What's+bothering+Holden?

**__Impact of death on family linked to Holden__**  (Link - [] ) ==== a death in the family causes a lot of emotion to surface. In a teenager’s situation, they can understand death much like an adult as they are aware of other people’s feelings. Teen’s find it difficult to express their feelings if a member of the family has died. ====

 There are a few signs which display that a person is not coping with the death of a family member.

 A long period of depression, with loss of interest in daily activities and events
 * Inability to sleep, loss of appetite, prolonged fear of being alone
 * Acting like a much younger child for a long time
 * Denying that the family member has died
 * Imitating the dead person all the time
 * Talking repeatedly about wanting to join the dead person
 * Withdrawing from friends
 * A sharp drop in school performance, or refusal to attend school.

 In context with Holden Caulfield, a reason why he has extreme actions in the novel "The Catcher and the Rye” could be because of the death of his younger brother Allie. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> He displays several of these signs such as: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">*Holden’s tendency to “horse around” by acting out movies can be linked to “acting like a much younger child...”. An example of Holden “horsing around” is on page 93 and 94.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> The biggest point which suggests to us that Holden is very much not coping with the death of his brother, Allie, is his lack of motivation at school. He is a very capable student but chooses not to work to his best ability. This is shown in the beginning of the novel, when Holden and his History teacher are conversing about his exam paper. He tells his teacher he could have written a good essay but chose not to. Holden's lack of interest in school can therefore be linked to the fact he is not coping with his brother’s death.
 * His suicidal statements can be linked to depression, obviously, and he loses interest in daily activities. Examples are when he has death wishes on page 82.
 * He claims he talks to Allie and tells him if he comes back, he can come with him and a friend to a certain place he wasn't allowed to go when he was alive.
 * Holden really wanted to have a telephone conversation with Jane, his younger sister Phoebe, and many other people, which can be related to ‘prolonged fear of being alone’.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> **__Grief and Holden__** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> (Links - [], []) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> Grief is an emotion which is a response to loss, particularly to the loss of a person whom you are close to. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> From the book “the Catcher in the Rye”, Holden Caulfield lost his brother when he was younger. We get the sense that he is not coping with the death of his brother. Our first indication is when Holden flashes back to when he went on a rampage and smashed windows and glass after his brother had died. Our second indication is when Holden continuously states he wants to die (suicide statements). He seems to think life is unfair which can be related to the stages of grief, which links us back to the fact that Holden is still grieving over his brother. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> There are five stages in the grief process (A.K.A the Kübler-Ross model): <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> These 5 stages can represent what Holden has been through. Although he does not tell us he was in denial, he does flashback about how he got angry and destroyed things in his garage. He does not tell us about bargaining but we see for length of the novel, the continuous feel of depression, which is a stage of grief. The novel concludes with him in calm state after talking to a psychoanalyst (the reader). This can be linked to the acceptance stage of grief in which he has accepted his brother’s death, although we do not know for sure.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Denial
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Anger
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Bargaining
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Depression
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Acceptance

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> **Adolescence and Holden**

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> (Links - [], []) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> Most adults find adolescence as “the best times of your lives”, but in Holden’s position, it is very stressful and difficult. It is the time in which you grow physically and mentally, and can be very stressful for some. Holden falls into this category. He struggles to make the transition from boy to man although he appears to be mature in the fact that he smokes and drinks. This is a facade as he really is insecure and wants to stay a child, (which is shown continuously throughout the novel when he horses around).

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">**<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">__DEPRESSION AND HOLDEN:__ ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Depression defined by: ** [|**http://uk.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861765178/depression.html?qpvt=define%3a+depression**] <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">//<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Cambria,serif;">During “The Catcher in the Rye”, Holden Caulfield often refers to himself feeling “depressed”. It //is //common for Holden to reference depression after he has had a negative experience. An example of this occurs during chapter 9 when Holden says “they gave me this very crumby room, with nothing to look out of the window except the other side of the hotel. I didn’t care much. I was too depressed to care whether I had a good view or not”. This occurs after he has been given a hotel room to stay in. Depression is a psychiatric disorder in which someone may constantly feel unworthy or upset. Depression can occur in// //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Cambria,serif;">both minor and major episodes. There are many symptoms of depression. // <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">//<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: Cambria,serif;">__Examples of symptoms of depression include:__ // ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> · ** Low mood ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> · ** The inability to experience pleasure in activities that would once be deemed enjoyable by someone. ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> · ** Constant thoughts of: Worthlessness, helplessness, guilt, and self-hate. ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> · ** Insomnia ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> · ** Suicidal tendencies ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> Examples of extreme Symptoms include: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> · ** Psychosis ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> · ** Delusional views ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> · ** Hallucinations of an unpleasant nature **
 * **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">1. sadness: a state of unhappiness and hopelessness ** ||
 * **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">2. psychiatric disorder: a psychiatric disorder showing symptoms such as persistent feelings of hopelessness, dejection, poor concentration, lack of energy, inability to sleep, and, sometimes, suicidal tendencies ** ||

