Holden Caulfield's Struggle for Control
In the few days that elapse throughout The Catcher in the Rye , we see Holden aimlessly wandering around New York City, picking fights he can’t win, and generally completely disregarding his health. During this time before he can return to his parents house, Holden seems almost completely powerless to his own actions. He doesn’t really enjoy a single thing he does, and he usually regrets everything the next morning. Holden’s condition gets worse and worse throughout the book, and we see him trying to grasp for anything to get his life back on track whilst also diving deeper into his depression. The truth is, Holden longs for control, it’s why he loves writing narratives where he has full power of how he depicts himself, as well as the people in his life. Holden’s need for a feeling of control over his own trajectory is demonstrated by his fear of change and resistance to grow up and fit into society like everyone else expects him to. This is also the reason that Holden cherishes c...