Holden with Jonah Complex: A Humanistic Psychoanalysis of The Catcher in the Rye

Abstract

J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye (1987) explores the inner world of a 16-year-old middle school teenager, Holden Caulfield, during the three days he spends wandering from school to New York City. The anger and anxiety displayed in the protagonist strike a strong chord among young readers. Jonah, a surprising prophet in the Old Testament, refuses to follow God’s behest to prophesy in Nineveh and instead flees in the opposite direction. Abraham Maslow, a 20th-century American psychologist, draws inspiration from this narrative and develops the concept known as Jonah Complex, which he defines as the fear of one’s own greatness and the evasion of one’s own best potential. This article aims to analyze the character of Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye by drawing a comparison to the biblical story of Jonah and incorporating the psychological concept of Jonah Complex. By examining these elements together, it will be argued that Holden Caulfield exhibits symptoms of Jonah Complex, resulting in his fear of growth and his avoidance and disregard for his own prospect. Significantly, this study will draw from Abraham Maslow’s theories feasible solutions for addressing Holden’s Jonah Complex and ultimately achieving his self-actualization. Meanwhile, the paper will provide for teenagers like Holden with conducive significance as to one’s psychological health and personal growth.