Borromeo, Jennifer
Laupheimer 4
American Literature May 22, 2018
Catcher in the Rye Final Essay
The Catcher in the Rye, a controversy. Should this be taught in schools? The answer may be surprising. Over the years, The novel, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D Salinger has been a discussion of either removing the lesson from educational plans or not. Whether it due to being from the inappropriate language the novel uses, or the illustration of sexual behaviours or the decisions and judgements the main character makes these reasons have been used to band the book from lesson plans in the past. The Catcher in the Rye conveys ideas and aspects relative to the adolescent and young adult experience such as young love, overcoming obstacles and
…show more content…
With the understanding of the concerns of the use of profanity, illustrations of sexual behaviours and the discussion and judgements the main character makes. These reasons that have been used to band the book for educational purposes in the past, though these reasons should not be the reasons to completely disregard the book for educational purposes to be held in a mature lesson plan. The book, The Catcher in the Rye should be able to be taught in schools due to the fact that the story conveys ideas and aspects relative to the adolescent & young adult experience.
The Catcher in the Rye has a history of being banned for educational purposes due to the use of profanity. Though the use of profanity is an invalid reasoning for the banning of the novel due to those who desire to restrict the educational values of the novel displace their views and beliefs on the use of profanity before the educational value of the novel. To band this novel from school courses in hopes to prevent children from exposure to profanity would be invalid. The level of profanity used in the novel is applied in most PG-13 level content. The novel uses words like ass, sex, hell and phrases such as “I hope
…show more content…
The novel touches on ideas of sexual orientation and experiences, religion, and education some things that are not acceptable to a discussion in today's society. Furthermore, How will young adults learn about different aspects of their development if it is no longer taught? Another issue in education is the claim that the content taught in schools are not relative enough in today’s society and do not cater to the growth of adolescents. The band of the novel The Catcher in the Rye would be a violation of the right to free speech and should not just be applied to adults in the United States but to all citizens, regardless of age. Though the views of the use of profanity are controversial, the book has very essential moral lessons that the readers could benefit from. Soley, profanity is not a valid reason to revoke the book from the curriculum, and the school curriculum is founded on strong principles that do not permit the unlawful practices such as the banning of a book. Therefore, there is not an acceptable reason for banning The Catcher in the
Did you ever think that books that have sex, obscene language, and immoral subjects can make a good book? The Catcher in the Rye has been on the banned reading list for exactly those reasons. The book was mainly put on disapproval from between 1966 and 1975 in almost every school district in the United States. The book was said to be so bad that in 1960 a teacher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was fired for assigning the book to an eleventh-grade English class. Despite some opposition to the novel, however, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye should be on a reading list for the freshman students because it gives a crystal clear image on how the world is in violence, sex, and obscenity and the book also teaches the motifs of lying and deception.
All through the book, Holden, as well as his "friends", uses vulgar language. Because of this, Longstreth feels the book is "not fit for children." Although vulgar language is used in the real world, it was very rarely encountered in literature. Other critics agreed with Longstreth, Peterson said the book was "obscene," while Smith warned readers "be advised to let the book alone" if they are bothered by this language. It is Jones' feeling that this language could only be mouthed by a "disturbed adolescent," and that Holden is "immoral and perverted" (Longstreth).
Perhaps another option is to partially censor the book. Release a “PG version” that would omit the uses of “G.D.” but leave uses of milder curse words like “Hell” or “damn”. This way if people are choosing not to read the book because of corse, offensive...
For many years people have argued about the inclusion of The Cather in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger in the high school english curriculum. This is such due to the inappropriate and adult oriented themes within If considered, many times within the novel the main character will face situations in which that the negative and vulgar themes will blossom into something meaningful that the reader can benefit from as a person and as a student. While the vulgarity and adult themes in The Catcher in the Rye are indeed inappropriate for adolescent students, ultimately its underlying themes of self discovery and possessing moral values provides life and ethical lessons that can be applied in the classroom as well as on a daily basis and therefore, the novel should be included in the high school curriculum for students to learn.
First off, banning a book violates the Freedom of Speech, which is a part of the First Amendment. The First Amendment allows the people to have their thoughts and speech to be protected. If a book is banned, you are essentially prohibiting the exercise of free speech, which strangely contradicts the First Amendment. In The Catcher in the Rye, we the readers can see that J.D. Salinger supports the idea of Freedom of Speech with the statement, "And if the boy digresses at all, you 're supposed to yell 'Digression! ' at him as fast as you can. It just about drove me crazy. I got an F in it" (98). Utilizing the Freedom of Speech, the boy can say no to the teacher that forced him to read out loud in class. By banning the book, you are also violating the ideals for Freedom of Expression, which is also a part of the First Amendment. According to the Bill of Rights, the main concept of Freedom of Expression is that we individuals have the right to hold our own opinions without the consent of others (Bill Of Rights of the United States of America). J.D. Salinger also supports the ideals for Freedom of Expression with the quote, "In the first place, I
Although students should read novels that they are mature enough to understand and comprehend, Lohmiller explains that by allowing all middle school students access to read novels with profanity and Christian derogatory, it is not certain that all students are mature enough to not have their daily language influenced by it. While children should read material that they are mature enough to comprehend, censoring material in schools because of language and Christian derogatory does not take away student exposure to any of the censored issues, but instead takes away student exposure to a learning environment that would teach meaning and context. The use of "hell" and "damn" and other Christian derogatory in novels is necessary in furthering the storyline and depicting a realistic illustration of the environment. It is necessary to expose children to the evils in novels because "[a]n uneducated world is a miserable world full of fighting and conflict...A world without books is a dystopian world" (Censoring the Pages of Knowledge 1). This explains that student exposure to profanity and Christian derogatory in schools would allow the youth to be educated on the evils and be the gateway for conversations that the students would benefit from later in life. Banning controversial novels for the evils within will create ignorance in the youth of America today, as they will not be educated on the usage in novels, but of the evils through other means that are not explained and understood by youth. By teaching and allowing students to struggle with profane language and controversial topics in schools, it is ensured that students will be educated on the meaning and reasons behind usage. For example, Fahrenheit 451 is a novel that satirizes and challenges censorship in modern society by depicting the effects of that censorship on a future society where all books are burned. By the use of profanity and Christian derogatory as a means of critiquing the society,
the book included considerable profanity and "filthy and profane" language that premoted premarital sex, homosexuality, and perversion, as
Some people feel all alone in this world, with no direction to follow but their empty loneliness. The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D Salinger, follows a sixteen-year-old boy, Holden Caulfield, who despises society and calls everyone a “phony.” Holden can be seen as a delinquent who smokes tobacco, drinks alcohol, and gets expelled from a prestigious boarding school. This coming-of-age book follows the themes of isolation, innocence, and corrupted maturity which is influenced from the author's life and modernism, and is shown through the setting, symbolism, and diction.