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">//<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> Although Holden does not suffer from all of these symptoms, he does often reference certain aspects of depression. His mood is often negative throughout the novel. This is relevant in the ways in which he often refers to others as “phony” and “fake” as he has a negative opinion on people. Furthermore, in chapter22 Phoebe asks Holden if there is anything that he enjoys, to which Holden has difficulty explaining. Phoebe tells Holden that he “can’t even think of one thing”, thus reflecting this. // <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">As the novel progresses, Holden’s depression becomes more relevant over time. He often talks negatively about people, and even has suicidal wishes (such as in chapter 13, page 82). By the second to last chapter, Holden finally “breaks down”, as he begins to cry uncontrollably. This shows reinforces that his level of depression has increased. However, by the end of the novel, there are hints that Holden is slowly recovering from depression. //

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">__Causes of depression:__ ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> According to <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[], there are various risk factors that can cause depression, such as: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Of these possible causes, it can be assumed that Holden’s depression is related to the grief. In various parts of the novel, Holden refers to the loss of his younger brother Allie. It can be assumed that Holden has yet to recover from the loss of his brother, and as a result he has became depressed. This also helps to relate to how grief has affected Holden.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Having a family member or relative with depression.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Having a family member who has committed suicide.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Stressful events like losing a job, death of a loved one, financial difficulties.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Having depression as a child or teenager.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> Having a <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[|chronic] illness like <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[|heart disease], <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[|Alzheimer's disease] , <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[|AIDS] , or <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[|cancer].
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> Having a personality where one has low <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[|self-esteem], no confidence, being dependent on others or being <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[|criticized] all the time.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> Today it is common for sufferers of depression to be put on medications, such as anti-depressants. If Holden Caulfield was to experience depression today, he would probably be on such medications to suppress his depressive symptoms.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">**<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: ** __ <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> Post traumatic stress disorder is a medical condition in which someone often experiences after they have experienced a traumatic event. Examples of traumatic events that can cause this disorder include: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> *Witnessing violence <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> *Being abused (physically, mentally or sexually) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> *Being involved in an accident <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> *Being exposed to war

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> As a result to experiences a traumatic event, a sufferer of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can experience a number of symptoms including: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> · <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Reliving traumatic events in the form of a “Flashback”. This is when someone suddenly begins to vividly remember an event in their life, but the memory is so strong that they fell they are experiencing the event again. A flashback is so vivid that the person experiencing a “flashback” is unable to tell if they are remembering something, or if it is actually happening in “real time”. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> · <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Recurring dreams or nightmares relating to a traumatic event. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> · <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Intense negative psychological or physiological response to objects that may remind the person of their traumatic experience <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> · Difficulty in concentration, controlling anger, and sleeping.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> In the case of Holden Caulfield, it can be assumed that Holden suffers from some symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Although Holden does not suffer from all symptoms, Holden lacks the ability to concentrate at school. This could have been caused from the trauma of losing his younger brother, Allie. An explanation of this occurs in chapter 5. Furthermore, in this chapter, Holden has a short violent outburst, after he begins to break the windows in the garage he was sleeping in (page 34). This could mean that Holden was, at the time, unable to control his anger, and his violent outburst reflects this. However, it should be noted that Holden does not have any other outburst off violence in during the novel, so his stress in the long term has resulted in him being unable to concentrate at school, more so than Holden being unable to control his anger.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> Another traumatic experience that Holden discusses in “The Catcher in the Rye” occurs in chapter 22. In this chapter, Holden is unable to concentrate while talking to Phoebe, as he can’t help but remember when he witnessed the suicide of James Castle. James Castle was someone that Holden knew from his school who committed suicide, after being bullied at school. Holden’s vivid recollection of this event hints that Holden is traumatized by witnessing this event, and that this has perhaps resulted in Holden being unable to concentrate at school.