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Theme Of Ptsd In Catcher In The Rye

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In Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger the main character, Holden Caulfield, deals with death and alienation, both from himself and from others. Holden deals with the death of his little brother Allie when Holden was 13 and Allie was 11, he is still dealing with the death three years later. Holden is sent to private schools by his parents and he flunks out of most of them, this alienates him by Holden having to move to a new school almost every year. These combined with them happening while he is young can lead to Holden having developed PTSD from the death of Allie. Holden displays symptoms of PTSD, such as re-experiencing Allie’s death, and starting easily, as well as doing things in the same way as someone who is diagnosed with PTSD

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