MGP padlet by Devan Gambello

I am 10 years of age but have the intellect of a twenty-one-year-old college graduate. I try to be mature and be a support system for my older brother Holden. Holden is sixteen and incredibly astute. He attends a prestigious all-boys boarding school called Pencey in Agerstown, Pennsylvania. It’s really just my parents and I. Holden is not the closest with our parents due to his anxiety when it comes to their disapproval regarding his expulsion from Pencey; so he doesn't come around much. I miss my brother but he seems like he’s doing well, or at least I hope so. “Nothing makes him happy”, he’s just not easily satisfied and prefers to be alone. Last I heard of him was through a letter he wrote to me. He explained to me how he joined a fencing team as a manager, that he claimed to be “a very big deal”. However, before one of their matches, he left all the equipment on the subway. That didn’t last long. No surprise. Along with Holden’s letter, my parents received an additional email from one of Holden’s old history teachers, Mr. Spencer. Spencer held a large space in Holden’s heart and was a constant support system for him. Which was significant especially since my parents were the opposite. Apparently, Holden treated him to a visit and showed him this essay he wrote. Mr. Spencer then explained how his writing was quite beautiful and was unsurpassed to the other essays he has read in his years of teaching. However, Mr.Spencer could tell Holden fell off the wagon again since one his professor at Pencey treated him to a phone call, updating him on Holden’s academic and behavioral record. Holden’s mentor just wanted to motivate him because no one else will or could. So, he said his essay was “garbage”. Holden was very upset by this remark and called everyone living in Elkton Hill a “phony” and stormed out. My parents read the letter and tore it up. “He will never learn”, my mother said to my father with a sigh and a blank face. I am worried about Holden, he’s been through a lot of ups and downs. I swear ever since he and Jane broke up he’s been heartbroken. They had an innocent love; lots of holding of hands but man was that boy obsessed with her. He would tell me how “ She was terrific to hold hands with” and how he “never even worried, with Jane, whether (her) hand was sweaty or not. All (he) knew was, (they) were happy”. I think Holden has always had a difficult time opening up with someone, but not with Jane. I worry for Holden, I’ve noticed he gets very depressed sometimes. Hopefully, his depression isn’t too bad, mental illnesses are super serious I hear. just wish Holden would come and visit soon. He can take me to a “lousy movie” and I will act like I love it, because I will, just because he’s with me. “New York’s terrible”. “When somebody laughs on the street very late at night, you can hear it for miles”, no wonder Holden left.

We have assembled various sources relating to mental health as Holden suffers from depression and anxiety throughout the novel. Not only is depression and other mental issues (sucidide, anxiety,etc), is mentioned in the book, but author J.D Salinger experienced post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well. We strived towards acknowledging the difficulties of mental disorders initially to assist people suffering from the same diseases. As we continued to research about mental illness and how it corresponds to Catcher in the Rye, it made us less ignorant to this severe issue that more people should be aware about. Therefore, we additionally added a source to donation to NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness and promote seeking assistance if struggling with these issues. As we dive deeper into the novel, we made sure to establish how vital family relationships are. Holden's only relationship he did not repel was with his sister Phoebe. We make that connection evident as we craft our project.

J.D. Salinger: Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters; and Seymour