Holdens Depression in Catcher in the Rye Essay -- J. D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, portrays Holden Caulfield as a manic-depressive. Holden uses three techniques throughout the novel to cope with his depression. He smokes, drinks, and talks to Allie. Although they may not be positive, Holden finds comfort in these three things. Holden smokes a lot when he is nervous, or bored. When the stripper is in his room he noticed that she is shaking her foot as if she is nervous. He offers her a cigarette, twice. Both times she says no. Holden offers Sunny the cigarette because he thinks it would calm her down, like cigarettes calm him down when he is nervous. â€Å"I sat in the chair for a while and smoked a couple of cigarettes†¦boy, I felt miserable† (98). The smoking habit may have come from his mother. Holden says his mother smokes a ton when she is nervous (158). Holden does this when he is nervous too. The additive nicotine calms a person’s nerves when they smoke. He continues to smoke when he is nervous, and if one cigarette doesn’t do it, he’ll smoke another making him an avid chain smoker. He smoked two packs in the first few d...