Sources

SOURCES

Patterson, Shannon. "Teenage Culture of the 1950's." Prezi.com. N.p., 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.

'The Luckiest Generation': LIFE With Teenagers in 1950s America. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2016, from http://time.com/3544391/the-luckiest-generation-life-with-teenagers-in-1950s-america/

What did it feel like to be a teenager in the 1950s? - Quora. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2016, from https://www.quora.com/What-did-it-feel-like-to-be-a-teenager-in-the-1950s

The Teenagers. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2016, from http://www.history-of-rock.com/teenagers.htm

Is the influence that The Catcher of the Rye has on adolescents positive or negative? | eNotes. (n.d.). Retrieved November 5, 2016, from http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/influence-that-catcher-rye-has-adolescents-262658

Kelly, H. (2014). 63 Years Ago, We Knew That 'The Catcher in the Rye' Was Insufferable and Overrated. Retrieved November 18, 2016, from https://newrepublic.com/article/118703/original-review-jd-salinger-catcher-rye-insufferable

The 5 Stages of Grief & Loss | Psych Central. (2016). Retrieved November 18, 2016, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-5-stages-of-loss-and-grief/

Trastorno de estrés postraumático: MedlinePlus enciclopedia médica. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2016, from https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/000925.htm

Depresión | Tipos de antidepresivos. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2016, from http://es.familydoctor.org/familydoctor/es/diseases-conditions/depression/treatment/types-of-antidepressants.html

Read TIME's Original Review of 'The Catcher in the Rye' (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2016, from http://time.com/3677041/catcher-in-the-rye-review/

Southard, S. D. (n.d.). Book Review: J.D. Salinger's 'The Catcher in the Rye' Retrieved November 18, 2016, from http://wkar.org/post/book-review-jd-salingers-catcher-rye

Week Four - Character analysis

Topic Four - Character Analysis

Holden Caulfield

Role in the story: Is the main character and the narrator of the story. He is expelled from a school called Pencey (because of bad grades), he doesn´t want to go straight home (because he was supposed to arrive there a few days later), and he decides to go to New York meanwhile. He is depressed and he has another “issues”, so he ends up in weird, strange, intense and dangerous situations during his stay in New York. He is telling us his story in first person.

Physical description: Tall, dark hair with grey spots, very thin, clean shaven face, very “white” skin (pale) and short hair. He likes to wear a hunting hat.

Psychological description: He doesn´t like school in general, so he gets bad grades (but he could get better grades if he wanted to). He is teenager going through a very hard moment, because he doesn´t have close friends and he doesn´t have the support of his parents. He had a couple of very traumatic situations that changed his life: The death of his little brother Allie (because of a disease) and the suicide of a guy in Pencey (because of bullying). This events (mainly, Allie´s death), made a big influence in Holden´s personality. And when something bad happens, he kinds of feel responsible.

He is very sensitive with his feelings because we can appreciate that he is not very happy with himself, he doesn’t have a good self esteem and he is constantly judging everything and everyone around (He uses a lot the word “phony”, which means: “fake”), he sees the negative part in almost everything. He could get aggressive if he needed to, and he hated “bad guys”; he hated everyone that could affect someone´s innocence. 

He has troubles making friends and relating to others, however, he is too “nice” with others, so he ends up hanging out with weird guys like Ackley. He always had some kind of attraction for girls, but in a special way. He likes mutual relationships, where there is love, respect and kindness; he doesn´t like to go straight to the “sexual part”.

It´s more than clear that Holden is mentally unstable, possibly because of his previous experiences, however, without support and healthy relationships with others, he couldn´t get over it. He sees the world from a very unique perspective, which is the interesting part of the book.

 Stradlater

Role in the novel: Holden´s roommate at Pencey. Had a fight with Holden because of a girl.

Physical description: Handsome, tall, strong, white, clean shaven, big muscles, combed back hair.

Psychological description: Has a high self-esteem, very self satisfied and very popular; however, his toiletries are unclean. He has a lot of sexual activity and experience, and he could get “dangerous” because of this; he doesn´t treat the girls properly, he could get very insistent. He is not very good at school, or maybe he has too much social activity, and no time for homework.

