Catcher in the Rye: Causes, gains, and losses with the Conflict

There is one main conflict in Catcher in the Rye and that is the conflict of Holden becoming mentally unfit.  He fights himself throughout the novel because of many unknown factors to him.  Things like communicating well socially, sexuality, and not knowing where his life is leading make Holden struggle mentally.  He seeks guidance  in all the wrong places from all the wrong people. This conflict is internal because it is Holden struggling with himself.  There are many causes to the gains and losses in the conflict that go on during the novel.  Some causes for the losses in the novel are easy to spot. One cause that leads to a loss in the conflict is when Holden gets kicked out of school.  This caused Holden to venture into the city, and discover all these demons that lurked inside of him.  This is considered a loss to the conflict because it is a loss to the character.  He losses his sense of sanity when going into the city because his loneliness makes him think too much.

A more simple way of look at a loss in the conflict is to look at a smaller conflict.  A smaller conflict in the novel was Holden getting kicked out of school.  This was caused by him not studying in school.  This is a loss to the conflict because it is a loss to the character.  He loses his chance at getting an education and also this is what leads to his mental breakdown.  This is obviously a cause to a huge loss to the conflict.

A cause for a gain in the conflict is a lot harder to find.  One gain I could spot was when Holden went home and spoke to Phoebe.  This was a cause that made him gain a person he could relate to.  This was also a gain because it held off the mental breakdown Holden would soon have.  This was a gain because it helped Holden get a grip, if only for a moment.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 2001. Print.