Catcher In The Rye Controversy

Many readers will agree that The Catcher in the Rye is a coming of age, but some may disagree that it is not because of Holden’s personal view of children. The disagreement may have resulted from Holden’s childish acts, such as, being

Since its publication in 1951, The Catcher In the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger has served as a conflagration for debate and extreme controversy. Although the novel has been the target of scornful criticism, it has also been the topic of wide discussion. The novel portrays the life of sixteen year old, Holden Caufield. Currently in psychiatric care, Holden recalls what happened to him last Christmas. At the beginning of his story, Holden is a student at Pencey Prep School. Having been expelled for failing four out of his five classes, Holden leaves school and spends 72-hours in New York City before returning home. There, Holden encounters new ideas,

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,

J.D. Salinger has written multiple novels, but his most famous is The Catcher in the Rye. Not only is this novel famous for its literary merit, it is also known as his most banned novel in certain schools. Even though this novel has been banned, J.D. Salinger’s themes and moralistic purposes serve literary worth.

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.

The Catcher in the Rye is a novel written by J.D. Salinger that occurs around the 1950s. The story’s protagonist and narrator is Holden Caulfield, a seventeen year old white male, who journeys to various places as he mourns over the death of his little brother, Allie. As a white male in a capitalist society, he has tremendous amounts of privileges that allow him to get. However, as the novel progresses, Holden describes his society as a place where honored human qualities are suppressed and capitalist ideals are embraced. Throughout the novel, we see that capitalism, “the social system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which all property is privately owned”, destroys the overall society for Holden and his generation (Rand).

Many charges have been made against J.D Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye in attempts to censor the book. Most of these charges are used as a smoke-screen for the real reason this book is considered "dangerous". There have been several attempts to have Salinger's novel removed from High School libraries and reading lists. The most notable instances are:

Catcher in the Rye allows people to understand childhood and the innocence with it. But, no matter how much you try, everyone has to grow up. Holden doesn’t accept this reality and refuses to growing up, even comparing it to

The Catcher in the Rye The Catcher in the Rye is a book written by J. D. Salinger that was published on July 16, 1951. Over the years it has been a target of controversy and an abundance of debate on whether the book should be censored, and if it is okay to teach it in the schools. The book contains a plethora of crude language as well as topics including sex and alcohol. What critics do not see, however, is censoring such a book would be a waste of time and is not necessary. The Catcher in the Rye should not be censored.

Written by J.D. Salinger, the book “The Catcher in the Rye” was published in the year 1951, and has been the subject of constant debates and controversies. The novel has not only been the target of ridicule and criticisms, but has also sparked an intriguing discussion on its validity for use in schools across the nation. The novel centers on the life of the sixteen year old Holden Caulfield. The novel deals with issues such as profanity, irrational behavior, and teenage sex and has very vital and appropriate lessons to teenagers and youth as it teaches the benefits of tolerance, discipline, religion, and rational behavior. It in particular teaches the youth that desirable behavior is more beneficial to them than to the society and as such; it should not be banned from a high school curriculum.

The Catcher in the Rye has a mordant contempt for everyone and everything (Menand 2001). This is portrayed through the language used by Holden. Holden constantly uses crude language because it allows the reader to depict his character more vividly. Additionally, it can be said that it is also included to represent the fact that Holden is trying to merge with the adult world and he assumes that by using more ‘adult’ language he can achieve this.(REFERENCE) However, this only demonstrates Holden’s immaturity as he is becoming a walking contradiction.

I strongly believe that Gene intentionally "jounced" the tree limb, and ultimately caused Finny to fall. There are a couple ways in the above passage that authenticates that Gene intentionally jounced the tree limb. First of all, Gene explains,”Holding firmly to the trunk, I took a step toward him, and then my knees bent and I jounced the limb.” If Gene had accidentally jounced the limb, he would not be “holding firmly” to the trunk. Gene was firmly holding on to the trunk because if he was not and he jounced the limb, there was also a chance for him to fall. Right after finny falls, Gene claims that it was the first clumsy physical action the Finny has ever made. Readers can infer that Gene said that with pride because later, “I moved

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.

Young adult books are hot in the writing world and are the new trend of what people want to read. Teens and adults alike are drawn to characters like Katniss Everdeen, Hazel Grace, and Jacob Portman; they seem real, they become dear to us. Before this trend started, however, many people did not write for a young adult reader. J.D. Salinger, on the other hand, wrote a very popular book for young adults called The Catcher in the Rye. Salinger wrote this book in 1951 way before the new young adult book writing craze. Many people are now saying that the main character of The Catcher in the Rye, Holden, is outdated. Can young adults not relate with Holden anymore because this book was written

Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger, takes place in New York, New York in the year 1950. 1950 is a critical point in United States history, because it is the post-World War II era. Many of the events that took place in World War II impact the novel and its outcome. The narrator does not give many details about his past, but we are told that he is currently writing this story from some type of mental hospital as he undergoes treatment.