Inappropriate Language In Catcher In The Rye

218 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: The catcher in the rye banned

The use of offensive and inappropriate words often deems a book indecent for children to read. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is a victim of being censored and banned because of the language used in the story. Passages in the book contain large amounts of profanity, which many have taken offense to. In fact, research has shown that a whopping five percent of the novel consists of words that were inappropriate during the time period in which the book was published (Taylor). The use of profanity in The Catcher in the Rye is the biggest reason as to why many schools and libraries have banned it in the past. Schools often received complaints from parents who did not want their children to be subjected to such foul language. In 1982, the

Show More
Related

  • Alcohol, Sex, and Violence in Catcher in the Rye

    1090 Words  | 3 Pages

    another kid to take a drink of alcohol, and the kid doesn't want his friends to

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Censorship A Personal View By Judy Bulme

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the article censorship: a personal view by Judy bulme she discusses and touches on censorship in literature in children and young adolescence books. Now in article there are a lot of possible exigencies listed threw out the article one of the main exigencies is that Judy bulme has personal experience with censorship as a little girl, with that personal account she has familiarity that compels and gives her credibility to write this article. With exigencie their also comes a purpose bulme’s purpose in the article is trying to convince parents that you should not coddle a young teen or an adolescent from literature that may not be suitable for them, but let their mind wonder and explain it after they read it. Also she communicates that censorship on books are not right because it’s unconstitutional violating the first amendment freedom of press. The audience she speaks to in article is the group of parents that are like middle age and older that have one track minds, and have to young teens and adolescent ages between 12-9 years old that are hesitant to let their children to read edgy books, teens who were her age and, have or experience the same thing she went thought as a kid, teachers and facility that believe in her cause that have lost their job over edgy books that were not age appropriate to their students. The context that you have to consider in the time of Judy bulme article is there is are a lot of issues going on the America culture that censorship of government felt need be. For inesxctie like the cold war was going on and nobody knew if another war was going to break out at any time. So any material that seemed edgy or conserverial it was going to be censored or restricted by the censors to the minors. Then th...

    Read More

  • Banning The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Catcher in the Rye Should Be Banned

    802 Words  | 2 Pages

    Catcher In The Rye was written in 1951 and for this time period, the book’s content was extremely ahead of its time. Its frequent foul language and sex-driven themes led it to be banned by several school systems across the country since its release. Some people may question why Salinger has Holden Caulfield cursing so much. Some may see Caulfield’s persistent offensive language as unnecessary and unbecoming for a young person of Holden’s age. As an example, on page 129, Caulfield compares his and Sally’s skating skills to the rest of the people at the ice-skating rink in Radio City.

    Read More

  • The Catcher in the Rye Should be Included in the Curriculum

    1097 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Should The Great Gatsby Be Banned

    1103 Words  | 3 Pages

    Banning and challenging books started to become recognized almost as a problem in 1982, when the largest number of books at the time had been challenged as not suitable or appropriate for an age group. Ever since then books are criticized for sexual content, going against religious beliefs, language and vulgarity, violence, drugs, self-harm, racism, occult/satanic views, promoting gangs, and going against community standards. An example of a book that has been banned is The Catcher in The Rye by J. D. Salinger, since it has been banned from multiple libraries and schools for sexual and vulgar content (Santipr). Many people whose books have been challenged or banned have argued that the first amendment says something different. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free

    Read More

  • Banning Books Essay

    944 Words  | 2 Pages

    Books are banned for many reasons but more times than not it is because of the sensitive information found within the novel that agitates the reader. As long as people have been able to develop their own opinions, others have sought to prevent them from sharing. At some point in time, every idea has ultimately become objectionable to someone. The most frequently challenged and most visible targets of such objection are the very books found in classrooms and public libraries. These controversial novels teach lessons that sometimes can be very sensitive to some but there is much more to challenged books than a controversial topic. What lies within these pages is a wealth of knowledge, such as new perspectives for readers, twisting plots, and expressions that are found nowhere else. For example, To Kill A Mockingbird, contains references to rape, racial content, and profanity that have caused many to challenge the novel in the first place. The book was banned from countless

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Should Be Banned In Schools Essay

    604 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although this book uses offensive words, it is such an important part of this time period. Some adults may not want their kids reading these stories in school because they can repeat the words and use them offensively. People could also feel that this book isn’t appropriate because it was written so long ago and uses old-fashioned phrases that don't teach students proper English. People will always have their own opinions.

    Read More

  • Reasons For Banning Fahrenheit 451

    1659 Words  | 4 Pages

    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,

    Read More

  • Opposition to Catcher in the Rye

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    the book included considerable profanity and "filthy and profane" language that premoted premarital sex, homosexuality, and perversion, as

    Read More

  • Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles

    1288 Words  | 3 Pages

    That is the way censorship is brought up in the book. Today, however, it affects more than just books. It is used in movies, TV, news, magazines, and the Internet. Words, obscenity, and some vulgar things can be kept from the viewing audience. They can keep certain people, those seventeen and younger from seeing movies, TV, or Internet sites. In the book one character makes a point of saying, “ignorance is fatal.”

    Read More

  • J.D. Salinger's A Catcher in the Rye

    791 Words  | 2 Pages

    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 ...

    Read More

  • The Catcher In the Rye Should Not be Banned

    793 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Communication in The Catcher in the Rye

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is a worldwide known concept that communication among different people is a necessity of one's life if it is to be a happy one. Human companionship is something everyone will do anything for. Yet, some people have difficulties in communicating with others especially when they see problems among the people they try to communicate with. In this novel, "The Catcher in the Rye," the author, J.D. Salinger, illustrates the protagonist's difficulty in communicating with other people, especially with the women he encounters throughout the novel. The reader can see Holden Caulfield's failed attempts to communicate with people. In the conversations Holden has with people, he usually makes up lies or ends up embarassing them or himself. In others, he usually ends up being hostile towards them. Yet, it seems obvious that the reason for his failed attempts of communication is because he won't allow people to express themselves as they are. He automatically assumes that they are "phony" because of their first impression towards him. He won't give them a chance to express themselves unless he decides that their first impression towards them makes them "likeable".

    Read More

  • Use Of Slang In Catcher In The Rye

    959 Words  | 2 Pages

    The use of slang in the book, The Catcher in the Rye, enriches the novel by opening a window into real life. By using language throughout the book that mirrors how teenagers really act and think and say, Salinger is bringing young readers closer in to Holden’s world. The use of slang makes it easier to relate to Holden, and what he is going through, than if the book had been written in a straight literary manner. I allows readers of all ages to connect to the emotional message of the book, and allows one to really connect to the characters.

    Read More

More about Inappropriate Language In Catcher In The Rye

Open Document