The catcher in the rye
SOUNDTRACK

- Demons — Imagine Dragons: This song shows a very important part of the book and that is Holdens desires to protect children from growing up and losing their innocence. We see this in the book when Hold erased the “fuck you” from the walls in the school and from his dream to catch the children before they fall. One of the lyrics of the songs is “i wanna hide the truth, i wanna shelter you but with the beast inside theres nowhere we can hide”, this quote shows what holden wants to do he wants to shetler children from growong up wich is the “beast” inside all of us wich we cant hide from. It also says “your eyes they shine so bright i want to save that light” this quote show how holden sees the innocence in young childrens eyes and wishes to save it.
- Jealous — Laberinth: This song i releated it with Holdens lost over his life, his brothers death. The song talks about how he is jealous he wont see him anymore or touch him. “Im jealous of the way you are happy without me” This is how Holden feels towards the situation, he is always thinking about Allie, even carries his glove around with him.
- Forever Young: I included this song thinking about how Holden dosent want to join the adults world, he wants to be Forever young. The lyrics for me are refering to when Holden begins to understand the adult world and he really asks himself if he wants to stay a child forever.
- Sexual — Neiked: I thought of this song because of Holdens sexual desire, his idea of having a relationship with someone who loves each other. Mostly because his interest in sex and how he spends a lot part of the novel trying to lose his virginity.
- Gossip Girl — Grace vanderwall: This song talks about rumors in school and people being mean to the song writer. I thought about Holden because of his hate for “phony” people or how cruel they are in school. His hate for people who try to feet in,
- Revolting Children- Matilda: I associated this lyrics with Holdens personality, how he is rebeld, hates the adult world and its the typical teenager of the movies. Also his hate for school in general and the teachers; How he had been in four different schools.
- Changes — 2Pac: in the first verse of this song 2pac raps about many problems in the adult world. He says how there is extreme racism, there are bad drugs, drug dealers dealing for kids, suicidal people, robbers and murders. Also talks about how he wishes he can go back to the innocence and fun of childhood. but he understands that things change. Holden also sees these scary things in the adult world, and dosent want to join it so he has to go on a journey to learn the lesson that things are the way they have to be and that he cant stay a kid.
- Maybe im amazed — Paul McCartney: The song talks about how he is a lonely man going through a tough time. Holden is exactly that, he is dealing with hid emotions and doesnt know there is something medically wrong with him. He is always to releate with someone but never works out.
- All for love — Madison Beer: For me this song talks about when Holden asks his old girlfriend Sally to run away with him how he dosent care about anything, just never coming back. “ask me why i did it i say all for love” this lyrics explain Holden thought and impulsive decisions.
- Nightingale — Demy Lovato; this song talks about how the song writer wants help from someone, someone to save her or to listen to her. Throughout the book calling someone is a big thing for Holden. Every time he is depressed or lonely looks for the phone. He wishes he had someone to call, or that someone would call him.
ESSAY
Depression is a mental health disorder characterised by persistenly depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing trouble in daily life.
It is said that this illness can be associated with an important impact on someones life or terrible situation. In the book Holden deals with the lost of his brother, Allie and sufers the pain of his death which can be related to what people said about depression, it could be the reason why the character feels that way.

Another remarkable thing people talk about depression is that your enviroment and the kids you surround yourself with can help you feel lonely or more sad. This theory its included in The catcher in the rye when Mr Antolini when tries to make Holden understand he must ignore the society in order to be happier he want to prevent Holden of the “great fall” he says “the mark of an inmature man is he wants to die nobly for a cause, and whreas the mark of a mature man is he wants to live humbly for one”. Also he doesnt have a relationship with anyone around him, he hides himself from others.
Altough on some point of the novel the character wants to meet Jane Gallagher but stops himself “i oughta go down and say hello to her … but im not in the mood right now” this shows how he is not capable of having a relation with others, he is afraid.

Depression is also said it is releated to rebellion, which is shown in the book by Holdens wish of staying young and hate for being an adult because he want to protect his innocence. Eventually, he end ups realizing he cant live in his childhood forever. This thought that he cant live like he wanted to, with his kid values causes his depression and sadness. Another act that proves this idea is his behaviour with school and his lost of intresting in it. “it was one of the worst schools i ever went to”
Another thing people think and say about this illness is that it leads you to adicctions or another disorders. For example when Holden cant control his emotions and listen to what Sally said to him he starts to drink a lot. “she kept telling me to go away and leave her alone so finally i did (…) i was too drunk to give a damn” this quote shows how he has not self control over what he feels or does, he doesnt know how to deal with his problems. He jumps to stupid methods to stop feeling pain.
A study shown that people suffering with depression are blame for it and not others doesnt take it as serious as it is. But in The catcher in the rye is shown how the boy sees flaws in everyone except for him, he blames others for his feelings; the other way around of what people say. Instead of admiting his own mistakes he judges other people. Although this hate for everyone else and carless way of being is another symtom of depression.
In conclusion, from my point of view everyone who struggles with this mental illness can releate a little bit to Cauldfield. He shows a lot of signs and symtoms of it and shows a more realistic and personal point of view about this disease.
Sources:
- https://www.healthcentral.com/article/the-blame-game-in-depression
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depression
- https://g.co/kgs/z2SJxP
