Holden Caulfield (The Catcher In The Rye SPOILERS)

[insertwackynamehere]

If you have read the Catcher In The Rye, then you know Holden was the kid writing a book from a mental hospital, about the few days after his expulsion from a prep school in Pennsylvania. Holden spends most of his time talking about how fucked up society is, and wondering what he's doing. He's probably depressed, maybe manic-depressive (he has crazy mood swings) and certain parts hint towards panic attacks (he cant cross the streets without praying to his dead brother to make sure he doesnt disappear).

Anyway, I can relate because I constantly feel angry at the world, get depressed about it, and have experienced panic attacks more than once. Basically I really can relate to Holden. But then the book was assigned for English class, and everyone thinks Holden is crazy. They dont realize he's in the mental hospital to recouperate from a mental breakdown, they think he is simply insane. They think that the streetcrossing thing is evidence of that, but when I tried to point out it could have been a panic attack, the teacher said, "yeah a panic attack" not really understanding what it was, I think. So how many people think Holden is crazy, and how many people know Holden is completly normal?

Even though I know Holden is normal, it is making me sad that so many people think he's crazy and can't relate :( I mean I knew a lot of my school was annoying and shallow but then some people I expected to understand didnt so I dont know anymore :(

[kristus]

insertwackynamehere said:

If you have read the Catcher In The Rye, then you know Holden was the kid writing a book from a mental hospital,

WELL FUCK YOU TOO FOR SPOILING IT FOR ME!!!

[insertwackynamehere]

you learn that in the beggining, and I have a spoiler warning

..or were you being sarcastic O_o

[Lizardcommando]

Ahh... Catcher in the Rye. That's the only book I've ever enjoyed reading in High School. Good book.

Now as for your question regarding Holden, I'd say he's just a depressed teenager with some anger management issues. He got sick of being in that school so that's why he got himself kicked out.

Plus, he's got kind of a vivid imagination.

[Sharessa]

I swear I'm the only person who went through the American education system without ever reading that book. Most of the "classics" are pretty poor fiction anyway though.

[insertwackynamehere]

heh you should read it, its great. also another thing, Holden mentions he has trouble swallowing donuts and especially when he is nervous. I went through something in 8th grade where I couldnt swallow food without concentrating because of stress, and some of the hardest things to swallow were tastykakes. I ended up going to a psychiatrist or psychologist or psych-something I dont even rememeber :P and before that I had gone to a psychoanalyst. heh I'm kinda neurotic I guess

Also, I really like the poll results :) its making me feel better that people are on my side with this one, even if its not the people i know in school

[SteelPH]

Danarchy said:

I swear I'm the only person who went through the American education system without ever reading that book.

You're not alone. I've never read it, either.

[exp(x)]

Tell your classmates that they are just stigmatizing douchebags who have no knowledge of mental health.

[Foofoo]

catcher in the rye is awesome even though it has no story.

[Enjay]

"Catcher in the Rye" was crucified for me by English classes. Going into every sentence in excruciating detail took anything the book had going for it and pissed it up against the wall. The interminable analysis of every spoken word, every nuance, took any spontaneity out of it and I am left with the impression that it was a dull book created purely to cause people unbearable levels of boredom.

However, as my English teacher openly admitted: "I'm ruining this book so that you can appreciate all the others far more". You know what? He was right.

Oh yeah; Holden? Nutty as a fruitcake. :P

[Dco16]

I fucking loathe Catcher in the Rye. Yes, he's crazy. Or just an asshole, like the school administrative official who made it mandatory for me to read this book, the prose equivilant to getting a chainsaw to the testes. The emos loved it though.

I'm fucking sick of my english classes picking apart books and taking the enjoyment out of them. I just hope I don't get Trainspotting assigned to me in College. They ruin that I will be in a brave new world of pissed off.

[Kid Airbag]

Wasn't there like a line in that book like "The less a girl touches you while you're dancing with her the better a dancer she is" or something like that.

[TheDarkArchon]

Enjay said:

"Catcher in the Rye" was crucified for me by English classes. Going into every sentence in excruciating detail took anything the book had going for it and pissed it up against the wall. The interminable analysis of every spoken word, every nuance, took any spontaneity out of it and I am left with the impression that it was a dull book created purely to cause people unbearable levels of boredom.

Imagine doing the same with a book that was crappy in the first place. For 6 months.

That's what happens in my Higher English class last year.

[kc32]

Yeesh. Thank God I only have a semester of English Comp I at the tech school i'm going to.