Caught in the Classroom Why would anyone want to ban The Catcher in the Rye from being a reading requirement in public schools? Published in the 1950s, the novel follows a three day journey of Holden Caulfield as he tries to find out more about himself. Through his struggle, Holden experiences many obstacles and events that occur in most teenager’s lives, making the book a primary target for banning due to offensive language, suicidal tendencies, sexual content, violence, and outright negativity (Information Commons). Though it has many controversial topics, the novel is still relevant today and should remain as an option for students to read. The Catcher in the Rye features many ways in which Holden is overwhelmingly suicidal and represents …show more content…
The highest rate of depression occurs from ages 12-17 (Pratt and Brody) and that features almost 13% of the American teen population (National Institute of Mental Health). “And I think I was more depressed than I ever was in my whole life” (Salinger 214). Holden, similar to a vast majority of teens then and now, experiences great deals of depression and suicidal thoughts. The Catcher in the Rye describes the time period and attitudes of the 1950s; however, even in 2017, there are still high rates of depression among teenagers. Though depression and suicide may be awkward topics to talk about, Holden represents those undesirable points of the average teenager’s …show more content…
On various occasions, he often cannot express himself without using swear words. David O. McKay School of Education posted an informational web page describing ways in which a parent can cope with their teenager’s swearing, stating, “sometimes teens start swearing to rebel, and sometimes they swear because that's what everyone else is doing” (BYU). Peer pressure remains a prevalent issue in society, especially during an adolescent’s time of low self-esteem, meaning that “poor self-esteem often peaks in early adolescence” (U.S. Department of Education). Due to this period of self doubt, many teenagers partake in the swearing in order to fit in. Holden’s lack of higher vocabulary takes place today, through profanity and the language used through new technology. There are many other comparisons between the two time
Nineteen million American adults suffer from a major case of depression (Web MD). That is a staggering one in every fifteen people (2 in our classroom alone). Holden Caulfield is clearly one of those people. Depression is a disease that leads to death but is also preventable. Psychology, stressful events, and prescription drugs are causes of depression. Stressful events brought on Holden’s depression. Holden has been trying to withstand losing a brother, living with careless parents, and not having many friends. The Catcher in the Rye is a book that takes us through the frazzled life of Holden Caulfield, who appears to be just a regular teen. But by hearing his thoughts and through heart-wrenching events in the book, the reader learns that
From its publication, The Catcher in the Rye gained widespread aversion from schools through its blatant profanity. But despite the time gap since the publication in the 1950s until now, the book explores immortal themes of adolescence and maturing still relevant today. Symbolizing the average teenage life, adolescents throughout the country are able to connect to Holden without question. As Holden agonizes over his purpose and depression, teens relate to this some intangible part of themselves. Holden frustrates over dating, drinking, low grades, switching schools, and life in general. Suddenly, in a second, as the adult world threatens the once serene childhood, as the weight of responsibility of being an adult crashes, Holden crumbles.
The Catcher in the Rye has always been a book of controversy. Schools have banned it due to its vivid description of how a teeneger observes the world. Holden who is The protagonist’s sees the world as very morbid place for young people. Many people believe the book brings up controversial topics that should not be discussed among minors such as Holden Caulfield. Most of the topics expressed in the book could be acceptable in today's society but it caused many concerns and issues around the time it was released, 1951. In my opinion however this book has one of the greatest qualities in literature and thats relating to the reader. It should not be banned because adolescents have been able to identify with Holden’s
Throughout Catcher in the Rye Holden Caulfield, a young boy who has recently been expelled from Pencey Prep, shows severe signs of depression that progress throughout the book. Although one may argue that the chapter in which Holden describes the suicide of James Castle is the peak of his depression, chapter 20 best exemplifies Holden’s severe depression by drowning his thoughts in alcohol, fantasizing his own death, funeral, and how his family would be affected if he died. During chapter 20 Holden’s drinking becomes excessive and is a coping mechanism for his depression. Holden starts to drown his thoughts in alcohol and use it as a coping mechanism for his depression. “I sat in that goddamn bar till around one o’clock or so getting drunk as a basard. I could
There are people who would like to see The Catcher in the Rye banned from our schools because it contains disturbing issues. In my opinion they are overlooking the message that J.D. Salinger was trying to communicate. In this novel, the characters exhibit a wide scope of behaviors from honorable to ignominious. The novel presents issues such as respect for religion, or lack thereof. As though these issues were not enough by themselves, there is also the subject of intolerance of others. How, may you ask, should this novel be allowed in our schools? Well, the answer lies deep within the symbolism of the novel,
Thesis Statement: Throughout the novel, Catcher in the Rye, Holden demonstrates many traits of a typical teenager including emotions of loneliness, sense of independence, and the feeling of angst. Many people would say that Holden is in fact not a typical teenager. A typical teenager doesn’t run away from prep school late at night and flunk out of four prep schools like Holden. He flunked out of his fourth prep school, Pencey Prep, and leaves the school late at night just because he felt too depressed, which is not a behavior of a typical teenager. However, his disturbed mental state is justified with the death of his younger brother, Allie, due to leukemia.
