This leads to a number of bad decisions that occur over three days. Thats the whole trouble. Thats where youre wrongthats exactly where youre wrong! Boy, was she depressing me. Holden interacts with homosexuality in a variety of ways and at different points in his life. I don't remember anything they said about it other than that they claimed he was hallucinating a voice saying "F*** you" or something. Holden Caulfield, Sarcastic, Nasty, And Completely Unlikeable None of Salingers works to date have clarified exactly how many Caulfied children there were or who (aside from the Kenneth/Allie WebIhab Hassan, in J. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Nothing. Hopefully I can explore this intersection more in the future. Evaluation Of Holden Caulfield in Catcher In No kidding (Salinger 80). I really dont. Yes! Holden also denies his own interests, namely film and literature, making it seem like he has a poor sense of himself. "Because you dont," she said. Is he gay or straight? Having one train of thought is a foreign concept to him. By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? He was suffering the sins of the people and he couldn't move forward. Depression is usually masked and Holden is shown to do this. 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. I felt like jumping out the window. He was pushed around from school to school, failing and being expelled from the majority of them due to his poor behavior. Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Term Professor and the Director of Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Holden is constantly running away from his problems, like being expelled, and avoids them. 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. Holden also says things like where do the ducks go in the winter? which seems completely obvious to me and I didnt understand until the 8th time I read this book that it is symbolic. When I was all set to go, when I had my bags and all, I stood for a while next to the stairs and took a last look down the goddam corridor. Somebodyd written "Fuck you" on the wall. You dont see what I mean at all. is holden caulfield autistic Toward the end of the story, Kenneth and Vincent are on the beach. Holden starts off by telling us that he has been kicked out of another school, Pencey Prep. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. On edge because of the play and because of Sallys question about Christmas Eve. WebI don't think Holden Caulfield has ASD, but he is definitely not neurotypical. The hat reminds him of Allie and he feels safe in the hat. WebHolden often behaves as if he has been sent onto Earth to point out the wickedness or phoniness of others, but then makes excuses when he behaves [deviant]the same way as the individuals he deems morons. He asked me if I think anyone really loved me other than Allie, and then he told me he loved me. It was a lie, of course, but the thing is, I meant it when I said it. The main character, Holden Caulfield (or Holden Cauliflower, as I affectionately call him) is a bit controversial and a bit polarizing. Privacy Policy Everyone just started, but no one else went. I gotta run now, though. Subreddit for the David Fincher Netflix show "Mindhunter". He never had a girlfriend. you ever read "The Catcher in Ill bet I woke up every bastard on the whole floor. However, Salinger wrote that Vincent died in World War II, and The Catcher in the Rye was published in 1951. One kid posted a picture of himself that made him look like a goddam model or something. If they fall off, they fall off, but its bad if you say anything to them. He will not allow book to be made into movie. 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. The bullies that pushed James to his death were merely expelled from school and let off the hook. Removing #book# 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. He has the potential to be the first realistic teenage homosexual character in English literature, which would give him a special significance. Written by J. D. Salinger (no one knows what J. D. actually stands for, though he has claimed it is juvenile delinquent), Catcher in the Rye was originally published serially between 1945 and 1946 and then converted to book form in 1951. As an autistic person, I find that I sometimes speak in disclaimers because I am used to people misunderstanding me too. I felt like jumping out the window (Salinger 57). One of his favorite insults is phony, and he is always going off about other people at his school posturing and protecting their images. Terms of Use I have 26 followers and I dont post that much. It is sometimes mistakenly reported that the name "Holden Caulfield" was derived by Salinger from a marquee or poster for the film Dear Ruth, starring William Holden and Joan Caulfield, but Dear Ruth was released in 1947 more than a year-and-a-half after Holden Caulfield's first appearance in print, and more than six years after Salinger's first unpublished short story was written using this name for a character. The novel is a frame story (a story within a certain fictional framework) in the form of a long flashback. Explanation Behind The Sporadic Actions Of Holden Caulfield He is from New York City, where his younger sister. I couldnt tell if he was looking at me or the clock behind me which had just buzzed because it was three oclock. I really am. Although Sunny is the more frightening of the two, neither belongs there. Salinger, Holden Caulfield Its interesting that