ssssaasss haiku

When a recording artist is in the process of writing a song their goal is to tell a story that can relate to people’s lives, most of the time. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caufield is struggling to find his place in the world and feels lousy and ‘depressed’ a lot. Many people in today’s modern day society have similar struggles as Holden, like feeling isolated and alone in the world. In the song ‘Mad World’ by Gary Jules, he speaks about being in the same place with the same worm out people and wanting to die.

In the song, Gary sings “all around me are familiar faces; worn out places, worn out faces.” This line can relate to Holden because Holden knew many people in his home town, New York, although he was not necessarily friends with them. For example, when Holden goes to Ernie’s bar he sees his brother’s friend (familiar face,) Lillian. Holden greets her kindly and speaks to her as if they’re friends but in reality he thinks she is a phony and states, “And I didn't like her much. Nobody did. You had to feel sort of sorry for her, in a way.” Mad World also relates to Holden because in the song, “And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad, the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had.” Holden states numerous times throughout the novel that he feels ‘depressed and lousy’ ad he once said “depressed and all. I almost wished I was dead.”