What a deal that was. 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. I cant stand all of the phonies on their profiles with all of their pictures of themselves and all of the comments about how good they look and how they just went to these great places. There was another post from this girl who went to the school across from Pencey. As in the trauma he might have experienced before he was with Trench. Holden is one of the first "teenagers" in American literature, and his main struggle is the realization that he is leaving childhood and entering an unsure world of adulthood. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The only good thing, I knew she wouldnt let old Phoebe come to my goddam funeral because she was only a little kid. I really am. Yes! And all she could talk about was how much those other two girls in the picture were gossiping and being mean to each other. Do you know what that means?. All rights reserved, Holden Caulfield and Preserving Innocence in Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield's Journey from Depression to Happiness, Holden Caulfield as the Main Character of the Book Catcher in the Rye, The Challenges of Holden Caulfield and Mark Zuckerberg, Analysis Of Holden Caulfield As A Typical Teenager In The Catcher In The Rye By J.D. I put my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it, and then I yelled at the top of my goddam voice, "Sleep tight, ya morons!" Contact The main character, Holden Caulfield (or Holden Cauliflower, as I affectionately call him) is a bit controversial and a bit polarizing. It's interesting Essay Service Examples Literature Holden Caulfield. He views many things as phony and he doesnt trust many people. Joined: 8 Mar 2008Age: 35Gender: FemalePosts: 10, This is my favorite book, and coincidentally, my college class just reviewed it as a young adult novel. WebCaulfield is a brutally honest character in terms of his thoughts and questions. But one question that has continued to intrigue readers is whether or not Holden Caulfield, the books main character, is gay. He wants time itself to stop. Since Aspergers syndrome is ruled out, and is within the highly functioning part of the Autistic Spectrum, anything lower such as LFA (Lowly Functioning Autism) can be ruled out. Lonely and tormented by the suspicion that Stradlater may have had sex with Jane, On the train to New York, a woman sits next to. I wasnt feeling sexy with her at all and I didnt want to lead her on. Joined: 5 Jul 2004Age: 42Gender: FemalePosts: 5,039, Joined: 7 Nov 2006Age: 30Gender: MalePosts: 398Location: Ann Arbor, MI. WebHolden Caulfield is gay because of the way he speaks about women, his interests, and his overall demeanor. The main character of the book is Holden Caulfield, he is also the narrator of the book but he is not very specific about where he is telling this story. 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). A second reason why Holdens sexuality matters is because of how people treat him differently depending on whether or not they think he is gay. He started talking a lot about automatic thoughts, about expecting people to disappoint me, and about anxiety over my relationships. That's what i suspect too especially over season 2. When I got up there I kept my head down and couldnt stop looking at the teachers shoes. Holden also exhibits this behavior. The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. The day that old Principal Haas told me I had to leave I went back to my room and played Fortnite for hours. The latter is an android/robot; but I can see where the comparisons stem from - an AI trying to fit into society by trying to understand "human" behavior is quite synonymous to what many autistic people might experience, namely by trying to mask and study common social cues in order to appear more in line and "socially adept" with the neurotypical crowd. WebHolden Caulfield is a troubled character who shows clear signs of clinical depression. Its a phony. I mean, you couldnt deny that. Holden Caulfield in experiencing adolescence in J.D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye was published in 1951, it was an instant success. WebHolden Caulfield Character Analysis. Holden is acting like a duck in the way he avoids having to deal with his issues. Please. If they fall off, they fall off, but its bad if you say anything to them. As an ADHD-autist myself, I have to agree. He also struggles to grasp the subtleties of communication, such as not getting right away that Stradlater is annoyed with him. He couldn't relate to his peers because he was so far beyond them--like an old soul. Autistic people tend to see rules and lines in places they might not necessarily be. It makes me wonder if Holden is bipolar like me in addition to possibly being an ADHD-autist. He was consumed with nuns eating dry toast and how this is saintly and how can he reconcile with the rest of us slobs eating regular food--steak and potatoes. One of the reasons why it matters that Holden may be gay is because of his unique sexuality. In a dialogue between Holden and his sister Phoebe, he confesses his fear of people thinking he is queer: He is very attached to his younger sister, Phoebe. I felt like jumping out the window (Salinger 57). She said she had to meet her friend. Id just be the catcher in the rye and all. Salinger 's novel, Catcher in the Rye, is an excellent example of a psychologically sensitive portrayal of a child with autism spectrum disorder. He has extreme social issues because he feels as if he can't fit in with his peers. WebIhab Hassan, in J. Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye - Study.com I mean, I just have a Finsta. 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. So I google searched. WebIts the LXVIIth time theyve met. But there was something about the way his face looked, like he never had a goddam pimple in his life or something that looked off. 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). Is Holden autistic? : r/MindHunter - Reddit He was singing that song, If a body catch a body coming through the rye. He had a pretty little voice, too. Thats the whole trouble. Socially a lot Gladwaller's relationship with his younger sister can be seen as a parallel to Caulfield's relationship with Phoebe. Youll learn from themif you want to. He then asks. WebHolden Caulfield (identified as "Holden Morrisey Caulfield" in the story "Slight Rebellion Off Madison" , and "Holden V. Caulfield" in The Catcher In The Rye) is a fictional character in the works of author J. D. Salinger.He's most famous for his appearance as the lead Throughout the book, we get to see how Caulfield develops and emerges into adulthood and his feelings towards it. WebAs a not autistic person myself, but someone who is emotionally intelligent/empathetic but introverted and awkward around people IRL, I also relate to Holden a lot. Holden wants to keep running away from his problems and never face them. She would probably be asleep, but I wanted to see her anyway. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Salingers little window into the life of a certain adolescent, is an untapped well, brimming with educational merit beyond what those ignorant institutions are capable of appreciating. It made me even more depressed when she said that. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. An interpretation of Holden Caulfield on the cover of the 2012 book, Learn how and when to remove this template message, The Catcher in the Rye - and related matters, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction, A Young Girl in 1941 with No Waist at All, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Holden_Caulfield&oldid=1142721913, Fictional characters with psychiatric disorders, Characters in American novels of the 20th century, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from October 2016, All articles needing additional references, Articles needing additional references from March 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, In Japan, most of the short stories are already translated into Japanese (compiled in two volumes) and still commercially available with the approval of Salinger's agents (, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 00:58. WebIs Holden Caulfield autistic? He carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. Holden interacts with homosexuality in a variety of ways and at different points in his life. It begins with Caulfield standing on a hill at Pencey Prep watching a football game below, and develops as Holden visits with his history teacher, Mr. Spencer, for a talk about his expulsion from school and his future. Holden Caulfield (identified as "Holden Morrisey Caulfield" in the story "Slight Rebellion Off Madison" , and "Holden V. Caulfield" in The Catcher In The Rye) is a fictional character in the works of author J. D. Salinger. That was the only good part (Salinger 83). He is from New York She was a very nice, polite little kid. You could tell they didnt cost a lot of money. She put up some pictures of her play. If you want to know the truth, Im a virgin. 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. He doesnt want anyone to experience his loss of innocence. Holden Caulfield is the main character of J. D. Salinger's renowned coming-of-age novel, The Catcher in the Rye (1951). Privacy Policy Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples. God, I love it when a kids nice and polite when you tighten their skate for them or something. Is Holden Caulfield Gay? - Tips For Efficiency Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Depression is usually masked and Holden is shown to do this. Gladwaller spends part of the day with his little sister before Vincent Caulfield arrives. 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. In fact, he seems to be disgusted by the idea of having a relationship with a woman. id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" I think its a parallel showing the otherside of sociopath. Another symptom attributed to depression is a loss of interest in many things, People typically exhibit multiple of the following behaviors and symptoms Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports, (Depression (Major Depressive Disorder)). Kenneth dies later the same night. No matter how much I text with others or follow their profiles, I just feel lonely. WebHolden Caulfield is a typical anti-hero from the 20th century who features as the main character from the novel, Catcher In The Rye by J.D Salinger. In New York City, he calls Sally Hayes, a friend of