Allie Caulfield 

Role in the novel: Holden´s little brother, who died at eleven years old from Leukemia. He is some kind of “guardian” for Holden. He is a great kid for Holden. His dead was something very traumatic for Holden.

Physical description: Red hair, left-handed, white skin, innocent look.

Psychological description: Allie was very sensitive and emotional; he used to write poems on his baseball glove. According to Holden, he's the most intelligent, nicest and sweetest kid, with the best sense of humor you'll ever meet. I think that everyone should have an Allie in their lives.

Phoebe Caulfield

Role in the novel: Holden´s little sister. She is also great for Holden. Holden loves her and trusts her very much. In some way, Holden got better thanks to her.

Physical description: Similar to Allie. Red hair, pretty and innocent look.

Psychological description: She is very smart for a ten year old girl. She is a nice student and a nice daughter (and sister). She is also very funny and sweet, and she is a good dancer. Even, she was far away from Holden for a while, she is capable to understand the situation, and she even helped Holden (with dough). We can see that she is really a great girl, because she is good at school, she is kind, she likes to hang out with friends (skating), she is intelligent, she is very nice with Holden… anyway, I think that she is pretty mature for his short age. 

Every parent would love to have a daughter like Phoebe.

Ackley




Role in the novel: Looks for company with Holden, at Pencey.


Description: He is very ugly, pimples all over his face, dirty look. He is a very annoying guy with bad social skills. He usually goes to Holden´s room, and moves everything from it´s place. He is capable of cutting his toenails all over the flor. He things he is the best, and that he is superior than Holden. No one likes Ackley. Also, he has very disgusting teeth. I think that he is looking for atention, so he acts like that; and he tries to fit with the others (by acting like a jerk), I think that in the bottom he is not a bad person, he just needs to improve his "personal care" habits.


Ernie







Role in the novel: He is just an amazing piano player at a bar that Holden used to go.

Description: Its a big black guy who plays piano very good. He has his own bar and he has a very high self esteem. He takes himself very seriously. All of his clients love him and cheer him. He bows after he plays. It´s an example of someone that Holden would hate.

Week Three - What's bothering Holden?

What's bothering Holden?

Find out the possible psychological reasons for Holden's madman days around Christmas.  

Holden has everything accumulated in his “innocent” little head. He has suffered several traumatic events in his life, however around that crazy Christmas night, he sorts of express and demonstrates this psychological situations.

One of the main psychological reasons that Holden is suffering is the dead of his little brother Allie. Many times through the novel, Holden says that it was something very hard for him (he even endend in the hospital with a broken hand).

Another negative reason that affected Holden was the terrible relation that he had with his parents. For a teenager, the support of their parents is something very important, and he, living in boarding schools and being away from his family, was very lonely (in the familiar aspect), he didn´t have that important support.

And talking about the social situation, Holden didn´t have close friends, he didn´t have someone to trust, and that’s why he was even lonelier. Also, he was a terrible student, maybe this desmotivates him, because he felt that he was not good in anything, he had such a bad concept of himself, and no self confidence.

I think that the fact that he saw with his own eyes the act of suicide of a bullied kkid, was another psychological reason for being like that. And in my opinion, his concept of “phony” was made like some kind of protection for himself. He started to judge and criticize everyone around, in order to feel better with himself. At this point he hates everyone and everything, nothing makes him happy expect from his sister Phoebe (who was very similar to Allie).

Find out about the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, the five stages of grieving and loss, the impact of death on a family, and any other reason you think Holden might be failing out of school and wandering New York City.  

1. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:

Intrusive memories

Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:

·         Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event

·         Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)

·         Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event

·         Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the event

Avoidance

Symptoms of avoidance may include:

·         Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event

·         Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event

Negative changes in thinking and mood

Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood may include:

·         Negative feelings about yourself or other people

·         Inability to experience positive emotions

·         Feeling emotionally numb

·         Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed

·         Hopelessness about the future

·         Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event

·         Difficulty maintaining close relationships

Changes in emotional reactions

Symptoms of changes in emotional reactions (also called arousal symptoms) may include:

·         Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior

·         Always being on guard for danger

·         Overwhelming guilt or shame

·         Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast

·         Trouble concentrating

·         Trouble sleeping

·         Being easily startled or frightened

2. Depression

Behaviour

·         not going out anymore

·         not getting things done at work/school

·         withdrawing from close family and friends

·         relying on alcohol and sedatives

·         not doing usual enjoyable activities

·         unable to concentrate

Feelings

·         overwhelmed

·         guilty

·         irritable

·         frustrated

·         lacking in confidence

·         unhappy

·         indecisive

·         disappointed

·         miserable

·         sad

Thoughts

·         'I’m a failure.'

·         'It’s my fault.'

·         'Nothing good ever happens to me.'

·         'I’m worthless.'

·         'Life’s not worth living.'

·         'People would be better off without me.'

Physical

·         tired all the time

·         sick and run down

·         headaches and muscle pains

·         churning gut

·         sleep problems

·         loss or change of appetite

·         significant weight loss or gain

3. The five stages of grieving and loss

• Denial: Holden doesn´t care about stuff, like failing subjects and getting kicked out. Also, when he denies that he needs profesional help (with the guy who had a drink).
• Anger: Holden is kind of mad with everything, he hates "phonies" and he judges everyone around. Nothing is the way he wants.
• Bargaining: This is where he tries to looks for "solutions" to his problems. He is demotivated and he just wants to feel better. 
• Depression: Holden is depressed basically the hole book, however he has harder times in some specific parts, such as when he goes for a drink with the "dumb" girls.
• Acceptance: At the end of the book we can see that he entered to psychiatric hospital.

4. Loneliness

The final lines of the novel clearly point to Holden's loneliness:

"Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody."

Holden doesn´t have someone to trust, except from Phoebe. He doesn´t have close friends, even a single "normal" friend. His parents doesn´t support him as they should, and he can´t express his real feelings with anybody. He is alone, dealing with his several problems.

The impact of death on a family

The death of someone is something very shocking and traumatic for the ones who where close to the person, especially when it´s caused by a tragic situation such as an accident or a disease.

The impact of death on a family is something very hard to get over and sometimes it could cause serious psychological damage on the family members. There is nothing more painful than the loss of a son or a brother. This cases should be treated by a professional (it could be a spiritual leader too). This people need many support to continue with their lives.

In the particular case of Holden, Allie´s dead was the most traumatic event in his life, it changed his life. Even a few years after this tragic experience happened, Holden still remember constantly the scene, he revives the pain and he feels so bad about it. 

By the end of this week, you must determine Holden’s diagnosis based on your findings

a) What would Holden’s diagnosis be?

It is more than clear that Holden has a lot of troubles; he has more than one suffering.

In my point of view, Holden´s diagnosis would be:

1. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: It is evident that Allie´s dead caused him a serious damage and a huge impact on his life. He couldn´t get over it.

2. Depression: This suffering is one of the most important factors in the novel. Maybe his loneliness is what is causing so much pain and sadness in his life. He doesn´t have someone to cheer him up.

b) How would doctors treat him today?

Psychiatrists and psychologists are professionals in the area of health who are able to treat these cases. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression should be treated with a full therapy program and medication. It depends on the gravity of the situation, and on the progress of the patient. There is a specific medication called "Antidepressants" , that helps in the treatment of depression.

Holden would need to keep doing therapy (it could be in the hospital) and making a huge effort to get better.

c) Would Holden be on medication?  Why or why not?  

Justify your answer with facts.

I think that after Holden goes for help and understands his problems, the health professional would probably apply him medication, because depression is a suffering that could be treated much better with a proper and regulated medication. There are several types of depression medications (antidepressants) used to treat depression and conditions that have depression as a component of the disease. These drugs improve symptoms of depression by increasing the availability of certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. It is believed that these brain chemicals can help regulate brain circuits that affect emotions. 

Facts:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are common drugs for depression. In fact, they are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. An imbalance of serotonin may play a role in depression. These drugs fight depression symptoms by decreasing serotonin reuptake in the brain. This effect leaves more serotonin available to work in your brain.