, Next Edubirdie. But assume then your girlfriend disappears one day and leaving you with an untouchable smoothie all alone. It made me depressed, just thinking about old Mr. Langhorn with those shoes. All rights reserved Their dialogue is similar to that which appears in the later chapters of The Catcher in the Rye. ., Thats the queerest thing I ever heard, [Phoebe] said. WebHolden Caulfield is teen angst bull-crap with a pickax. A third reason why Holdens sexuality matters is that it impacts his relationships with other characters in the novel, particularly Stradlater and Phoebe. 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. Having one train of thought is a foreign concept to him. He wandered around from place to place because he refused to go home to his family. Something went wrong, thoughI dont even remember what any more. He is only hypercritical of adults, who he sees as phonies and sell-outs. Only if you guys had replied earlier Joined: 10 Oct 2006Age: 43Gender: FemalePosts: 1,054. That reminds me of my therapist back from a few years ago. I really dont think I could. It's all scripted and fake when he speaks. 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. "Thats a deer shooting hat. I took it off and looked at it. 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. Holden begs him to stay, Have just one more drink, I told him. In David Finchers The Social Network and J. D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye, an account of two youngsters, Holden Caulfield and Mark Zuckerberg face numerous challenges and at last are entirely defenseless spirits. Ultimately, it is up to the reader to decide Holdens sexuality for themselves. Despite his limited experience, his attitude toward women is actually admirable and mature. In some literary works, unseen characters influence and move the narrative forward despite otherwise not serving as main characters. Thats the whole trouble. In school, he expresses this to his professor saying, That is all I know about the Egyptians. You dont like any schools. D. Salinger: Rare Quixotic Gesture, 1961: On the surface, Holden Caulfield is Salingers typical quixotic hero in search, once again, of the simple truth. Some game. Subreddit for the David Fincher Netflix show "Mindhunter". His general health is poor. Ive thought Holden is on the spectrum possibly. The answer to that question is complex. I dont care. 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 He shows that he is suffering, even though, to everyone else he may seem fine. What brought me to this blog was me randomly thinking of Holden today and connecting the dots that maybe he is autistic I didnt know what the point was. Why the hell do you have to say that?" Except Carl really needed them to focus his parents told him. And all she could talk about was how much those other two girls in the picture were gossiping and being mean to each other. When speaking about schools, he says, The more expensive a school is, the more crooks it hasIm not kidding (Salinger 2). The trouble was, I just didnt want to do it. From his outlook on the world to his actions, and even his past, it is very easy to see that he has a mental health issue and needed to seek help. About Wrong Planet I think its a parallel showing the otherside of sociopath. He knows what hes doing. The whole arrangements designed for men who, at some time or other in their lives, were looking for something their own environment couldnt supply them with. WebHolden Caulfield is a typical anti-hero from the 20th century who features as the main character from the novel, Catcher In The Rye by J.D Salinger. 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. Privacy Policy The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Do you know what that means?. But as soon as he got up, I started to grab my phone and open the door. He is out of shape because he smokes too much. He has a hard time getting started on his essay until it is too late and then bluffs his way through it, an experience that I have witnessed ADHD friends having frequently. One thing Holden constantly brings up is the ducks in Central Park. These characters might have been in the protagonists life before the book began, or they may have barely been mentioned, but they still have a profound impact on the story. Boy did that guy like to hear himself talk. Fincher and Salinger both utilize numerous strategies so as to feature these difficulties, including setting, the topic of companionship/reliability and imagery. (LogOut/ and any corresponding bookmarks? Holden's fears and desires are understandable, but his solution (avoiding reality) is impossible. 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.") This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. She added some heart emojis. I even tried to break all the windows on the station wagon we had that summer, but my hand was already broken and everything by that time, and I couldnt do it (Salinger 21). The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Do you think you are angry now? he asked me. This is one of my favorites. He is most famous for his appearance as the lead character and narrator of the 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye. . WebIhab Hassan, in J. No, seriously, I'm reading the synopsis and his personality comes off as textbook autism. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. So I google searched. 