this book has been censored in many schools, I suppose people are scared away by all the goddamns. He simply didn't fit into a NT world as hard as he tried. Allies death took away Holdens innocence. Holden wants to tell what happened over a two-day period the previous December, beginning on the Saturday afternoon of the traditional season-ending football game between his school, Pencey Prep, and Saxon Hall. You never saw so many phonies in all your life, everybody smoking their ears off and talking about the play so that everybody could hear and know how sharp they were (Salinger 68). Good old Carl another kid that started taking pills in kindergarten like me. WebWATCH: Holden Caulfield Diagnosed By Psychiatrist. . Holden Caulfied looks at things in such a negative tone throughout the novel, Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has a very negative view on everything besides his little sister, Phoebe, he loves her and cares so much for her. ", "Like hell it is." Did You Know Anxiety Can Enhance Our Relationships? Gilbert Grape By Peter Hedges - 1240 Words | Internet Public He kept telling me to start reciting the Declaration of Independence, like it was so important. In second grade there was other kid who lost his game in the playground. Thoughts of Allie lying in his grave in the cemetery in the rain, surrounded by dead bodies and tombstones, haunt Holden. 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. Holden Caulfield Character Analysis in The Catcher in the Rye WebHolden is a rebel. Is Holden Caulfield Gay? - Tips For Efficiency Ive thought Holden is on the spectrum possibly. "Thats a deer shooting hat. He is constantly learning how people feel vs empathisizing. All rights reserved Thats important. That makes sense. Holdens rebellion is not against some spooky threat like the establishment or capitalist America, but rather against something far more threatening to teenagers: maturity. Then, when the dough runs out, I could get a job somewhere and we could live somewhere with a brook and all and, later on, we could get married or something (Salinger 71). Holden does the same. The book is narrated as if he is speaking directly to the reader about events in the past, so everything is in his voice. Most notably, in some Salinger short stories "Holden Caulfield" is a soldier in WWII who was missing in action in 1944 -- something that is thoroughly impossible to have happened to the 16-year-old Holden Caulfield of The Catcher In The Rye, which is set in 1948 or '49. 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. I mean, I just have a Finsta. The story is notable for the appearance of Phoebe and Vincent's statements about a child crawling off a cliff. Youre by no means alone on that scoreMany, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. I took it off and looked at it. Thus, the caul in his name may symbolize the blindness of childhood or the WebIts the LXVIIth time theyve met. But they are pretty catty. 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. He asks many adults in the novel where the ducks go, and either they dont have an answer, or they give a nonsensical onewhich shows that adults dont know too much about growing up either. Some people see him as a whiny proto-emo, some see him as just a stupid teenage boy, and some see him as a misunderstood anti-hero. Throughout the novel, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. That little lake? Salinger's first published Holden Caulfield story, "I'm Crazy", appeared in Collier's on December 22, 1945. Holden Caulfield is gay because of the way he speaks about women, his interests, and his overall demeanor. 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. I never found out what happened to Carl. This was the reason he was unwilling to allow filming of the book or use of the character by other writers.[2]. Holden Caulfield: Egotistical Whiner or Melancholy Boy Genius? Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Holden Caulfield No, seriously, I'm reading the synopsis and his personality comes off as textbook autism. At that time, D.B. Thats all Id do all day. And I was wonderingwhat psychological "disorder" does Holden (main character) have? equinn, Joined: 2 Dec 2006Age: 36Gender: FemalePosts: 408Location: somewhere else. The way Holden treats sexuality is reflective of the time period in which the novel was written, when society was just beginning to accept alternative lifestyles. I dont care. 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. When people think something is important to them, they just assume that its so goddam important to everyone else. Holden's fears and desires are understandable, but his solution (avoiding reality) is impossible. The Catcher in the Rye is a literature classic that follows the story of Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old student. Ive had quite a few opportunities to lose my virginity and all, but Ive never got around to it yet. He seems to be getting the help he needed. Suicide rates have spiked in recent years and suicide is a huge problem, Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US (Suicide Statistics). Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. He sounded just like a girl (Salinger 69). He started talking a lot about automatic thoughts, about expecting people to disappoint me, and about anxiety over my relationships. Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via [email protected]. Some people see him as a whiny proto-emo, some see him as just a stupid teenage boy, and some see him as a misunderstood anti-hero. He never made any sense. It affects the ability to make decisions as it clouds judgment, Another symptom attributed to depression is a diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (Depression Symptoms). Holden Caulfield He also struggles to grasp the subtleties of communication, such as not getting right away that Stradlater is annoyed with him. I was afraid some teacher would catch me rubbing it off and would think Id written it. At that point Vincent is a fellow soldier about to leave for the war. Like Holden. Kenneth decides to go swimming and is knocked out by a wave. I sort of closed one eye, like I was taking aim at it. When Phoebe finishes riding the carousel, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Because of Holdens extreme lack of interest, he fails four out of five classes. For example, in The Catcher in the Rye, Allie was the brother of the main character, Holden Caulfield. There can be high functioning on the autism spectrum though. Its possible, he does seem to display signs of neurodivergence. He is alternately depressed, confused, angry, anxious, Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. That's what i suspect too especially over season 2. I dont even like to think about it. He doesnt seem to be able to relate to women at all and never asks any questions that would suggest he is interested in them as people. Autistic people tend to see rules and lines in places they might not necessarily be. Unlike the similar sequence in the novel, Caulfield is on a Christmas break from school, and, in the story, the interlude with Sally is split into two occurrences. Below are five reasons why some people think Holden is a homosexual: Dont tell anybody this, I said, but when I was little I sort of wanted to marry my mother and sleep with my father. In some literary works, unseen characters influence and move the narrative forward despite otherwise not serving as main characters. Holden just seemed annoying to me. Shouldnt we review our homework for this week and talk about our plans for your next appointment?, Yeah, Ill email you. path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> 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. By constantly asking him about girls, he makes Holden uncomfortable. Theres a word I really hate. You should have seen all of the comments on his post. He probably got in trouble for misbehaving in the past too, when it was really impulsivity and trouble with following instructions. What did he need to look more handsome for? 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. I dont know what she was thinking. WebIf Holden were just autistic, he might have returned home toward the familiar immediately, but as an ADHD-autist, his novelty-seeking brain led him through several new Most kids are. As in the trauma he might have experienced before he was with Trench. Among other things, youll find that youre not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. The novel slowly details Holden's realization that you can't "protect the innocent" and they don't want to be protected in the first place. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. He views many things as phony and he doesnt trust many people. Game, my ass. About Wrong Planet "Name one thing. 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. Holden is a high functioning sociopath He is very untrustworthy of people. I just finished reading the book, Catcher in the Rye. I also assumed Brian had autism but as the show progressed I felt his odd behavior was more mental health related. 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). What a deal that was. You cant ever find a place thats nice and peaceful, because there isnt any. Several details make their way from this story into Catcher, including the characterization of Allie; Allie's poetry-inscribed left-handed baseball mitt; Vincent's girlfriend, Helen, who keeps her kings in the back row (like Jane Gallagher); and Caulfield's critical view of others. Is Holden Caulfield autistic? No, seriously, I'm reading the I asked her if shed care to have a hot chocolate or something with me, but she said no, thank you. Holden Caulfield in experiencing adolescence in J.D. I could puke every time I hear it (Salinger 57). Holden becomes very upset and spends the next several hours talking about her. I seek novelty, but tend to burn myself out pretty quickly when I do. 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. Holden is not interested in men and does not seem to understand homosexual relationships or attractions. I was so hopeful about the therapist subplot because I thought he was finally going to be diagnosed and given help. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? Honestly, if he had forced me to stop and talk about next week, I probably would have. They said that I had to learn to follow directions. The character, as Holden Caulfield, appears in Salinger's "Slight Rebellion off Madison", published in the December 21, 1946, issue of The New Yorker. 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. For example, Stradlater is a very rude and inconsiderate roommate for Holden. In particular I thought it was really interesting to watch Holden "mask" trying to learn social cues. "I'm Crazy" is closely related to the first chapter of The Catcher in the Rye. This essay wont pass a plagiarism check! 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.