INTRODUCTION

In 1951 J.D. Salinger wrote the book, The Catcher In The Rye, about a boy named Holden Caulfield running all around the streets of New York. Depression is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. In The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield shows symptoms of depression such as; suicidal thoughts and irritability.

SUICIDAL THOUGHTS

Holden sees the words "f**k you" multiple times written on walls and starts to think "I have a tombstone and all, it'll say 'Holden Caulfield' on it, and what year I was born and what year I died, and then right under that it'll say 'f**k you.' I'm positive, in fact"(Salinger 204). Holden obviously is having thoughts about his death. Considering he is thinking about what will be on his tombstone when he dies.

IRRITABILITY

Holden plans to go out somewhere and his sister, Phoebe, wants to go with him so she begs and begs him to go with. He gets angry with her and says no and "I thought I was going to smack her for a second"(Salinger 206). Holden was very belligerent towards Phoebe when she asked to go with him. Which is what "Irritability" is(NIMH). Holden being so short with Phoebe was not very judicious of him.