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. Salinger's first published Holden Caulfield story, "I'm Crazy", appeared in Collier's on December 22, 1945. Honestly, if he had forced me to stop and talk about next week, I probably would have. Although Sunny is the more frightening of the two, neither belongs there. If they fall off, they fall off, but its bad if you say anything to them. While taking the elevator back to his hotel room. Why do you always post about them then? I asked her. Struggling with distance learning? He simply didn't fit into a NT world as hard as he tried. His general health is poor. At the same time as he detests the adult world, he wants to be a part of it, which is why he smokes and drinks and attempts to be with a prostitute. There was another post from this girl who went to the school across from Pencey. 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. People scream forever like anyone cares what they are complaining about as much as they do. "You dont like anything thats happening.". he's a PHONY, a big fat PHONY! You dont.". to the brutally forced suicide of James Castle at Elkton Hills. 2023 EduBirdie.com. The only thing that would be different would be you. He wants beautiful moments to last forever, using as his model the displays in glass at the Museum of Natural History, in which the same people are shown doing the same things year after year. I want you to be happy. When he asks, she responds with, Thatd be grand (Salinger 57). It was really a bunch of garbage, I thought. After meandering silently through the zoo. He is alternately depressed, confused, angry, anxious, perceptive, bigoted, resentful, thoughtful, kind, and horny. Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. I just finished reading the book, Catcher in the Rye. 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). Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# 2023 EduBirdie.com. She is hysterical, old Pheobe. Also, the meeting with Carl Luce is considerably briefer in the story than in the novel. They said that I had to learn to follow directions. She would probably be asleep, but I wanted to see her anyway. Like Holden. Later in the book, Holden hires an obviously gay cab driver named Ernie. Our writers will provide you with an essay sample written from scratch: any topic, any deadline, any instructions. 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). But can you tell me more what you were feeling at that moment, he would always say. equinn, Joined: 11 Apr 2008Gender: MalePosts: 117. to paraphrase family guy.. It is unclear how many Caulfield children there are and who is who. Salinger s novel The Catcher in The story is set at the Caulfield summer home on Cape Cod. The name Holden Caulfield was initially used in an unpublished short story written in 1941 and first appeared in print in 1945. He was a handsome kid and all. She put up some pictures of her play. Several early pieces featuring Holden Caulfield formed the basis of parts of Catcher In The Rye, but were rewritten for the novel. But one question that has continued to intrigue readers is whether or not Holden Caulfield, the books main character, is gay. Salinger, Free revision, title page, and bibliography, Get original paper written according to your instructions. Thats all Id do all day. Holden wants to keep running away from his problems and never face them. He is reportedly "killed during one of the landings in the Pacific". I am not diagnosed with ADHD or Autism but my son is and As a teenager I thought and felt exactly like him and even as an adult I would have to say still do and still am The dorm was empty. I have 26 followers and I dont post that much. recalls the day his brother Kenneth (Allie) died. Throughout the book, we get to see how Caulfield develops and emerges into adulthood and his feelings towards it. I felt like jumping out the window. I also assumed Brian had autism but as the show progressed I felt his odd behavior was more mental health related. 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). -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the character Holden Caulfield appears in, It is several months into 1950, and 16-year-old, that he and his date decided to leave the football game early. The novel's narrator and protagonist, Holden is a high school junior who has flunked out of prep school several times. I could puke every time I hear it (Salinger 57). And I was wonderingwhat psychological "disorder" does Holden (main character) have? How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines, The Innate Intelligence Observed in the Dying Process. Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Term Professor and the Director of Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. But, in my opinion he isn't autistic, just has some personality "disorders". 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 He also struggles to grasp the subtleties of communication, such as not getting right away that Stradlater is annoyed with him. Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. He states, The worst part was, the jerk had one of those very phony, Ivy League voices, one of those very tired, snobby voices. Pencey is a good school, everyone always says, but it was filled with a bunch of phonies. Ive had quite a few opportunities to lose my virginity and all, but Ive never got around to it yet. He doesnt want anyone to experience his loss of innocence. I asked her if shed care to have a hot chocolate or something with me, but she said no, thank you. Very few things keep his interest and it affects multiple aspects of his life. Holdens biggest problem with other people is the lack of authenticity he often encounters. What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I dont know why. Ultimately, it is up to the reader to decide what they believe based on the information presented. 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. Why did you want to do that?. Thats good. Dont say that. In The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger gives us many hints suggesting that Holden may be gay. Something always happensI came quite close to doing it a couple of times, though. