What Is Insanity?
Insanity in Society
“Most people assume that the majority is right, that society is normal and sane, and that the misfit, dissident, loner, or nonconformist is abnormal and possibly mentally ill. That’s what they are programmed and conditioned to believe. It is a classic ‘cattle control’ method of getting the herd to keep itself in line” –Unknown
Society programs the minds of individuals to accept what it considers normal, and to reject the abnormal; to discriminate against those who do not conform to societal conventions, deeming these individuals insane. Society also asserts other contrasts such as only black and white, and good and bad. In J.D. Salinger 's The Catcher in the Rye, the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, speaks of his adventures which gradually lead to his mental breakdown. Readers sympathize with Holden at the onset of the novel, but nearing the conclusion Holden begins showing signs of what society would label psychopathy. Through Holden 's situation in Salinger 's realistic fantasy, the concept of insanity is expressed as the result of social norms pressed upon individuals by society. Insanity as a construct of social norms may be examined through the events leading Holden to his mental breakdown. This includes Holden 's refusal for a sense of change, his judgemental and hypocritical thoughts of others, and his alienation from civilization. Holden Caulfield knows he does not fit in with his peers, and they know he is different. This results in Holden 's peers labelling him as an outcast, and Holden 's refusal for a sense of change leads to his mental breakdown. For example, Holden seeks comfort in the displays of the Natural Museum of History - particularly the Eskimo display. Holden says “the best thing, though, in the museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move...Nobody’d be different. The only thing would that different would be you” (Salinger 155). Holden refuses to believe that the display changes, only
“Most people assume that the majority is right, that society is normal and sane, and that the misfit, dissident, loner, or nonconformist is abnormal and possibly mentally ill. That’s what they are programmed and conditioned to believe. It is a classic ‘cattle control’ method of getting the herd to keep itself in line” –Unknown
Society programs the minds of individuals to accept what it considers normal, and to reject the abnormal; to discriminate against those who do not conform to societal conventions, deeming these individuals insane. Society also asserts other contrasts such as only black and white, and good and bad. In J.D. Salinger 's The Catcher in the Rye, the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, speaks of his adventures which gradually lead to his mental breakdown. Readers sympathize with Holden at the onset of the novel, but nearing the conclusion Holden begins showing signs of what society would label psychopathy. Through Holden 's situation in Salinger 's realistic fantasy, the concept of insanity is expressed as the result of social norms pressed upon individuals by society. Insanity as a construct of social norms may be examined through the events leading Holden to his mental breakdown. This includes Holden 's refusal for a sense of change, his judgemental and hypocritical thoughts of others, and his alienation from civilization. Holden Caulfield knows he does not fit in with his peers, and they know he is different. This results in Holden 's peers labelling him as an outcast, and Holden 's refusal for a sense of change leads to his mental breakdown. For example, Holden seeks comfort in the displays of the Natural Museum of History - particularly the Eskimo display. Holden says “the best thing, though, in the museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move...Nobody’d be different. The only thing would that different would be you” (Salinger 155). Holden refuses to believe that the display changes, only
Cited: "Great Quotes about the Insanity of Society and the Sanity of the Dissident." Discover Global Dating, Foreign Women, Expat Living and Freedom Beyond America. 1 Jan. 2013. Web Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. New York. 2001. Print