The Importance of Censoring in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

“ I ordered a scotch and soda and told him not to mix it – I said it fast as hell, because if you hem and haw, they think you are under twenty-one and won’t sell you any intoxicating liquor.” Quoted from Holden Caulfield the smoking, cursing, drinking prostitute soliciting, protagonist of the novel, The Catcher In the Rye. The novel follows only a few days of Holden’s life, but exploits Holden’s reckless behavior and poor decision making skills; therefore encouraging bad behavior on young readers. The story also follows a constant repetition of inappropriate words and swears; that one might consider profane. Lastly the story contains inappropriate scenes and dialogue that is sexually explicit. The adult content found in this novel makes

Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye has been into continuous dispute and controversy since its publication in 1951. Some critics think that Salinger 's narrative of the human plight is engrossing and enlightening, yet incredibly depressing. The leading character, Holden Caulfield, serves as the basis for critical discussion due to his psychological conflict. Salinger 's portrayal of Holden, which encloses incidents of dejection, nervous breakdown, impulsive spending, sexual exploration, and other wandering behavior, have all assist to the controversial nature of the novel. Yet the novel is praised by its piercing advocates, who argue that it is a critical look at the problems facing American youth during the 1950 's.

Salinger wrote this novel in 1951, The Catcher In The Rye was published at a time when the burgeoning American industrial economy made the nation prosperous and entrenched social rules which were to be followed especially by the younger generations.Because Salinger used slang and profanity in his text and because he discussed adolescent sexuality in a complex and open way, many readers were offended, and this caused great controversy once the book was actually released. Holden rejects middle class norms and is very bulgar when referring to things. He faces alcoholism, and constantly smokes. Salinger did not censor himself as Holden Caulfield and the vulgarity itself was enough to challenge the book. Some schools have banned it for including sex and the abuse of drugs. Some people took what was being sad in the book too serious, and John Lennon was actually murdered because his killer believed he was a phony person. Although The Catcher in the Rye is one of the most controversial books ever written, it is still taught in many English classes all around the United States, including all IB schools. Loved by many teenagers and adults for its rebellious characteristics, It is banned for its profanity, sexual content, and violence by many schools from the 60’s to the present.Its Literary importance isn’t lowered and some schools still decide to keep it for that very

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

The Catcher in the Rye is a novel about a teen/adult named Holden Caulfield that took place in the 1950’s in New York which is the perfect setting for a kid to become an adult because of its size, but Holden Caulfield was telling the story in a mental hospital in California. Throughout the novel Holden is transitioning from a kid to an adult and he takes us along with him to experience what it is like to become an adult. Due to the fact that Holden is maturing, J.D. Salinger, the author of the Catcher in the Rye, decides it is appropriate to disregard censorship and so the book contains a lot of vulgar and inappropriate scenes. J.D. Salinger published the Catcher in the Rye and about ten years

The Catcher in the Rye was banned and discriminated for multiple reasons, but the prime reason was the containment of “excessive use of amateur swearing and coarse language” and “overt sexuality” (“And Holden” Online; Kerr 49). Critics found the novel to be “wholly repellent in its mingled vulgarity, naïveté, and sly perversion” (“And Holden” Online).

In today’s world, a number of topics that are considered to be mature are being censored. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, touches upon the topic. The book indicates that censorship is not justifiable and letting people think freely is what makes the world what it is. Censoring subjects that are considered mature is not justifiable. Censorship limits the author and restricts the readers, prepares people to fail in real world situations, and humans have the right to know about any subject comes to mind.

The Catcher in the Rye has been an instant classic since it was first published. It has been on the New York Times Best Seller list along with being among the most banned books in the U.S. It has been banned for its harsh language and bad behavior. But truly these are not good reasons to ban a book; a book that is so enjoyed by many readers and the reality of the protagonist. It is never good to hear profound language but the book is just showing how the teenage world actually is in many cases. Most teenagers are going threw a lot at that time in their lives, not always to the extreme like Holdren, but hard times none the less. The language in the book is nothing teens are not

The main reasons why Catcher in the Rye was banned in the mid-late 20th century was, not only because of language and sexual situations, but also because of Holden’s possible bad influence on readers. Parents were worried that their children could end up like Holden: kicked out of schools, smoking, depressed, and angry. But, in reality, all teenagers will go through a kind of “rebellion” stage, just like Holden.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger tells the painful tale of a hormonal teenage boy, who has been kicked out of multiple schools, and is searching for himself in a world of phonies. June Edwards’ article, “Censorship in the Schools: What’s Moral about The Catcher in the Rye?” deals with the novel’s values and argues over Salinger’s written intentions. She describes Holden as an insecure young man, who makes some poor decisions, but turns his life around and becomes a good influence, contrary to what censors would claim.

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.

Jerome David Salinger is an odd character with a colorful background. He was a young man unable to complete college and obtain a degree, yet he was made very popular due to his writing abilities. “Despite his slim body of work and reclusive lifestyle, ‘Salinger’ was one of the more influential twentieth century American writers.” states Biography.com, “His landmark novel, Catcher in the Rye, set a new course for literature in post World War II America.”

The same pattern of guarding purity is found in the sexual matter of this novel. When it comes to the theme of sexuality it is easy to find a relationship between what the society looked like in the 1950’s and what our society looks like today. Sexual revelation is a constantly growing pattern through different media, and The Catcher in the Rye acts like guidance for misplaced and confused teenagers growing up in this continuous

The Catcher in the Rye features a multitude of examples in which Holden is overwhelmingly suicidal and represents undesirable viewpoints. At one point in the novel, Holden admits, “what I really felt like though, was committing suicide” (Salinger 116). His pessimistic attitude and outlook on life can have a negative effect on the reader. “[The book] has been banned on the lighter premises of using profanities and being sexually explicit/suggestive, while it has also been banned for darker interpretations of the book, such as being part of a Communist plot, anti-religious, and promotive of homosexuality and perversion” (Bohan). The supports for banning are prevalent throughout the book, with no doubt that they are factual reasons. Nevertheless, the literary value and representation of adolescents in any time period overwhelm the reasons for banning the book.

     J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye has captured the spirit of adolescence, dramatizing Holden Caulfield's vulgar language and melodramatic reactions. Written as the autobiographical account of a fictional teenage prep school student named Holden Caulfield, The Catcher in the Rye deals with material that is socially scandalous for the time (Gwynn, 1958). As an emotional, intelligent, and sensitive young man, Holden puts his inner world to the test through the sexual mores of his peers and elders, the teachings of his education, and his own emerging sense of self. Throughout the years, the language of the story has startled readers. Salinger's control of Holden's easy,