Banning Catcher In The Rye

If I was the librarian, I would not get rid of (or censor) any of the books, excluding “Catcher in the Rye.”

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

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,

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.

For many years people have argued about the inclusion of The Cather in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger in the high school english curriculum. This is such due to the inappropriate and adult oriented themes within If considered, many times within the novel the main character will face situations in which that the negative and vulgar themes will blossom into something meaningful that the reader can benefit from as a person and as a student. While the vulgarity and adult themes in The Catcher in the Rye are indeed inappropriate for adolescent students, ultimately its underlying themes of self discovery and possessing moral values provides life and ethical lessons that can be applied in the classroom as well as on a daily basis and therefore, the

"Holden Caufield, the protagonist, swears steadily throughout the book. His curses are of the tamest kind, though, "damn", "hell", "crap", "ass", and he curses so self-consciously and so consistently that the words lose most of their vulgarity. Most of the cursing in the book would not even be rated PG-13 if it were in a movie," (Chandler).

Is there really an age to be grown up? Should being grown up mean you have responsibilities, like a house, a job, car, and the actual age of 18? Is that what it takes to be called “grown up”. In my opinion I don't think that's the case. I don't think age means anything. It's all about if you are responsible, polite, respectful, mature etc. Especially when it comes to foul language. Should you have to be a certain age to be introduced to it? Even when the case has to do with books, and the school providing you to read them. The question is whether or not The Catcher in the Rye should be banned for age reasons and because of its language and sexual content. In my opinion it shouldn't be banned for its language and sexual content.

The Catcher in the Rye. The Scarlet Letter. Huckleberry Finn. Harry Potter. The Diary of Anne Frank. Animal Farm. To Kill a Mockingbird. The Da Vinci Code. The Grapes of Wrath. These literary classics have been vital to the education of many, especially children and adolescents (Banned Books). These great novels both teach important values and educate children about world affairs and classic themes. Unfortunately, each of these novels has been banned at one point in time. In a country where freedom is so adamantly advocated, it is a wonder that an issue like censorship would even come up, that such a controversy would sink its claws into the minds of states’ boards of education across the nation.

J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, is one of the most controversial books ever written. The book has been banned in many places, while at the same time being viewed as an American classic. There is a great deal of controversy on banning the book in schools across America, due to it’s content. The story follows a mentally ill teen, Holden Caulfield, delving into his thoughts and feelings. The Catcher in the Rye should be banned for it's many controversial views and topics, including the use of vulgar language, illegal activities, it’s association with assassinations and its suicidal 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.

“All of a sudden, this girl came up to me and said, “Holden Caulfield!” Her name was Lillian Simmons. My brother D.B. used to go around with her for a while. She had very big knockers”(salinger 96). In “The Catcher in the Rye” Holden is portrayed as a whiny teenager that slacks off on his homework and performs illegal acts such as drinking and purchasing prostitutes. On top of that, another inappropriate characteristic Holden has is being sexist. The book itself is also sexist because of the way the main character thinks about women, the way the main character treats women, and the roles women play in the novel.

If a controversial book will be read in the classroom, it is the teacher’s responsibility to prepare the student for it. The teacher must ensure that the book is age-appropriate for the student, and is appropriate for the subject matter that the teacher is covering. Reading books such as Catcher in The Rye without discussion can be more harmful than helpful to a student. The Catcher in The Rye has obscene language, violence, occult practices, and sexual references (Doyle 2010). This book should only be read by a mature age group with a

References to sex, drugs, and alcohol are prevalent in the novel, as they play a significant role in the main character’s life. Holden uses drugs and alcohol as an escape from the problems he encounters while at Pencey and in New York, worsening as his depression and loneliness intensify. Aware of his issues, but refusing to acknowledge them, Holden reflects that “I sat at that goddamn bar till around 1 o’clock or so, getting drunk as a bastard. I could hardly see straight,” (Salinger 166). Holden also states that he “must've smoked around two packs since [he] left Pencey,” (Salinger 112). With the previous lessons upheld, exposure to the use of these products is not a substantial enough force that would drive teens to engage in said activities. Beginning at a young age, children learn in school how to say no to drug and alcohol use and what to do when faced with a situation in which they are available. Furthermore, older children learn how to be safe if engaging in sex through sex education classes in school; in fact, “23 percent of sex education in public schools” teach abstinence-only sex education (Livni). In The Catcher in the Rye, sexual references are limited and portrayed with a negative connotation when Holden says, “sex is something I really understand too hot,” (Salinger 70). Most of Holden’s acquaintances do not have the same ideology, showing readers that it is not degrading to go against societal normalities. Seeing how Holden handles situations with drugs,

Many schools in America have debated the controversial novel, Catcher in The Rye, by J.D. Salinger for their students to read. Some of the schools that have debated it have even banned their students from independently reading it in libraries. The student body for the most part has reacted negatively to the Board of Education discussing possibly taking out the book from the curriculum. The the novel should not be banned in Canton High School because students can connect with Holden’s problems.

Holden Caulfield, a boy who struggles with his mental health, starts his story by saying, “I’m not going to tell you my whole goddam autobiography or anything. I’ll just tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me around last Christmas” (Salinger 3). Published in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger depicts a three-day journey of Holden as he tries to find out more about himself. Through his struggle, Holden experiences many obstacles and events, such as depression and profanity, that take place 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). Though The Catcher in the Rye contains controversial topics, such as depression, vulgar language, and sexual discrimination, the novel is still relevant and relatable to teens today; therefore, the story should remain an option for students to read.