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Explain Why The Catcher In The Rye Should Not Be Banned

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The Catcher in The Rye should not be banned because the main character, Holden Caulfield, is a fictional character that teens can relate with. The teenage angst experienced throughout the novel is similar the daily life of some teens. They too are at the edge of childhood fighting the immense pressures of adulthood. One example is when Holden was speaking to his sister, Phoebe, he said to her that he pictures thousands of kids running around in a field of rye while he waits at the edge of a cliff, so he can catch them before they run off’ (Salinger). Teens can identify with this protector role with many of their younger siblings and family members. (Reasearch quote)(citation)( meaning) another example of how Holden is relatable is his broken home living situation. …show more content…

Jerome B. Duesk, in a book titled Adolescent development and behavior, mentions "that sometimes siblings are [the] better communicators... Because they are closer in age [which] [makes] it easier to discuss the problems of growing up" (Duesk 299). In Holden's eyes he had no one except his little sister to rely upon for support. This proves that Holden Caulfield is relatable to many teenagers, and as such the novel should not be banned.
The vice displayed in the novel, such as sex, and alcohol, contributes to the daily pressures of a teenager’s life. Alcohol is very predominate throughout the novel. The latest studies on this issue indicates that according to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Approximately 5.4 million people ages 12–20 engaged in drinking The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that more than 1.3 million teenagers have a drinking problem. The National Institute reports that the reason for underage teenage drinking is they believe in a mixture of rebellion towards their parents and a sign of maturity. Another reason for teenage drinking is it represents a daring gesture. Scientists

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741 Words | 3 Pages

There are two reasons he is doing this, one being to make sure she feels unique and leads instead of follows and he feels that by giving her this it will prevent her from maturing. As he states towards the end of the book, he wishes he could be everyone's “Catcher in the Rye” and prevent them from falling off the cliff. The cliff being all the mistakes the children will make and Holden wants to stand on the edge and save all of them from falling off just as he did. Holden feels that the process of maturing is brutal and he wants his sister to cherish the moments she has while she is young.

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423 Words | 2 Pages

Lastly he points out how banning this book will not protect children from everywhere else they can learn about the “cons” of the book in a different environment. Blei’s view on the topic of banning opens one's eyes to the reality of how information about profanities and other obscenities can be transferred to teenagers in ways that may pose a bigger danger than a book. He ties it to Catcher by stating that the book has been thoroughly inspected over the years, so all the themes and messages of the book have been revealed, so there is nothing to hide from parents and teachers. The point of the book has been made clear, and it is a just one, so hiding this book from children is having the opposite effect from what the people banning it want. Catcher in the Rye is a book about a teenager discovering himself, and shouldn’t be censored as it can be very useful and insightful for teenagers or people of the right mental capacity, as to appreciate the book.

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747 Words | 3 Pages

I think Holden dosen 't mind children becuase they are not as complex and "lousy" as adults. Children mostly go where the wind takes them and that 's Holden 's mentallity. Adults think things too much through and make clear-cut plans, where Holden and children tend to just make it up as they go. Much more carefree. This shows Holdens mentallity

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828 Words | 4 Pages

As the book starts Holden describes his childhood and how he has been kicked out of several school and once more again from his currently school, giving a sense of irresponsibility and no care in the world. Holden later on mentioned slowly the loss of his brother due to leukemia and how he reacted outrageously by breaking the windows of his garage home. As a reader one would view that behavior as abnormal, but Peter Shaw descried it as a normal behavior for a fictional character in the 1950s and by mentioning that Holden, “is presenting in a somewhat different manner than are the sentimentalized young people in other novels if his period” (par. 3), admitting that Holden was somewhat of an outcast of a character even for its time he is still considered normal. Shaw also challenged the reader’s view of Holden by emphasizing that Holden is not a real person, but a fiction character developed in the 1950s and in fact a mad psychological character is normal and made the reading rather more interesting and acceptable during that time. As readers someone may come across as understanding Holden’s behavior due to a loss and everyone mourns differently and as Shaw said, “ the one period of life in which abnormal behavior is common rather than exceptional” (par.

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763 Words | 4 Pages

In conclusion, the novel Catcher in the Rye should be banned because of its inappropriate and sexual topics. It should also be banned because Holden is fit to be a role model in the highschool environment and can possibly influence them in the wrong way. The novel does have characteristics to be fit for our curriculum but the moral it teaches are weak compared to that of other

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768 Words | 4 Pages

The book sheds a tear as it is banned by administration for students to read. The Catcher in the Rye should not be banned for summer reading for incoming sophomores because of its “explicit” content. After high school, out in the real world, life experiences are not censored or banned to protect you. You must experience life and all that comes with it.