There is a singular event that unites every single human being on the planet, growing up. Not everyone can say it was pleasant, but no one can deny that it took place. The transition between childhood innocence and adulthood is long and confusing; often forcing one to seek out the answers to questions that likely have no definitive answer. During the process, the adult world seems inviting and free, but only when we are on the brink of entering this cruel, unjust society can the ignorant bliss of childhood be truly recognized. Catcher in the Rye explores the intimidating complexities associated with adulthood and how baffling it seems to the naïve teenage mind. Through the main protagonist, Holden Caulfield, J.D. Salinger captures the confusion of a teenager when faced with the challenge of adapting to an adult society.
Despite being a worldwide best seller, J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye has been on the banned books list since 1961 ( (Baldassarro). The Catcher in the Rye tells the short journey, of anti-hero Holden Caulfield, between the end of the fall semester and Christmas break (Salinger). The story begins when Holden is expelled from his school, Pency Prep, for failing a majority of his classes (Salinger). Holden knows he must return home, so he attempts to prolong the scolding he will receive from his parents, for being expelled, by venturing around Manhattan until it becomes necessary to return to his home (Salinger). Holden tells his story in the most vulgar way possible. Holden accounts being offered a prostitute by an elevator operator when he asks, “Innarested a little tail t’night?” (Salinger 91). Offensive language is also used throughout the book, for example, “You’re a dirty stupid sonuvabitch of a moron” (Salinger 44). Underage drinking is also one of Holden’s favorite passtimes as evident in the quote, “I ordered a scotch and soda, and told him not to mix it- I said it fast as hell, because if you hem and haw, they think you’re under twenty-one and won’t sell you any intoxicating liquor” (Salinger 69). These three quotes express the precise justifications for banning books: sexually explicit content, offensive language, and underage drug use (Association). Although, many consider The Catcher in the Rye to be morally wrong, it should not ...
The novel, The Catcher In the Rye, should not be banned from inclusion in the literature courses taught at the high school level. Banning this novel contradicts an individual's inalienable rights as an United States citizen. It limits freedom of speech and as well as other forms of expression. Although controversial, profanity is not a reason to limit an individual's rights. America is founded on principles that are not fueled by exceptions. Profanity is not an exception to freedom of speech. The Catcher in the Rye should not be excluded from curriculums at the high school level.
“Catcher in the Rye”, written by J.D Salinger, is a coming-of-age novel. Narrated by the main character, Holden Caulfield, he recounts the days following his expulsion from his school. This novel feels like the unedited thoughts and feelings of a teenage boy, as Holden narrates as if he is talking directly to readers like me.
As a high school kid myself, surrounded by this foul behavior from these kids, it doesn’t seem at all wrong that the book includes the n word. This word was used a lot in that during that time period. No book is perfect they all have their faults. To conclude, this novel should not be banned because it has a lot of great things such as the its deep meanings, and the bad things in it are not enough to overweigh the
It was a massive hit during its creation and has still remained as not only one of the famous classics of American Literature, but also as the most popular book to have never been adapted into a film. This book became a classic because of its sophisticated writing, intricate true meaning, character narrative, and most importantly the effect it had on its readers, more specifically adolescents. The children and teenagers who took to this book like a fish to water were changed in many ways. Many often argue that those who read this book at such am “impressionable” age were effected in ways that changed society and they are correct. Without the publication of The Catcher in the Rye those adolescents would have never developed a voice different from social norms, see themselves within the world around them, see others in that world in a new light, and truly understand the importance in
The Catcher in the Rye is not all horror of this sort. There is a wry humor in this sixteen-year-old's trying to live up to his height, to drink with men, to understand mature sex and why he is still a virgin at his age. His affection for children is spontaneous and delightful. There are few little girls in modern fiction as charming and lovable as his little sister, Phoebe. Altogether this is a book to be read thoughtfully and more than once. It is about an unusually sensitive and intelligent boy; but, then, are not all boys unusual and worthy of understanding? If they are bewildered at the complexity of modern life, unsure of themselves, shocked by the spectacle of perversity and evil around them - are not adults equally shocked by the knowledge that even children cannot escape this contact and awareness?