ipl-logo

Should The Catcher In The Rye Be Banned In Schools

563 Words3 Pages

Catcher in the Rye is one of the most controversial texts taught in schools. The book was originally written for adults and is written using 1950s teenage slang. I personally think that the book should be banned, in schools mainly. In the book, there are a lot of curse words. Some think that the book was written for the teenagers and the book itself is about a teenager’s life, which I think is not true. As I said the book was written for the adults and is about a boy trying to find himself in the society and transform into an adult. The word ‘goddam’ is used more than two hundred times in the book, this is unacceptable for many parents, they don’t want their children learning some curse words, but some may say that these curse words help Holden to be honest with the reader and …show more content…

The book has multiple scenes and references to prostitution and sex. I personally was a little surprised when I read the scene with Holden and Sunny. I wasn’t expecting that from this book and I believe that many parents were like me. If you look at this book superficially you will think that the book is about a despair teenager who doesn’t know where to go in life and doesn’t like anything in life in fact, he is smoking two packs of cigarettes a day, hiring prostitutes, consuming alcohol and cursing on everything, also consider that he is only sixteen years old. When the parents of a sixteen-year-old reads this book they will be scared, they, of course, don’t want their children to be like Holden. ‘another side’ says that the sexual content in the book is very important, because with this Author says that sex is acceptable, and the sexual consent that you are having in Holden’s age is a normal thing, Author indeed is trying to say that to the reader, but he could use the other way to say this, not by letting Holden hire prostitutes, which today is unacceptable and I believe in the 1950s too. My third argument is the consumption of

Show More
Related
294 Words | 2 Pages

Another very common characteristic found in most teenagers, including Holden Caulfield, is obsession about sex. Throughout the story, Holden is always thinking about sex or in his own words thinking about “giving a girl a feel”. When Holden had a temporary stay at hotel in New York, he wanted to lose his virginity by calling a prostitute over his room, but after calling the prostitute over, he was afraid to have sexual intercourse with her since he never practiced it before, so he ended up rejecting the prostitute. The only thing Holden got from this experience was a punch in the stomach from a pimp. Holden also spends a lot of time fantasizing about sex with the girls he knew from school, which is very immature, but not surprising for a

Read More
1013 Words | 5 Pages

Chapters 18-19 Left Side Journal Holden is probably the most obnoxious in these chapters meeting up with Luce. The reason is because all he does is talk about sex even though he is a virgin. What I don’t understand is why does Holden care so much for others sex lives? I get that he is a virgin and he may be curious, but it is just really rude and uncomfortable not only to Luce, but also to the reader. The main thing I focused on in these chapters is the question that Luce asked Holden - “When are you gonna grow up?”

Read More
1685 Words | 7 Pages

Holden does not understand the reasoning behind sex, although he admits he would do it if he had the chance. 21. The author uses the name Faith Cavendish to show irony. Before Holden calls her up, he says “She used to be a burlesque stripper or something” (Salinger 71). This shows that Faith wasn’t all that pure in her earlier years.

Read More
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.

Read More
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

Read More
910 Words | 4 Pages

While the naivete of the aforementioned is seen as generally negative, Holden demonstrates something beautiful, a self-righteous innocence. To explain, Holden always says he becomes “excited” when he talks of his beliefs about sex and intimacy with every character he interacts with in the novel. His compass on what is right and what is wrong never seems to stagnate. This basic and self-righteous idea of how sacred sex and intimacy must have completely been brought about by his childhood and thus is full of childish beliefs. He wants his ideas to come to fruition and mentally criticizes people who do not believe or do what he thinks is right.

Read More
310 Words | 2 Pages

Catcher in the Rye A. Introduction The Catcher in the Rye by: J. D. Salinger was banned for a reason. Many felt that the books language was a little to colorful, but others loved it with all their heart. The people that hated said book, challenged the book and got it banned. But from what I 've read this is a battle over a book, one that has lasted five or six generations.

Read More
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.

Read More
1841 Words | 8 Pages

However, despite Holden’s concern for children and youngsters to maintain their mental chastity, he also fears for the innocence of himself and those who have lost their way. A prime example of this occurrence would be when Holden is conversing with the prostitute and he says“‘Don’t you feel like talking for a little while?’ I asked her. It was a childish thing to say, but I was feeling so damn peculiar…” and “‘Honest to God.

Read More
1032 Words | 5 Pages

The Catcher in the Rye is a novel that was written by J. D. Salinger in 1951. It was first published by Little, Brown and Company and was originally written for adults, but became popular among teenagers for its teenage main character, who deals with problems a large number of adolescents face in their transition into adulthood. It is not a difficult book to read, especially considering it is only 234 pages. The story revolves around the protagonist, a 16 year old boy named Holden Caulfield, who recently flunked out of a prestigious preparatory school.

Read More
1541 Words | 7 Pages

Why is Catcher in the Rye being banned? Benjamin Franklin once said, “If all printers were determined not to print anything ‘till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed” (Franklin 2). Books are one of the most important and efficient ways through which to spread and teach ideas. Because of this, attempts are made to censor and ban books that promote controversial messaging. The novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a book that frequently appears on school reading lists and is considered a classic work of literature.

Read More
232 Words | 1 Pages

Prison is considered an appalling place to be, but Bartleby thinks otherwise. “And to you, this should not be so vile a place. Nothing reproachful attaches to you by being here. And see, it is not so sad a place as one might think. Look, there is the sky, and here is the grass” (27).

Read More
1076 Words | 5 Pages

He sees sex as something that is corrupting and that it would taint his innocence. His fear of sexual intimacy is a sign of his reluctance to enter the adult world. Bloom concludes, “Thus, it is no surprise that Holden does not avail himself of Sunny's proffered services. For Holden, the entire scenario becomes lurid and intensely lonely” (6). Holden hires Sunny but after her arrival, Holden becomes uncomfortable with the situation and feels a sense of shame and disgust.

Read More
1746 Words | 7 Pages

It drove me damn near crazy.” The utilisation of an aggressive tone and informal language, suggests Holden’s anger towards the attitudes and values of society due to his ideal visualised in innocent children. Hence, illuminates how Holden despises immoral, vulgar

Read More
563 Words | 3 Pages

Holden has had several opportunities to have sexual intercourse with another female yet he keeps avoiding it, therefore unlike the rest of the teen population who have had intimacy with another being, he is an outcast, an alien. In this case, Holden is alien to sex and what intimacy truly is; his little knowledge on this is causing him to avoid going through with having an intimate relationship or sex with someone, even a prostitute who will charge him more than what she was worth. Fear can also play a role in alienation from society. Holden has a fear of human behavior and arguably even sickened with the human behavior.

Read More

More about Should The Catcher In The Rye Be Banned In Schools

Related Topics

Open Document