Holden Caulfield Censorship

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

The reader often searches for a glimpse of himself in the characters he is reading about, and this is especially true with the adolescent readers of The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. The author paints a picture of a conflicted youth by emphasizing his idiosyncrasies, and although Caulfield’s traits may seem exaggerated and alien at times, he is a character who is relatable to American youth today. Holden Caulfield has a strong sense of civic duty that is overshadowed only by his suicidal tendencies, is exceedingly sensitive to the evil in the world and prone to angst, yet empathetic to the emotional upheaval other children will experience when entering adulthood.

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

For decades, Salinger has been an influence on contemporary authors who strive to question, challenge, and emulate the struggles of a society. Holden Caulfield is an interesting character that slowly falls into the world of insanity as we follow his story when he leaves his Boarding School. Salinger’s writing makes you question what our world is really like and how each generation may view his/her own world. Being caught up in Holden’s story is like a roller-coaster because he is constantly thinking of ways to proceed with his life. There are moments where we catch glimpses of his true insanity and moments were your heart catches. The Catcher in the Rye is a classic that will appease to almost anyone. Plus, come on, it was/is banned in many

The world of adults is full of phonies and the only way to combat it is to be as innocent as a child. Today, people have become so self-interested that they fail to listen to everyone - even themselves. These are the points J.D. Salinger brings up in his novel The Catcher in the Rye. Throughout the novel, J.D. Salinger’s uses of voice, conflict, aposiopesis, irony, and metaphor emphasize these points. The Catcher in the Rye is a story of a battle to preserve innocence.

The story of Holden Caulfield, from the book Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, starts from from the point-of-view of Holden; where he is being treated for a nervous breakdown after being kicked out of Pencey Prep. for the death of his little brother Allie. While the book does have multiple instances of explicit language and suggestive themes, we think that the book is appropriate to be used in the 10th grade English curriculum. While it does have foul language and suggestive themes, kids in modern day High School have access to much more explicit and suggestive content. Also, even if it was written around the 1950s, both the difficulty and the timeliness is still relatively easy to understand and relate to.

In 1955 there was a controversy in multiple states around the country about censorship. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, J.D Salinger discusses the topic of protecting Holden Caulfield's innocence. He claims that Holden tries to ignore the fact that people change and nothing will ever stay the same. Although Holden does not accept these challenges of life, Holden still acts as he is a grown man with the action he does. The real reason of the censorship of the book is because of Holden's actions(gale).

Censorship can be used to control obscenity, protect national security, prevent hate speech, avoid child pornography, and much more. The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger has been very popular for adults and adolescent readers. But, not everyone is ecstatic over this controversial novel. This novel has been banished from schools in the states of Oklahoma, California, and South Carolina. The question is why? What in the book made these people/organizations embargo this exceptional work and deny its intricate plot. On the the other hand in my opinion, this book should not be banned to the public and it’s appropriate for teens.

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.

In the novel, J.D. Salinger reflects on the topic of inappropriate behavior and sexuality. He examines that the way life was in the 1950s was the result of Holden Caulfield’s behavior. As a result, the sexual explicitness and inadequate behavior led The Catcher in the Rye to be banned in many states. Furthermore, the way books are banned leads to censorship, life in the 1950s, Holden’s behavior, and views of the book.

In 1951, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye was #1 on the New York Time’s bestseller list. Since then, the American Literary Association claims The Catcher in the Rye is a “favorite of censors.” The use of harsh language and profanity has been a long time debate of educators causing the novel to be pulled off bookshelves and propelling J.D. Salinger and his protagonist, Holden Caulfield, into reluctant fame. The translation of the book into many other languages speaks to the relevance of Holden’s teenage experience in many different nations and cultures. As J.D. Salinger takes the reader through Holden’s journey, it becomes obvious that Holden is

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.

This paper proposes to delineate the characteristics of Holden Caulfield, the adolescent protagonist hero of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and illuminate the reasons as to why this prototype of brooding adolescence, displaying a rather uber-cool style of disaffection, disenchantment and disillusionment became an indispensable figure of interest, in literary circles as well as popular culture. The paper seeks to take issue with the wider dimensions attached to the ‘incapacitation and debilitation’ Holden is often accused and address Salinger’s vision behind etching Caulfield precisely the way he is. The paper also wishes to foreground the socio-political implications that reverberate within the rubric of the novel, Holden’s characterization and his abhorrence at the ‘phoniness’ that surrounds him- an aspect of the novel that has oft been overlooked by critics, reviewers and commentators alike in their attempt to mete out an avalanche of critical inquiries into the overarching framework of timeless, transcendent morality, which manages to escape the roots of context that bred it. Also, an important aim of the paper is to collate critical attention on Caulfield into a cogent effort to place him in his rightful position as a remarkable hero of literary merit, akin to the oft-discussed analogies and comparisons of him with Huck Finn, David Copperfield, Stephen Dedalus, Leopold Bloom, Peter Pan, Natty Bumppo, Quentin Compson and the like. Towards the end of such a

The young man’s speech, uneducated and unscrupulous upon a cursory listen, juxtaposes the content as he fluidly edits his words to remain true to his ruse. A compulsive liar cannot divulge his true feelings aloud, so a glimpse of his innermost thoughts is bound to intrigue. In J.D. Salinger’s first person narrative this is infuriatingly truthful, as opinions change and disagreements ensue regarding the book’s merit. At its core, The Catcher in the Rye evokes a plethora of emotions from the readers, making it a truly timeless tale for individuals in transitory periods.

Often times, when a ban is put in place on an object—such as a book—it sparks an interest or curiosity, rather than shuts that object down. Such is the case for The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Multiple schools across the country have banned the novel due to its controversial point of view. However, over time, the story of Holden Caulfield and his struggle to find happiness in a world full of phonies has become one of the most important works of literature to date. So, despite having mentions of pre-marital sex, underage drinking, and profanity, The Catcher in the Rye remains a popular work of literature because of Holden’s unique voice, his relatable struggles, and the lessons he teaches.