Why Is The Catcher In The Rye Banned

There are numerous banned books which are removed from shelves due to their controversial content not only just in America but also around the world. The novel, The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger is one of the most well-known “censored publications” throughout American schools. The novel, set in the 1950s, is narrated by a sixteen year old boy named Holden Caulfield. The story begins in a mental hospital where Holden is undergoing treatment. From there, he tells his account of his expulsion from school and his subsequent lonesome journey throughout New York, all of which happened leading up to his voluntarily admission into the sanitorium. Most of the novel’s adversaries argue that the book should be banned due to its vulgar content

Several times throughout the novel, Holden encounters disorder, whether it be other characters brutally beating him up or his own vicious fantasies. In the story, Holden describes his fights with others, such as his roommate Stradlater, where Holden “tried to sock him with all of his might, right smack in the toothbrush, so it would split his goddam throat open” (Salinger 49). He also discusses death a few times when he talks about Allie, his brother who died of cancer, or James Castle, a boy whom Holden went to school with that committed suicide. But the most vivid images are portrayed in the reader’s mind when Holden depicts his ferocious delusions. After Holden is beaten up by Maurice, a pimp, he pretends that Maurice had shot him and in graphic detail he imagines himself, “holding onto [his] guts, blood leaking all over the place” (Salinger PG). Despite these few instances of violence, the novel cannot be compared to movies or graphics that adolescents are exposed to today. Due to lessened parental supervision “the typical American child will view more than 200,000 acts of violence, including more than 16,000 murders before age 18. Television programs display 812 violent acts per hour; children's programming, particularly cartoons, displays up to 20 violent acts hourly” (Beresin). If adolescents are already unsheltered from this brutality, then they should also be allowed to

On the other hand, I believe that this novel should not be banned due to its important focus on mental illness. The story is told from Holden’s unique perspective, recapping his life prior to his time in California. Although Holden does not explain his state of mind, the reader can assume that he is suffering from a severe depression and a possible mental disorder, which explains his current location in a mental hospital. Holden shows many signs of depression: poor performance in school, withdrawal from friends and activities, sadness and hopelessness, lack of motivation, anger, feelings of being unable to satisfy ideals, indecision, changes in eating or sleeping behaviors, substance abuse, and thoughts of suicide (Depression in Teens). Despite his situation, Holden manages to get treatment at the end, showing the importance of never giving up. Holden contemplated suicide multiple times, even saying in reference to James Castle, “What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would've done it, too, if I'd been sure somebody'd cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn't want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory” (Salinger 117). Holden found a reason to stay alive through his family, especially his sister Phoebe. This concept is