It has been seventy years since The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, was first published, and it still makes parents assail this book, while young adults and teenagers read this book with ease and laughter. Parents assail this book due to its explicit descriptions and diction, but do not assail the fact that their children are exposed to sex and profanity daily. Sheltering your child from reading a book of such truth, will not prevent them from experiencing the emotional and physical pain that Holden Caulfield did within his three day journey. So why bother banning this book when the worst thing it does is give teens the ability to see what’s right and wrong, and show them bits of the real world.
When reading, you will come across some obscene descriptions and details, but that shouldn’t make parents want to ban it because it teaches us valuable lessons of what is right and wrong. For instance, Holden meets a guy
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Though this book may be ‘inappropriate’ to some, this inappropriateness is what allows readers to see how the world actually works. “The Catcher in the Rye should not be seen as a book full of negative ideas being fed to teenagers, but should be a chance for teenagers to identify themselves with a literary character.” (Why is it Banned and should it Remain Banned?). Letting teens read this book, not only gives them a connection, but a relationship that lures them to continue reading because they often find themselves in the same shoes as Holden. Protecting and preventing your child from what they should and shouldn’t do, will only cause rebellious acts to come upon you, the parents. Rather than opposing to the book, inform your child about the language and observations they may come across, since they are continuously surrounded by
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
There is a lot of controversy about the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, because many people think it is unsuitable for kids to read as part of a school curriculum. It has been one of the favorite censorship targets according to the American Library Association, but the book should not be banned or challenged. Readers who struggle with depression may be able to relate to the main character, and it could help them feel less alone in their battle. Throughout the book a common theme is curiosity, and the novel is also a good example of language and slang during the 1950’s. Many critics believe that Salinger’s use of language is inappropriate, but it is similar to many high schoolers today.
The main reason was because the book mentioned discussions of being drunk, smoking cigarettes, profanity, and using God’s name in vain. Criticizer Diana Verm stated "The book had a bunch of very bad language in it. It shouldn’t be in there because it’s offending people.” Altom Verm also said "It's just all kinds of filth.” Just because you find “offensive” terms in the book, doesn’t mean it has to be barred from everybody. Alton Verm has stated he hasn’t read the book. (yourhoustonnews.com Kassia Meck) His only reason for wanting it to be banned is because he finds it “too offensive.” I find it nefarious that a book can be banned just because it doesn’t fit someone’s ideal opinion. The ALA states “The ALA promotes the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinions even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular” (ALA mission statement) This just goes to show that what you believe, shouldn’t have an impact on others. I don’t believe a book should be banned from a school district for those
If I was the librarian, I would not get rid of (or censor) any of the books, excluding “Catcher in the Rye.”
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.
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
In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher In The Rye, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy, transitions from childhood to adulthood. The death of Holden’s little brother signifies the beginning his loss of innocence and growth of maturity. As he enters adulthood, Holden views society differently from his peers by characterizing most of his peers and adults he meets as “phonies.” Thus, Holden takes the impossible challenge of preserving the innocence in children because he wants to prevent children from experiencing the corruption in society. The Catcher In The Rye embodies Holden’s struggle to preserve the innocence of children and reveals the inevitability of and the necessity of encountering the harsh realities of life.
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,
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.
J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye presents a look into the mind of Holden Caulfield, a popular literary icon numerous teenagers have rightfully found themselves relating to at some point. While the familiar emotions of Holden were welcoming for me, his anecdotes and witty remarks proved entertaining as well. The story chronicles Holden’s exploration through New York post-expulsion, with his point of view influenced by his growing alienation with the world. He represents that growing sense of unease at growing up and facing a reality that is not always pretty, and, in his case, a need to save children from having to face that reality. I personally admired the fact that he was not just an angry teenager in the world as stereotypes suggest.
This essay is a detailed analysis about The Catcher in the Rye investigating whether it is relevant for youth and
The Catcher in the Rye was one of the top banned books from 1961 to 1982 (Seed 449-450). Even though the book was banned over the misinterpretation of the intentions of the book, it was one of the top. The adults who misunderstood the book and didn't know much about it were the people to be the ones to ban the book in court. There were negative comments about the novel from many people who didn’t understand the book or its message. People who didn’t even read the book had a problem with it like priests and ministers who made
Bohan acknowledges the widespread controversy surrounding The Catcher in the Rye and how it has become the exemplar of banned books. The novel has been banned because of “using profanities and being sexually explicit/suggestive” as well as “being part of a Communist plot, anti-religious, and promotive of homosexuality and perversion” (Bohan). In general, from 1966-1975, most schools banned the book, except in AP classes because AP students “were better able to understand the novel’s universal message and take a greater interest in its teachings” (Bohan). As a result of this claim, Bohan attempts to determine
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.