Stop Book Censorship

918 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Negative impact of censorship

Growing up as a child, parent’s shelter their children as much as they cannot allowing them to take in negativity and vulgarity in the world, but what happens when they go to school and talking amongst other children? Some parents do not always shelter their children as much, letting them know what is happening in the world at a much younger age than others. Teachers, but mainly government, try to correct what they think is wrong by censoring what content children can and cannot read. Censoring books should not be allowed today because children are maturing at a younger age; they are exposed to more vulgar content now with cellphones than when reading a book such as The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, or a modern title like the Harry Potter series (American Library Association). Censoring books should not be allowed since children are maturing at a younger age; that is, children and teenagers should be able to choose whether or not they if they think books are too vulgar for their own preference. In the past and today, books have been censored for vulgar language, the acts of violence, and sexual content. Books have also been censored for being too adult-like. The Catcher in the Rye’s censorship is debatable; in my opinion, if I had to pick a reason it would be because Holden was trying to be an adult although he was still a kid. He is in between the same world of an adult and a child; he uses the same words of an adult but continues to act like a child (Wiginton). When he was not around people he knew, or around the people he knew most, he tried to be more adult-like by ordering alcoholic beverages and smoking cigarettes. As a result, Holden, who is only seventeen, uses language modern teenager’s use today. For example, ... ... middle of paper ... ...ec. 2011. Web. 05 Nov. 2013. . "Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009." American Library Association. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2013. . Mindlin, Alex. "DRILLING DOWN Rapid Rise of Children With Cellphones." NY Times. The New York Times, 07 Mar. 2010. Web. 5 Nov. 2013. . Lukenbill, W. Bernard. "Censorship: What Do School Library Specialists Really Know?" American Library Association. American Association of School Librarians, n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2013. . Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 1951. Print.

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Censorship A Personal View By Judy Bulme

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    What makes censorship her overall main idea and thesis is that she puts in the article and states how she is involved in the National Coalition Against Censorship by stating this fact makes us a reader feel and be given that she is dead serious on the topic of censorship and that she feels strongly about It. Also list current teachers like Gloria pipkins who was award winning English program was targeted by the censors for using adult literature ,Cecilia lacks was fired by a high school in st.louis for letting her students creating writing express the language by using words they heard outside of school. Another point that censorship is the overall main idea and premise of this article is that the parents of the young teens and adolescence are pressuring the schools to remove her books form the school and banned they form the curriculum because of questionable content and explicit material

    Read More

  • Corruption Exposed in The Catcher in the Rye

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    The form of diction used in The Catcher in the Rye is a topic on which many people are strongly opinionated. Because the narrator speaks solely in the vernacular, the novel is ripe with vulgar language. Most of this language is used to characterize Holden, the protagonist and narrator, as a typical American teenager living in the late 1940s or early 1950s, but some of it is utilized to convey Salinger’s theme of innocence versus corruption. When Holden is walking through his sister Phoebe’s school, he sees a scrawl on the wall saying “Fuck you.” He imagines the writing was etched by “some perverty bum that’d sneaked in the school late at night to take a leak or something” (260-61). Again in the museum, Holden encounters another such sign. Both the school and the museum are places he identifies with his childhood, but they have been perverted by the corruption of the world. He is concerned for the children who will inevitably see these signs and be told what they mean by “some dirty kid…all cockeyed, naturally” (260), spoiling the children’s innocence. This is just one more step towards adulthood and corruption. He is disgusted by the people in the world, saying “You can’t ever find a place that’s nice and peaceful, because there isn’t any. You think there is, but once you get there, when you’re not looking, somebody’ll sneak up and write ‘Fuck yo...

    Read More

  • Censorship for J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    The main themes of Catcher in the Rye did have parts to do with sexual interaction and alcohol. Yes, these things are often frowned upon in our society for teenagers or “young adults.” Teachers and parents seem to believe for the most part that students who read this book are more likely to join in on sexual activity or drinking alcohol at an illegal age. The students should be given more credit than that. Although this society is a lot of “follow the leader,” that does not mean these kids would feel the need to do this activities.

    Read More

  • The Tyranny of Banned Books

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    Foerstel, Herbert N. Banned in the U.S.A.: a Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1994. Print.

    Read More

  • Censorship and Book Banning

    1822 Words  | 4 Pages

    Censorship is a concept with several different meanings. To each individual censorship has its own meaning. Is it a violation of our rights or is it a protection for our well being? Censorship in the generic sense refers to the suppression of information, ideas, or opinions. It occurs in all forms of communication from technological media to print media. Each society, culture, or individual's belief is violated by the codes of censorship that our society instills.

