Catcher In The Rye Merits

The band Poison once wrote and sang a song titled, “Every rose has its thorn”, and if this school year is a rose, then Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is its thorn. The book features Okonkwo, a self-assured man who treats his family brutally, but is still well respected by his community. J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye is also read sophmore year at Pioneer, and unlike Things Fall Apart, it is a worthwhile book. J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye should stay on Pioneer’s English Ten reading list, while Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart should not. Catcher in the Rye has superior literary merits and a beneficial value to all students and Things Fall Apart has lesser literary merits and does not send a good message to students. Catcher in

Holden, in Catcher in the Rye, is an adolescent who is troubled in school and life; he may even be a little depressed, but this all makes him a relatable character to many tenth grade students. Because students can relate to Holden, this makes the book more valuable to students, seeing as they can relate and enjoy to book more. Unlike Catcher in the Rye, Things Fall Apart is not particularly relatable or valuable to students, it evens send the wrong message. The village and culture that Okonkwo, the main character, lives in is extremely misogynistic and accept men beating their wives and children. These men are seen as powerful and respectable. At one point, Okonkwo tries to shoot one of his wives, and at another he beats her severely. Things Fall Apart should not be read in school because it tells young, impressionable people that domestic violence and misogyny are okay. The book is not of value to students and it praises an abusive man. Catcher in the Rye is a book that has value to students and should be read, and Things Fall Apart should not be read because it is not