Nick Smith English 3A Mr. Farrington May 24, 2016 The Catcher in the Rye Research Paper The book The Catcher in the Rye was published in the year 1951 and has been the subject of constant debates and controversies. The novel has not only been the target of criticism, but has also sparked discussions on its effectiveness for use in high schools. The novel is about a period of three days in the life of Holden Caulfield. The novel’s most criticised points are its issues such as profanity, irrational behavior, and teenage sex, but it still gives very important lessons to young readers because it teaches tolerance, discipline, religion, and rational behavior. More specifically it teaches that desirable behavior will make them and society better, and as such, I do not think it should be banned from high school curriculum. This paper analyzes the reasons why The Catcher in the Rye should not be banned from English classes that are taught in high schools. First, it is not a good enough reason to ban the book …show more content…
For example, Holden is shown as being intolerant to everybody, disrespectful, and hateful. He hates the use of certain words. Besides religion his intolerance is based on the fact that he has a problem with everyone since he lacks respect and does not admit to any mistakes. In addition, he is so much into teenage sex as revealed in his words, “Sex is something I really don’t understand too hot. You never know where the hell you are. I keep making up these sex rules for myself, and then I break them right away. Last year I made a rule that I was going to quit horsing around with girls that, deep down, gave me a pain in the ass. I broke it, though; the same week I made it – the same night, as a matter of fact” (Salinger). His intolerant personality is unacceptable, and the book teaches that this is not
The novel The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger depicts a journey of a young man named Holden Caulfield where he encounters many of life’s challenges. As Holden has been bouncing between schools all his life, he just recently got kicked out of his current one: Pencey Prep. He has trouble focusing in school and has experienced many traumatic events in his life, like the death of his little brother Allie. Many believe the novel should be banned, but there is an underlying message Holden is trying to communicate. Throughout Holden's journey many feel that there were ban-worthy moments, but the traits he demonstrates are most powerful: compassion, maturity/coming of age and intelligence.
The banning of books started way back, back in 1637 to be exact (America’s First Banned Book and the Battle for the Soul of the Country). The banning of New English Canaan by Thomas Morton ignited a spark, but as years gone by, the spark has evolved into a roaring flame(America’s First Banned Book and the Battle for the Soul of the Country). In 1951, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger was published ("Catcher in the Rye is published"). Ever since its publication, it has been the target to many people for this simple question: should the book be banned? As a matter of fact, in a mere 10 to 20 years, the book was added to the banned book list(Banned Book: The Catcher in the Rye). This angered many readers in the United States, and some tried
Why should this novel be banned from use in schools? Students should be able to hear these words and talk about them and not use them offensively. Racial content, tension, and slurs are used in people’s everyday lives. If people can use these words outside of school why would they not be allowed to be talked about in school? It is important for everyone to be informed about these racial tensions. This book also shows the reader what is was like to be growing up in this time period. Although this book uses the n-word, it uses it in a historical way. Using these racist words explains the way of thinking of the south in the 1930s. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is appropriate to use and read in school.
The banning of books has long since been a tradition for the censorship of the media, and no book has seen the red tape more than J. D. Salinger’s picaresque novel The Catcher in the Rye. Salinger’s Catcher examines Holden Caulfield, an emotionally conflicted teenager takes New York City after leaving his prestigious school to find his way back home. Upon the opening of the novel, Holden explores controversial slang, curses, and sensitive topics. The language of the novel, which includes but is not limited to, curse words, coarse language, and slang all are a major factor people often have for disputing Catcher. Holden often uses common curses from “hell” (234, 4, 74, 173), to the shortened “damn” (72) from “goddam” (234, 97, 185), as well
Holden Caulfield, a controversial main character in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, is common and in many ways a true representation of an average teen going through adolescence. “Holden Caulfield is nor clown nor is he a tragic hero; he is a 16-year-old lad whose vivid encounter with everyday life is tragically humorous-or humorously tragic.” (Heiserman and Miller 8). Holden is constantly being discussed and interpreted to discern his true character. “Holden would find himself the subject, by 1981, of 344 essays and two reviews, 21 books, 142 references and articles, and 14 dissertations in the U.S. alone.” (Schriber 101). Holden faces many challenges that he must overcome throughout the novel. While overcoming the challenges set in front of him he is also dealing with “normal” teenage problems including being forced to grow old but yearning for innocence, the need for love and relationships, and fighting away insecurities within while searching for his true identity.
