Why Is Catcher In The Rye Banned

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. However, since the novel’s original publication, it has been at the forefront of the banned book crisis and has faced mass amounts of criticism and censorship for its content. The novel

For example, Holden has an uncomfortable interaction with his roommate, Stradlater, whom he detests for his phony behavior. Stradlater goes on a date with a girl Holden once knew, effectively ruining the perceived innocence Holden once had of the girl. The subsequent physical altercation between Holden and Stradlater, results in Holden’s early departure from the school (Salinger 56–57). This showcases Holden’s deep-rooted hatred of fake and phony things as he constantly attempts to put a stop to them. Holden’s disrespect and disregard for rules is a major reason for the banning of the book. Holden’s aggressive behaviors are seen as authoritative and have a negative influence on the young minds that read the book. This hatred of phonies and authority figures is paired with some of the major controversies regarding the novel. The most famous example of this is embedded in the assassination of John Lennon. The man who assassinated John Lennon, Mark David Chapman, read the novel out loud to himself when he was arrested and read the passage, "Anyway, I keep picturing all these little