1
Psychoanalysis
of
Holden Caulfield
The Catcher in the Rye
Total Points: _______ / 50
2
Psychoanalysis of Holden Caulfield
(Information cited from Lois Tyson’s Critical Theory Today)
Psychoanalytic Criticism: Taking psychoanalytic concepts (established by Sigmund
Freud) and applying them to a piece of literature.
Criticism: This term in literature does not mean “finding fault” with a reading. It means
that you are looking deeper into the writing to understand it on a different level. Many
people apply theories to literature to see it in a different light, such as we will do with
psychoanalysis. You can also do Marxist readings, feminist readings, cultural readings,
reader response readings, gay/lesbian readings, African American readings,
deconstructive readings, etc.
Terms from Psychology to know in order to complete a Psychoanalysis of The
Catcher in the Rye:
Sibling Rivalry: Competition with siblings for the attention and affection of parents. For
example, thinking of yourself as “the failure”; the “perfect child”; or believing that “I’m
unlovable”; “I am responsible for my parents problems.” All of these thoughts are part of
how the family dynamic plays a role in our lives.
Defenses: The process by which the contents of our unconscious are kept in the
unconscious. We repress things in order to avoid knowing what we feel we can’t handle
knowing. Examples:
 Selective Memory: Modifying our memories so that we don’t feel overwhelmed
by them or forgetting painful events entirely).
 Denial: Believing a problem doesn’t exist or that the unpleasant incident never
happened.
 Avoidance: Staying away from people or situations that are liable to make us
anxious by stirring up some repressed emotion.
 Projection: Placing our fear, problem, or guilt on someone else and then
condemning him or her for it, in order to deny that we have it ourselves.
Fear of Intimacy: The overpowering feeling that emotional closeness will seriously hurt
or destroy us and that we can remain emotionally safe only by remaining at an emotional
distance from others at all times.
Fear of abandonment: The unshakable feeling that our friends and loved ones are going
to leave us or don’t really care about us.
Fear of betrayal: The nagging feeling that our friends and loved ones can’t be trusted; for
example, they might lie to us, laugh at us, cheat on us, etc.
Low self-esteem: The belief that we are less worthy than other people and, therefore,
don’t deserve attention, love or life’s rewards.
3
Keeping Track of Holden’s Psychological Traits
Indicate the Chapter, Page Number, and Situation that Holden Demonstrates the
following Trait:
DEPRESSION
Chapter
2
Page
7
Situation
Mr. Spencer’s house is depressing – old age is depressing
7
48
“I felt like jumping out the window.”
13
90
9
61
Lost his gloves – Holden felt depressed that he couldn’t get them
back.
“I was too depressed to care” – view at the hotel
2
14
14
98
I didn’t like hearing that – it made me feel dead – it was very
depressing
Depressed when Sunny leaves - alone
7
7
52
51
Mom bought him the wrong skates – gifts
Depressed about staying at Pencey until Wed. – so he leaves
38
Talking about Allie’s death
5
Keeping Track of Holden’s Psychological Traits
Indicate the Chapter, Page Number, and Situation that Holden Demonstrates the
following Trait:
DEFENSES: DENIAL, PROJECTION, SELECTIVE MEMORY, AVOIDANCE
Chapter
Page
Situation
4
6
45-46
4
31
13
92
Denial – He says he is a pacifist, but he fights Stradlater
Holden thinks about times with Jane when they are young –
selective memory
Afraid to have sex with Sunny
Keeping Track of Holden’s Psychological Traits
Indicate the Chapter, Page Number, and Situation that Holden Demonstrates the
following Trait:
SIBLING RIVALRY
Chapter
23
Page
175
Situation
Talking about Phoebe being able to dance – how intelligent she
was
5
38
Two years younger 5x intelligent
5
10
67
22
173
18
140
21
164
Phoebe – smart, pretty, has all As
“I’m the only dumb one in the family” x2
Phoebe is lecturing Holden on what he should be – a lawyer like
Dad
D.B. was in the war for four years
Angry about D.B. staying in CA for a movie
Keeping Track of Holden’s Psychological Traits
Indicate the Chapter, Page Number, and Situation that Holden Demonstrates the
following Trait:
IMMATURE RELATIONSHIPS with WOMEN
Chapter
11
Page
79
Situation
Kissing Jane/Holding Hands/Her hand on his neck – all immature
reactions to Jane
9
64
Calls Faith Cavendish – asks her for a drink
11
70
Dancing with the older women in New York
6
Keeping Track of Holden’s Psychological Traits
Indicate the Chapter, Page Number, and Situation that Holden Demonstrates the
following Trait:
LIVING in a FANTASY WORLD/ DISCONNECTED FROM REALITY
Chapter
22
Page
173
14
103-104
Situation
Being the Catcher in the Rye – Catching kids from falling off a
cliff
Imagines/fantasizes about killing Maurice – fantasizes about a
bullet in the guts
20
150
18
140
Pretends he was shot at the bar
Fantasizes about riding on the A-bomb
7
3
21
Pretends he is blind – Ackley “mother darling”
Keeping Track of Holden’s Psychological Traits
Indicate the Chapter, Page Number, and Situation that Holden Demonstrates the
following Trait:
LOW SELF ESTEEM
Chapter
Page
Situation
8
Keeping Track of Holden’s Psychological Traits
Indicate the Chapter, Page Number, and Situation that Holden Demonstrates the
following Trait:
ISOLATION/ALIENTATION/FEAR OF INTIMACY
Chapter
13
Page
92
Situation
Nervous about sex with prostitute
12
81
People laughing in New York - Makes him feel so lonesome
1
2
Alone on Thompson Hill – while every other student is at the
football game
14
98
Feeling lonesome because Sunny left – alone in the hotel room.
Alone with his thoughts
9
4
33
Doesn’t go down to see Jane – Fear of Intimacy
9
59
Unmade phone calls – Sister, Sally, Jane
20 minutes alone in the phone booth thinking about calling
Keeping Track of Holden’s Psychological Traits
Indicate the Chapter, Page Number, and Situation that Holden Demonstrates the
following Trait:
VIOLENT OUTBURSTS & EMOTIONAL INSTABLITY
Chapter
Page
Situation
10
Keeping Track of Holden’s Psychological Traits
Indicate the Chapter, Page Number, and Situation that Holden Demonstrates the
following Trait:
EXAGGERATION & LYING
Chapter
Page
Situation
11
Essay
Objective: Analyzing the psychological traits Holden Caulfield exhibits in The Catcher in the Rye.
Process: You will choose an essay topic from below, or create one of your own. It is essential that you
reference quotations and specific examples from the text, as discussed in class. Use the evidence sheets
from this study guide. You might also consider referencing outside sources on depression, etc. or other
author’s critical analysis of Salinger’s work to help you understand Holden. You are to write a two to threepage paper that supports your thesis or argument about Holden.