    Read More

  • Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

    1316 Words  | 3 Pages

    Holden Caulfield, J. D. Salinger’s protagonist in the novel “Catcher in the Rye”, is a seventeen year old experiencing that period of life between childhood and adulthood, often referred to as "years of teenage angst”. Caulfield says in the novel “You had to feel a little sorry for that crazy sonuvabitch”, which is exactly how I feel towards Holden (Salinger 39). The use of vulgar language and taboo subjects has made this novel a main concern in the censorship debate for over sixty years. Thankfully we have moved past the outright banning and destruction of literary works that challenge traditional views, protecting the freedom of one’s right to express their thoughts, opinions and imaginations as well as the freedom of people to choose what they wish to read. Children and young adults however require guidance during their impressionable developmental years. Knowledge of the unsavory side of life is not appropriate for all ages and caution does need to be exercised when determining what is understandable and beneficial to a young mind.

    Read More

  • Examples Of An Immature Man In Catcher In The Rye

    658 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Catcher in the Rye, there are many ways Holden shows reader that he is immature. Holden is afraid of the responsibility that comes with being adulthood. He acts childish and the and asks immature questions to

    Read More

  • Banning Books

    4607 Words  | 10 Pages

    Miner, B. (1998). When reading good books can get schools in trouble. An Urban Educational Journal, 12, 1-10

    Read More

  • Banned Books

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every year in the United States we have books being banned and challenged by many people who do not like the contents of books. When researching for this argument essay I found an article written by Rebecca Hagelin. Rebecca Hagelin is the author of Home Invasion: Protecting Your Family in a Culture That’s Gone Stark Raving Mad and the vice president of communications and marketing at the Heritage Foundation (Lankford).

    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

    At the beginning of his story, Holden is a student at Pencey Prep School. Having been expelled for failing four out of his five classes, Holden leaves school and spends 72 hours in New York City before returning home. There, Holden encounters new ideas, people, and experiences. Holden's psychological battle within himself serves as the tool that uncovers the coming-of-age novel's underlying themes of teen angst, depression, and the disingenuous nature of society. The novel tackles issues of blatant profanity, teenage sex, and other erratic behavior.

    Read More

  • Censorship in Schools

    3744 Words  | 8 Pages

    This article emphasizes the point that censors go too far when they attempt to not only ban a book for their own children but want to remove it altogether from a school library, so that other students cannot read it.

    Read More

  • Censorship: Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

    1413 Words  | 3 Pages

    Censorship has been a factor in the lives of humans since long ago in the times of the ancients, however, its prominence increased during the Middle Ages when literature became more common. Take censorship of books, for example, which has been relevant since the time after the persecution of the church, when it banned books about and/or including superstitions or opposition towards them, such as the condemnation of Thalia by Arius, a novel which portrayed “a literal, rationalist approach to the New Testament texts” (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/589822/Thalia), when “The First Ecumenical Council of Nicæa (325) condemned, not only Arius personally, but also his book... …The Emperor Constantine commanded that the writings of Arius and his friends should be burned and that concealing them was a capital crime, punishable by death.” (Rick Russell Former editor of AB Bookman's Weekly.) We look back on this as monstrous and wretched to deny someone their opinions and hide away the history from the public simply because it was in the favor of any particular group or sect. However, when we use censorship as a way for parents and teachers of children to regulate the reading material that we allow them to associate with, it’s suddenly justified and correct. Those censoring the books obviously think so. They hold the belief that they are protecting their youth from violence, harsh language, and crude humor. Parents and teachers around the nation censor The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain for similar reasons, but they continue to overlook the bigger picture. This title teaches the history of our nation, important life lessons, and the responsibilities of maturity and of growing up.

    Read More

  • Censorship In Schools Essay

    1440 Words  | 3 Pages

    Censorship in School Libraries      The most debatable and controversial form of censorship today is the banning of books in school libraries. Banning books that educate students is wrong and selfish. Censorship of books in school libraries is neither uncommon nor an issue of the past. Books with artistic and cultural worth are still challenged constantly by those who want to control what others read. The roots of bigotry and illiteracy that fuel efforts to censor books and free expression are unacceptable and unconditional.

    Read More

  • The Catcher In The Rye Phony Analysis

    460 Words  | 1 Pages

    The motifs of phoniness and perversion are themes common to Catcher in the Rye and contribute a major factor to the development of Holden’s character. Separately, these motifs appear to be mindless talk of the common sixteen year old male. Combined however, the themes introduce a crucial element to Holden’s background, and offer insight into what made him who he

    Read More

More about Stop Book Censorship

Open Document