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303 Words | 2 Pages

His parents sent him to three different prep schools, all of which he had been kicked out of. Without a solid environment, Holden has been unable to make many friends in which he can find sympathy and comfort. This makes him become an introvert. “…I was standing way the hell up on top of Thompsen Hill…” (Salinger, Page 2). He finds it hard to relate to people because they don’t understand him or his circumstances.

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111 Words | 1 Pages

Throughout the novel, Holden has a difficult teenage life, he is not responsible and can not face consequences that follow his irresponsibility. Holden can not let go of his childhood, and he has a tough time because he has to behave like an adult, now that he is 16. Holden is obsessed with his dead brother Allie, and his younger sister Phoebe because they are better than he is. Throughout the novel, Holden had many opportunities to get advice from the others that want to help. He refuses to go home and tell his parents he got kicked out of another school because he does not want to face the

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1131 Words | 5 Pages

Fuck: The Woes of Censorship “Somebody 'd written ‘Fuck you’ on the wall. It drove me damn near crazy.” This is a line from the classic novel The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, which has been both praised as a contemporary masterpiece and banned from schools and libraries alike. If this book had never been censored, if it had been accepted for the story and realism within it, then it is possible that other works of art would not be censored today. Limiting expression has been done since leaders discovered that they could exercise such a power.

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606 Words | 3 Pages

Option 3: Argument Life can either be taken way too seriously, or not at all. Some people choose to take life seriously by following all the rules that are enforced on us from birth until we get older, and others choose to take their own path and see where it takes them. The second behavior can be seen as treating life like a game. In Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Dr. Thurmer says that “life is a game that one plays according to the rules,” and Mr. Spencer mentions that idea to Holden while they talk. Although Holden does not think life is a game, his behavior and experiences show otherwise throughout the book.

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600 Words | 3 Pages

Jessica Casimiro October 30, 2015 English 3/PayLea Short Story Essay Patrick Rothfuss once claimed, “The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.” The novel Catcher in the Rye focuses on Holden Caulfield, an angst-ridden teen conflicted between remaining in a state of prolonged innocence or transitioning into the world of adulthood, thus facing the corruption and phoniness that it correlates with. Through Holden’s dynamic character, J.D Salinger depicts how innocence is slowly lost when exposed to adulthood. Reluctant to the idea of growing up, Holden strives to protect the innocence of himself and the ones’ around him. Holden reminisces about the Natural Museum of History, a place he enjoyed going

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2272 Words | 10 Pages

Text Analysis Practicum Course Instructor: Dr. Lorelei Caraman Dimişcă Bianca-Melania Russian - English Childhood vs. adulthood in J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” “The Catcher in the Rye” is a novel written by J.D. Salinger in 1951. The book is one of the most controversial books ever written and its popularity comes from the author’s rough attitude towards society from the perspective of a teenager. “The Catcher in the Rye” is thought to be J.D. Salinger’s masterpiece and it is listed as one of the best novels of the 20th century. In 2009 Finlo Rohrer affirmed that even 58 years later after the book has been published it is still considerate “the defining work on what it is like to be a teenager”. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye)

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1365 Words | 6 Pages

However in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye Holden Caulfield, the main character in the book, criticizes almost everyone for things that they can’t control. In this book, Holden acts to be older than he is,by drinking, smoking, and even hiring a prostitute (which he doesn’t end up doing anything with). The reason that Holden does this because of his insecurity about where he fits in the world.

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628 Words | 3 Pages

Even though this may be a valid point of view, the life lessons taught to the reader greatly outweigh the old nature of the book. The book discusses Holden’s dead brother, and the suffering that Holden goes through after this event. Holden like many teens today is going through hard times. Everyone goes through frustrations in life, and the book reinforces this idea and makes it clear that people are not alone in what they are feeling. Article 2 further discusses this idea by saying, “[the book] can help readers understand that they aren't the only ones coping with problems” (source 2).

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1433 Words | 6 Pages

Usually considered a controversial novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger can often express the feelings of being an outcast and the desire to find a meaning in the world. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the novel, though often complains of the phoniness of the world around him, has a way of creating a deeper meaning within the readers. While the truth may be that Salinger purposely set the story in such a way that the readers will be able to connect with Holden, not often do readers find it easy to do so. While Holden believes that everything around him are wicked and phony, there is part of him trying to protect the innocence of those not corrupted by such phoniness. Although Holden wants to protect and save the innocence of children, can he really do so if cannot protect himself and trust those around him.

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