his, and schedules a date with her. Joined: 20 Feb 2008Age: 47Gender: MalePosts: 1,919, Joined: 14 Apr 2007Gender: MalePosts: 10,752Location: Turkey, "I dont think he's autistic because he doesnt seem to have trouble partaking in social banter" Throughout the novel, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Updates? After his friend leaves he stays at the bar, getting very drunk, Boy, I sat at that goddam bar till around one oclock or so, getting drunk as a bastard. WebThe character of Holden Caulfield in J.D. Complete your free account to request a guide. Previous Why the hell do you have to say that?" I seek novelty, but tend to burn myself out pretty quickly when I do. Holden is joined by Joe Montana. Im crazy. The hat reminds him of Allie and he feels safe in the hat. Attached: 220px-Rye_catcher.jpg (220x346, 33K) April 2, Another mistake is not owning up to his being expelled from his parents and instead, running away. Holden Caulfield is gay because of the way he speaks about women, his interests, and his overall demeanor. It was late, but I decided to text Sally. Ive been thinking about it, and he does show some symptoms (special interests he likes talking a lot about, inability to read social cues, and general social unawareness). In terms of interpersonal relationships, Holden seems to do all right on the surface, being able to name friends and ex-girlfriends confidently. This was the 1940s, when ADHD was unheard of and autism was new, so adults in Holdens life assumed he was a bad kid and punished him. This leads to a number of bad decisions that occur over three days. Holden is constantly running away from his problems, like being expelled, and avoids them. You ought to go to a boys school sometime. Holden even has a fantasy about pretending to be mute and living in the woods so he no longer has to meet peoples expectations. The story is notable for the appearance of Phoebe and Vincent's statements about a child crawling off a cliff. They didnt get sanctioned as severely as Holden expected. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye. Holden later refers to Sally as the queen of all phonies (Salinger 63) and calls her snotty, She was still being snotty on account of her ankles when she was skating (Salinger 70). [W]hile I was sitting down, I saw something that drove me crazy. 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. He never made any sense. 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. I could puke every time I hear it (Salinger 57). Salinger himself is a reclose and [citation needed]. The novel's narrator and protagonist, Holden is a high school junior who has flunked out of prep school several times. It makes me depressed to think about it. One time in particular, I remember. He was pushed around from school to school, failing and being expelled from the majority of them due to his poor behavior. But no matter what I said, he asked me to say it again. The whole arrangements designed for men who, at some time or other in their lives, were looking for something their own environment couldnt supply them with. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. character) might have been the same person, but simply renamed in a later work. Nothing. In chapter twenty, Holden is feeling very lonesome so he calls a friend to have a few drinks with. I decided I couldnt take it anymore, so I just packed up my things and left. Im pretty yellow. In fact, when he talks about Stradlaters date with Jane Gallagher, he seems more disgusted than anything else.I couldnt see what was so hot about him.. She is in this Benedict Arnold costume and she looks so great. He kept asking me about my feelings and I was happy to tell him. To those whom have read the book, you can see that he has some Aspie traits like social awkwardness. Download. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? Holden Caulfield is a troubled character who shows clear signs of clinical depression. I mean, I really enjoyed dancing with her even though she kind of looked terrible. to the brutally forced suicide of James Castle at Elkton Hills. 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. When Phoebe finishes riding the carousel, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. He is most famous for his appearance as the lead character and narrator of the 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye. Holden has suicidal thoughts multiple times throughout the novel. 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. Everyone just started, but no one else went. He even has a memory of getting frustrated in class because he kept changing topics during a speech and his classmates kept shouting digression at him. ", "Like hell it is." Is Holden Caulfield autistic? No, seriously, I'm reading the Shes really pretty, but sometimes I cant stand listening to her talk. The ending of the novel has no real resolution, but Holden seems to be taking steps in the right direction. Terms of Use You could go there a hundred times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish, the birds would still be on their way south, the deers would still be drinking out of that water hole, with their pretty antlers and their pretty, skinny legs, and that squaw with the naked bosom would still be weaving that same blanket.