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. In particular I thought it was really interesting to watch Holden "mask" trying to learn social cues. Salinger where Holden Caulfield, an adolescent, is the protagonist and narrator (first person omniscient). Im pretty yellow. 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. The man falling isnt permitted to feel or hear himself hit bottom. I hear that youre frustrated. The character, as Holden Caulfield, appears in Salinger's "Slight Rebellion off Madison", published in the December 21, 1946, issue of The New Yorker. Holdens teachers know he is smart, but they assume he does not put in effort because he struggles to initiate tasks and manage his time. My mom brought me to a pediatrician as soon as my kindergarten teacher said that I wasnt listening. The community od ppl in the autistic spectrum have been fighting against that word for years now. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Holden-Caulfield, National Public Radio - Holden Caulfield: Giving Voice to Generations. What Holden probably didn't realize in the novel was that his idea of those who are innocent is not very accurate. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. When they stop at a red light, Ernie starts caressing the steering wheel lovingly. I could swear people a block away from our school could hear him wailing so much. Good, he told me. He often insults others and makes fun of them, criticizing their problems without recognizing his own. was accepted for publication by The New Yorker in October 1941, but was not published then because editors found the tone to be too desolate for its readership. I have to go. He is very untrustworthy of people. He started talking a lot about automatic thoughts, about expecting people to disappoint me, and about anxiety over my relationships. He has a strong connection with certain males throughout the novel. I care about you deeply, Holden. Removing #book# His feelings are typically adolescent, feelings shared by virtually everyone who is or ever has been his age. 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. Privacy Policy You should have seen all of the comments on his post. WebFirst of all, there is no such a thing as "high or low functioning" in psychopathy or sociopath. The significance of this is that his brother, Allie, had red hair. In fact, he seems to be disgusted by the idea of having a relationship with a woman. Still trying to answer Phoebes question, Mr. Antolini elaborates on his ideas, telling. 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. Complete your free account to request a guide. It made me feel not so depressed any more. The 2 Most Psychologically Incisive Films of 2022, The Surprising Role of Empathy in Traumatic Bonding. I said. 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. It took me quite a while to get to sleepI wasnt even tiredbut finally I did. As an autistic person, I find that I sometimes speak in disclaimers because I am used to people misunderstanding me too. 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. 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. Is he gay or straight? equinn, Joined: 2 Dec 2006Age: 36Gender: FemalePosts: 408Location: somewhere else. Autistic people tend to see rules and lines in places they might not necessarily be. 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. He carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. He does lie, but most of his lies are random and outrageous, such as when he tells two different strangers that he is twelve and forty, despite being seventeen, suggesting impulsivity. from your Reading List will also remove any WebHolden Caulfield Character Analysis. [1] It is possible that Vincent is renamed Curtis, as Seymour was published in 1959, and both Curtis and Vincent are killed in the Pacific during World War II. He seems best at the rites of passage (smoking and drinking) that are themselves artificial if not self-destructive. No matter how much I text with others or follow their profiles, I just feel lonely. From here on out, Holden was never the same. [W]hile I was sitting down, I saw something that drove me crazy. 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. But Im glad he didnt. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. I do not have this exact diagnosis, but a lot of people close to me do, including Tech, and I have noticed that certain traits line up with Catchers main character and most likely contributed to his trouble with education and generally fitting into the world. I told him that my mother felt pretty bad and I didnt want to upset her by talking about it. He wants this innocence back. Salinger, Holden Caulfield Its interesting that this book has been censored in many schools, I suppose people are scared away by all the goddamns. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. I seek novelty, but tend to burn myself out pretty quickly when I do. All of these factors contributed to the mental hardships that he dealt with on a daily basis. character) might have been the same person, but simply renamed in a later work. prince george's county town hall meeting; baptist church long beach; why is it important to learn about serial killers Holden had a severely bad and difficult time to cope with the untreated grief as well as depression. This is not a personality disorder. They also looked like he had worn them for about sixty years. I started sweating like mad when he said that. Nobodyd be different. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Then I got the hell out. There was a hole in the toe on his right foot. 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.