How do Holden?s Interactions with different Characters in New York Contribute to his Mental Breakdown? The different characters that Holden meets in New York contribute to his mental breakdown by increasing his depression and making him think about the world too much. They make him wonder whether he wants to be an adult. People that depress him are phonies, perverts, and corrupted adults. Children, on the other hand, make Holden happy with their innocence. …showed first 75 words of 1271 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1271 total…some innocent children. As he compares the innocence of childhood to the corruption of the adult society, Holden becomes depressed. He understands that he is growing up and will soon be an adult, perhaps even like one of which he has seen. Yet he does not want to be like them. He wants to live inside his own perfect and innocent world. He soon realizes, though, that this would be impossible, leading him to depression.