Use MLA format.
The paper will be typewritten, 12 font, 1” margins, double-spaced. 2 pages minimum
Make sure you use citations in the essay (Salinger 120).
This paper will be worth 100 points.
Essay Topics:

What seems to be the root cause of the behaviors Holden exhibits throughout The Catcher in the
Rye? Defend how these traits are the direct result of the causes you determine. (Cause-Effect
Analysis)

Discuss the theme of death in the novel, citing specific events and passages throughout. How does
this theme contribute to Holden’s psychological behavior?
12

What psychological trait is most evident throughout the novel and why is it part of his eventual
breakdown?

Choose one specific incident that occurs in Holden’s adventure and defend how this was
instrumental in Holden’s eventual breakdown.

Many believe that Holden’s absent parents are a major cause of his psychological behaviors.
Defend this claim and how it affects Holden.

Discuss the idea of sibling rivalry throughout the novel. Make sure you discuss all three of his
siblings.

How does Holden view women throughout the novel? How does his attitude or instability affect
his relationships with the opposite sex?

What images are symbolic of Holden’s psychological state of being?

What are Holden’s defense mechanisms?

Why is innocence so important to Holden? How is this illustrated in his catcher in the rye fantasy?

Why is Holden so concerned about the ducks in the park? What might they represent?

What unconscious motives are operating in Holden Caulfield?

What patterns in Holden’s behavior do you see as a result of early childhood experiences?

Other topic possibilities???
ESSAY
Attacking this task:
1. Review the list of options and decide on one you feel most comfortable with.
2. Decide on a focus. What is it that you will try and defend or prove? Write a rough thesis
statement and begin to look for defense of your argument.
3. Brainstorm major points and begin finding clear evidence for each claim.
4. Make sure you are including plenty of textual evidence as support. Don’t just “quote drop.” Make
sure you lead into quotes.
Example: As Holden falls deeper into depression, he hallucinates that he is talking with his younger
brother, begging him for help. As he crosses the street he thinks, “Don’t let me disappear. Please, Allie”
(Salinger 198).
5.
Organize the paper and incorporate transitions, introduction, and conclusion.