Reasons Behind Holden's Unusual Behavior
What is the reason behind Holden’s unusual behavior?
Holden, the main character of the novel “Catcher in the Rye”, is different from a normal teenager. He has trouble paying attention and being focused. He lives in his own world and is very impatient. He cannot stay on topic or do good in school. All these are the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which begins in childhood and continues through adulthood. It is possible that Holden might be suffering from ADHD.
Children with ADHD “are less likely to have close dyadic friendships” (McQuade and Hoza). During the football game with Saxon Hall, “the whole school except [Holden] was there” (Salinger 2). Holden is so lonely and does not have a lot of friends that is why …show more content…
Holden is always cursing and often loses his temper (McQuade and Hoza). Holden got so angry when his brother Allie died that he “broke all the windows in the garage” with his “fists” (Salinger 39). People with ADHD are also more likely to “start fights” (McQuade and Hoza). Holden started fighting with Stradlater when he returned from his date with Jane. Holden likes Jane and was worried that Stradlater might have taken advantage of her. Holden “smack[ed]” Stradlater which “probably hurt him a little bit, but not as much as [he] wanted” (Salinger 43).
According to Julia D. McQuade et al., children with ADHD tend to violate camp rules and are annoying to peers. Students “weren’t allowed to smoke in the dorm”, but Holden “did it to annoy Stradlater” (Salinger 41). Holden likes to break rules and do what annoys other people. He was also “horsing around” because he knew it “annoyed” Ackley (Salinger 22). Holden often acts “inappropriate in social interactions” (McQuade and Hoza). Holden “was talking a little too loud” when meeting Luce that he asked him to “keep [his] voice down” (Salinger 147). During his date with Sally Hayes, he started “shouting” in the middle of the conversation, called her “a pain in the ass” and started “laughing” while she was crying (Salinger 130;
Holden, the main character of the novel “Catcher in the Rye”, is different from a normal teenager. He has trouble paying attention and being focused. He lives in his own world and is very impatient. He cannot stay on topic or do good in school. All these are the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which begins in childhood and continues through adulthood. It is possible that Holden might be suffering from ADHD.
Children with ADHD “are less likely to have close dyadic friendships” (McQuade and Hoza). During the football game with Saxon Hall, “the whole school except [Holden] was there” (Salinger 2). Holden is so lonely and does not have a lot of friends that is why …show more content…
Holden is always cursing and often loses his temper (McQuade and Hoza). Holden got so angry when his brother Allie died that he “broke all the windows in the garage” with his “fists” (Salinger 39). People with ADHD are also more likely to “start fights” (McQuade and Hoza). Holden started fighting with Stradlater when he returned from his date with Jane. Holden likes Jane and was worried that Stradlater might have taken advantage of her. Holden “smack[ed]” Stradlater which “probably hurt him a little bit, but not as much as [he] wanted” (Salinger 43).
According to Julia D. McQuade et al., children with ADHD tend to violate camp rules and are annoying to peers. Students “weren’t allowed to smoke in the dorm”, but Holden “did it to annoy Stradlater” (Salinger 41). Holden likes to break rules and do what annoys other people. He was also “horsing around” because he knew it “annoyed” Ackley (Salinger 22). Holden often acts “inappropriate in social interactions” (McQuade and Hoza). Holden “was talking a little too loud” when meeting Luce that he asked him to “keep [his] voice down” (Salinger 147). During his date with Sally Hayes, he started “shouting” in the middle of the conversation, called her “a pain in the ass” and started “laughing” while she was crying (Salinger 130;