Holden’s family problems, his hypocritical attitude, and his admiration of innocence demonstrate that society expects too much from teenagers because society doesn’t consider each individuals home life. It also shows that schools are not empathetic for students’ problems, even if they affect their school work and education. Every single school Holden attended expelled him, despite this his parents did not choose to notice the reason behind his expulsions, poor mental health. His parents solution was to simply enroll him into a new school after each expulsion. The novel The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, expresses the idea that society has built a very problematic education system, where students are put under so much pressure that when they cannot live up to the unrealistic expectations they become extremely stressed and even develop mental disorders. The reader observes this through Holden’s family problems, his hypocritical attitude, and his admiration of innocence.
Lastly, Holden Caulfield is like a stranger whom had struggle to find his right way. Holden is in between his conscious action and unconscious desire. Holden constantly rejecting the idea that he is interested in someone’s life, but likewise other teenagers he wants to know the truth about everyone , as he mention, he is a perfect lier ” I am the most terrific liar you have ever saw in your life. It’s awful”.( Salinger 16).He used lie to attempt someone’s attention .He lied to Ms.Morrow that his son is one of best student at Pency , "a bunch of us wanted old Ernie to be president of the class" but because he was so modest and shy, he wouldn't let them elect him (Salinger 56 - 57).The problem with Holden is that he is judging peoples base on his observation .He seems everyone same , but only himself is different .He mentioned that Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield are careless, depressed , nervous ,lonely parents. He never respect his parent due to the ideology that they are also one of the phonies. His mother was “nervious as hell”. This might be true , but there are
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.
The Catcher in the Rye has been one of the most banned books in American education history: it includes curse words, inappropriate situations, underage drinking, and much more. Yet, it remains as one of the most beloved and read books by adolescents and adults alike. Perhaps this is because readers relate to and sympathize with the main character, Holden Caulfield, despite the fact that he was a character from the fifties. From reading The Catcher in the Rye, one can learn about the challenges of transitioning from the innocence of childhood to the reality of the adult world.
Novels that are being taught in schools all over the United States are being challenged by numerous people for inappropriate content. These people believe novels that do not fit their idea of what is considered appropriate, should be banned. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is a prime example of this occurring. The novel is set around sixteen year old, Holden Caulfield during the 1950s. Holden struggles with mental illness and continuously flunks out of the schools he attends; however, he eventually decides to run away from his problems. While writing this novel, Salinger relates it to himself by using his own life experiences. Like Holden, Salinger was born in New York to upper-class parents, both have a fascination with
The Catcher in the Rye was written by J.D. Salinger in 1946. This book is considered by some to be a classic, but yet some others deem this book as one of the most controversial books in American literature. Throughout the United States, some schools and libraries have banned the book, but other schools and libraries have kept the book in its curriculum and taught as a “must-read” to students. So, why is this book being banned in the first place? In Salinger’s novel, the main character is Holden Caulfield, a stereotypical teenager facing psychological troubles. After getting kicked out of his school for the fifth time at the age of 16, he goes on a journey that takes him all the way to New York. Through his journey, he encounters many different
Since its publication in 1951, The Catcher In the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger has served as a conflagration for debate and extreme controversy. Although the novel has been the target of scornful criticism, it has also been the topic of wide discussion. The novel portrays the life of sixteen year old, Holden Caufield. Currently in psychiatric care, Holden recalls what happened to him last Christmas. 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. Such issues have supplemented the controversial nature of the book and in turn, have sparked the question of whether or not this book should be banned. The novel, The Catcher In the Rye, should not be banned from inclusion in the literature courses taught 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.
Once banned for the profanity alone and just for Holden’s story, J.D. Salinger's novel, The Catcher in the Rye, is one of the many controversial books that are in some schools today. This novel gives us an “up close” look into Holden Caulfield's life and his perspective, specifically a certain time in his life as he mourns his brother. Throughout the novel, we see Holden's experience in an unstable mindset and patterns along with changes over time. Because of its realistic insight of a teen’s life, many teens today are able to relate to the novel because of Holden's emotional state and change.
When The Catcher in the Rye was first published in 1951, it was ranked number one on the New York Times Best Seller list (Time Magazine). Yet it has been one of the most frequently banned books in schools and libraries. Written in the late 1940’s by J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye tells the story of Holden Caulfield, a teenage boy, who gets kicked out of boarding school and how he passes the days before returning home ,wandering New York City. Since its publication, it has been a book both adored and ostracized. However, whichever opinion one may have, one cannot deny the mark it made in history. The Catcher in the Rye is a novel that will be remembered throughout the ages for its depiction of post World War II life, both through the story and American society’s reaction to the tale.