Catcher in the Rye

             As Holden progresses from spending nights with roommates in a dorm to spending the night by himself in a hotel room he suffers an obvious mental breakdown. This was a downfall that was foreshadowed. Holden's mental state fell slightly with the time that he spent alone and among peculiar people. Holden's psychological breakdown was caused by extreme loneliness and depression.
             Loneliness is enough to drive anyone insane but the amount that Holden has endured is more than enough to put him in a mental institute. For example, Holden confesses his loneliness when he says, "What I did, I started talking sort of out loud, to Allie. I do that sometimes when I get very depressed." (98). Holden has gone down to the point of talking to himself because there is no one else to talk to. Holden has taken the first step in admitting to his depression, but he does not know the magnitude of it yet. In addition, Holden knows he made the wrong decision and regrets it by saying, "I was already sort of sorry I"d let the thing start rolling, but it was too late now" (91). Holden has gotten so lonely that he ordered prostitute just to keep him company, even though it is completely against his beliefs. Under normal circumstances Holden has much more class than to order a prostitute but this goes to show that his loneliness overcame his judgment. Holden has gone down to getting a prostitute and talking to himself, which just isn't mentally healthy in any terms.
             Depression can strike anyone at anytime, but it all depends on the decisions you make and the path you choose along the way. For example, Holden realizes what he did, and admits to not thinking when he says, "It was against my principles and all, but I was feeling so depresses I didn't even think. That's the whole trouble when you"re feeling very depresses you can't even think" (91). Even though he knows what he did was wrong but yet he still continues with it because he is so depressed.