Catcher In The Rye Literary Analysis
Milanka Waduwarage
EN 102/ Basic Literary Analysis
Due date 03/15/2013 Playing the Game of Life
Depression, a common mental disorder, presents people with depressed moods, loss of interest and pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. (Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2008) Someone who deals with depression often realizes it is difficult to live an everyday normal life.
The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D Salinger in 1951, narrates the life of a teenager, who is suffering from severe depression. The novel is a story about childhood and of finding one’s self in society. Initially published for adults, the book has become popular with adolescents for its themes …show more content…
Especially with his parents Holden feels like they have neglected him. “ I had to pack these brand-new ice skates my mother had just sent me a couple of day before” (Salinger 52). Holden could care less about the expensive gifts and of the wealth of his family. What Holden wanted was loving parents who are willing to sit with him and listen to him, letting him express how he feels and what he is experiencing. Salinger write very little about conversations between Holden and his parents. “ All you do is make a lot of dough and play golf and play bridge and buy cars and drink martinis and look like hot-shots” (Salinger 172). Holden’s father is an attorney, an occupation which Holden does not respect and makes no attempt to conceal his option. In the other hand Holden’s mother pays a little attention on Holden’s thoughts or acts since the loss Holden’s brother. The death of Allie has brought a great pain and misery to his mother; she has not recovered from the loss of his son. This annoys Holden because she is not the only one who is suffering from a loss. If there has been more concern about Holden and less about the family reputation and the opinion around them maybe Holden could have applied more and gain better results at school. Transferring Holden from a school to school when he is expelled isn’t helping him. Holden Caulfield is intelligent with lot of potential and can make the grades to stay in the school. But his depression and low self-esteem prevents him from being successful at school. Holden’s only familial affection and association is with his younger sister Phoebe, with whom he shares his thoughts and secrets. Phoebe appears to be the only person that Holden cares about. She is the only person that can be noticed by the readers with whom Holden has a genuine interaction. His suffering, because of the lack of parental affection and attention, results in
EN 102/ Basic Literary Analysis
Due date 03/15/2013 Playing the Game of Life
Depression, a common mental disorder, presents people with depressed moods, loss of interest and pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. (Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2008) Someone who deals with depression often realizes it is difficult to live an everyday normal life.
The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D Salinger in 1951, narrates the life of a teenager, who is suffering from severe depression. The novel is a story about childhood and of finding one’s self in society. Initially published for adults, the book has become popular with adolescents for its themes …show more content…
Especially with his parents Holden feels like they have neglected him. “ I had to pack these brand-new ice skates my mother had just sent me a couple of day before” (Salinger 52). Holden could care less about the expensive gifts and of the wealth of his family. What Holden wanted was loving parents who are willing to sit with him and listen to him, letting him express how he feels and what he is experiencing. Salinger write very little about conversations between Holden and his parents. “ All you do is make a lot of dough and play golf and play bridge and buy cars and drink martinis and look like hot-shots” (Salinger 172). Holden’s father is an attorney, an occupation which Holden does not respect and makes no attempt to conceal his option. In the other hand Holden’s mother pays a little attention on Holden’s thoughts or acts since the loss Holden’s brother. The death of Allie has brought a great pain and misery to his mother; she has not recovered from the loss of his son. This annoys Holden because she is not the only one who is suffering from a loss. If there has been more concern about Holden and less about the family reputation and the opinion around them maybe Holden could have applied more and gain better results at school. Transferring Holden from a school to school when he is expelled isn’t helping him. Holden Caulfield is intelligent with lot of potential and can make the grades to stay in the school. But his depression and low self-esteem prevents him from being successful at school. Holden’s only familial affection and association is with his younger sister Phoebe, with whom he shares his thoughts and secrets. Phoebe appears to be the only person that Holden cares about. She is the only person that can be noticed by the readers with whom Holden has a genuine interaction. His suffering, because of the lack of parental affection and attention, results in