Many schools throughout the United States have banned The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger from their curriculums. There has been much debate on whether or not teachers should be able to include it as a part of their lesson, and if copies should be allowed in libraries. However, without a doubt, The Catcher in the Rye should be apart of schools’ curriculums for anyone above elementary school. There are very few inappropriate themes, banning the novel would be neglecting the First Amendment, and would also ignore a good chance for teens to relate to a character their age.
Before being a teenager was recognized as a part of human growth there was an awkward bridge between childhood and adulthood. In “The Catcher in The Rye” Holden Caulfield finds teenagehood to be an awkward bridge with depression and loneliness. J.D. Salinger, the author of the novel, uses Holden’s depression to make him flawed and unreliable. Holden’s flaws and unreliability makes him the perfect depiction of a teenager going through depression. The death of Allie was the main catalyst of Holden’s depression.
Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D Salinger is a classic novel that is not only controversial but contains relatable characters such as Holden Caulfield. Holden is a 16 year old boy who has gone through so much pain and hurt throughout his life that he has given up in school and during the novel you start to see that he has given up at life itself as well. Holden struggles with depression, unhealthy drinking habits and with failing out of school. These three struggles are very relatable to teenagers these days. In the following paragraphs I will show you the connection between teenagers these days and Holden and the the similarities that make him such a relatable character. Holden is an ideal and universal representation of teenagers.
Depression is the biggest factor affecting the mental state of teenagers, and its activators can come from anywhere. The novel The Catcher in the Rye, tries to highlight this point through the life of the main character, Holden Caulfield. Holden is a 16-year-old teenager that is enrolled in Pencey Prep School in New York City. He decides he wants to leave the school, as it is not for him, so he ventures out to the heart of New York City to explore before he has to head home. He walks around the city looking for something, but he cannot find it.
Holden shames religion in the book, which is irrelevant and shouldn't be displayed in schools. Holden's actions constantly hurt his status and shouldn't be shown in schools. The Catcher in the Rye
There has been a debate about whether or not the novel, The Catcher in the Rye should be allowed in schools. The book covers many serious topics but, it’s very important for teenagers to learn about these issues because the main character Holden Caulfield himself is only a teenager going through what anyone his age could wind up going through. The Catcher in the Rye should continue being read in school because it shows the importance of respect for adolescents, how time can change a person, and how people must not dwell from the past but learn from it. The novel Shows the importance of respect to adolescents.
If some schools or parents decided to censor their students from the book, those who were censored and not permitted to read the book would not have the same learning experience or gain the same skills that those who read the book do. Only a sadistic educator or parent would purposefully want their student to be disadvantaged. If they wanted their kids to accomplish every goal possible, they would not censor The Catcher In The Rye. The Catcher In The Rye has many educational advantages it’s the “Great American High School Novel,” due to what we can learn and what many generations have already learned from this valuable piece of literature (Huffington post). Many people believe that The Catcher In The Rye is a great novel so no one should be censored from reading it's wholesome content.
Censorship of literature is a barrier between innocence and indiscretion. There is a fine line between the two characteristics in younger people. The loss of innocence is the ultimate reason for the suppression of novels throughout high schools. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is one of the most challenged novels of all time since its release in 1951. This classic novel is a depiction of an out of place 16-year-old teenager’s depressing habitat in a 3 day time period portrayed as the passage of adolescence.
A writer for The New York Times, Nash Burger, states, “Holden is bewildered, lonely, ludicrous and pitiful. His troubles, his failings are not of his own making but of a world that is out of joint. There is nothing wrong with him that a little understanding and affection, preferably from his parents, couldn't have set right. Though confused and unsure of himself, like most 16-year-olds, he is observant and perceptive and filled with a certain wisdom. His minor delinquencies seem minor indeed when contrasted with adult delinquencies with which he is confronted.”