From Fragmentation To Integration-a Freudian Psychoanalytical Interpretation Of Holden In The Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher in the Rye, published in 1951, has been the only published novel created by American writer Jerome David Salinger so far. Since its publication, the novel has been very popular and it has been called “modern classic” in contemporary American literature. Meantime it has received a lot of positive and negative criticism since its publication. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist, has become the focus of analysis and has aroused much dispute among critics. An analysis is conducted on Holden’s personality structure in accordance with Freud Structure Model, that is, Holden’s id, ego, and superego as well as the internal battles among them. And when the ego cannot deal with the demands of the id, the constraints of reality, and the supervision of our conscience, anxiety will arise. In order to reduce the anxiety, the ego will develop a lot of defense mechanisms which ease Holden’s anxiety to a large degree. Eventually, Holden regenerates psychoanalytic mind by the power of love and his own epiphanies. The thesis attempts to use Freudian theory of personality structure and Defense Mechanism to explore the reasons resulting in protagonist’s fragmented personality and the way he struggles to realize self-integration, which may provide a new angle for understanding theme of the novel- fragmented personality and integrated personality. Besides,it states the objectivity and significance of this study.The thesis is composed of five chapters. Chapter one mainly summarizes Salinger’s life, his literary achievement and gives a brief introduction of the story. Besides, it also gives a brief account of Freudian theory of personality structure and Defense Mechanism.Chapter two states a general review of the Freudian theory of structural model and ego defense mechanism. From the perspective of Freud’s psychoanalysis the author attempts to analyze the protagonist’s fragmented personality and mental conflict of Holden in The Catcher in the Rye.Chapter three mainly expounds Holden’s process from fragmentation to integration. The first part analyzes Holden’s rationalization and regression to confront his reality anxiety of being expelled from Pencey Prep. The second part analyzes Holden’s repression to his favorite girl Jane, as well as his compensation. The third part mainly analyzes his reaction formation and undoing,and these two ego defense mechanisms help Holden to cope with moral anxiety of the event of prostitute, fortunately, he overcomes gradually.Chapter four mainly illustrates Holden’s integration, and discusses Holden’s own epiphany by using Freudian theory self- identity. Holden gradually gets out from the feeling of depression and despair. He begins to perceive the world in realistic view. He gradually accepts the idea that although there is despair of destruction existing in the world,the hope of new birth also exists.In a word, the thesis purports to explain The Catcher in the Rye by the aid of Freudian theory. Through expatiating in detail Holden’s spiritual fragmentation, the ego defense mechanisms, the thesis discusses how to maintain psychological unity and how to understand the problem between individual essence and living significance in a disordered world.