In “The Catcher in the Rye”, there is plenty of controversy on the content that is in the book. There are curse words constantly throughout the book. Just that reason alone could be a reason why this book could be censored. If a book has enough controversy to be considered to be banned in schools, there is obviously content from the book that is considered dirty or a bad influence to people. That is a reason that this book is censored. People think it is dirty and could be a bad influence to children. Some people do not want their children going to school and reading books that have that kind of material in it. Some other reasons the book could cause controversy is that it has violence, sexual connotations, and the overall attitude that Holden …show more content…
“The Catcher in the Rye” has some issues about the inappropriate content that is in the book. For example, Holden, the main character, curses more than most people would like to see when reading a book. It seems as though there is at least one curse word in every sentence that he says. That can make people stop reading the book right away once they see that the book is going to be like that. The sexual connotations in the book could also lead to people disliking the book. In the book Holden says, “Sex is something I really don't understand too hot. You never know where the hell you are...Sex is something I just don't understand. I swear to God.”(Salinger 63). Holden talked like that throughout the book, so if students are young or immature, this book would not be good for them. Holden's personality could also repulse readers away. He says that he is depressed more than a few times. When a character is constantly saying how depressed and sad they are, it makes the reader enjoy the book less because they also feel that way …show more content…
Some books are just not meant to be read by a variety of different people. Most parents would not want to have their children reading books that have curse words galore. Even though some or even most parents would not have a problem with that, a few would be absolutely furious if they found out their kids were reading what they considered a dirty book. So I believe that schools should ban some books in order to stay away from upsetting parents. Some parents do not use that language, nor want their kids using or being exposed to that kind of language. There is no need to force students to read those kinds of books, since they can always get a book from the library if they want to read the book of their choosing. If parents are fine with their child reading books that have controversial content, they can get the book for their child themselves. I believe that once someone turns a certain age though, it is no longer up to the parents to decide what their children are exposed to. When a student is in the 11th grade, that is when the student starts to have more responsibility for themselves. That is when students are usually driving and on their way to becoming adults. They are no longer immature for the most part, and I strongly believe that they could read a book that is dirty without it being a big deal. It would get the students to grow up a little bit, and learn to deal with the fact that everything does not
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.
I believe that Catcher In The Rye needs to be partially banned. By that, I mean that its contents possess very mature themes that children under the age of 12 probably should not be exposed to in public schools. Now if their parents want to let them read it on their own then that is none of the school’s or anyone else’s concern. Elementary schools should not carry the book because there will always be the chance of a child getting their hands on the book and bringing it home subsequently having their parents see what they have been reading in turn making the parents upset by what the school is allowing their child to read.
The discontent about The Cather in the Rye is due to vulgar language and sexual themes within the novel. The vulgar and inappropriate content does not prevent the reader from comprehending themes, symbols, and lessons and underlying meaning of the novel. In the novel, the main character, Holden, goes through many experiences that are deemed as inappropriate and are evident to the reader. But once the reader searches and analyzes the underlying meaning of the novel and situations and how Holden reacts to these situations, there is a great deal of redeeming and positive value from the novel. This then further supports the themes and symbols presented in the novel. While people may see the main character as someone who is dimwitted and possesses no ethical standards, he faces such scenarios which put that to the test and prove it wrong. And from that, students can learn the theme of individuality and coming of age. In ...
With the thought that someone can be hurt by reading a book, people will try to challenge and ban them. To ban a book is to have it restricted from a certain age or audience. Banning and challenging books is trying to keep a certain book away from an audience due to 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 argument from someone who believes books should not be banned is that it is important for the age group to learn about certain content and material as they grow up. Due to controversial content, the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald should be banned.
...and controversial. These individuals have not recognized the sincerity of the novel and the potential it holds to change one’s view on life and on other people. The novel is purposely written in a way to raise feelings, help readers to identify with characters, and reveal reality. The Catcher in the Rye has been studied in Language Arts for years in schools and should be continued, as it will be beneficial to students. Language Arts is undeniably an art, just as music is an art. One does not eliminate and replace the notes composed in a symphony simply because it has been perceived as fallacious. Similar to that symphony, the Catcher in the Rye has been engraved with evocative words that make it as prominent as it has been to this day, and should remain unchanged forever.
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
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.
In conclusion, the novel The Catcher In the Rye must be banned from the eighth grade curriculum. The story is a negative influence to young readers. It contains countless profane words. Lastly the amount of sexual references is absurd for an eighth grade classroom. Schools, as well as teachers must realize the undesirable content of this novel and protect, the student from its damaging influences.
Censorship has been a big part of the world’s history and especially America’s history. One of the most quoted amendments to the United States constitution is the first amendment; “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press ...” This amendment guaranteeing free speech, press, and religion is still heavily debated and contested today. Censorship, as a challenge to free speech and press has been allowed many times and has been heavily debated itself. Many people censor for many different reasons and in many different forms. Censorship itself is not always a bad thing and has in some cases been used for protection of the general population.
The children are the real losers because they are the ones that are not able to read the classic works of literature, which are the backbone of classroom discussions all across the United States. The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) defines censorship as: “The removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational materials. of images, ideas, and information.on the grounds that these are morally or otherwise objectionable in light of standards applied by the censor” (Miner 1998). In schools there are three types of censorship, one type is a “parent” who doesn’t want their child to read a particular book. Another is a parent, teacher, administrator, or school board member who argues that no one in the class, or school, should read the book in dispute.
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 ...
There are many reasons that violence is one of the reasons that the book has been banned. “He determined to strand me outside district 12 until he can apprehend to arrest me? Drag me to the square to be locked in a stockade or whipped or hanged?” (Collins 151). This isn’t really a strong bloody gory violence that would cause a student to get sick in class it’s a basic violence that you would see in any other book that involves killing and fighting. And by exposing this type of violence to children it will raise their maturity level and have the children comprehend that there is violence around them in the world and they’re going to have to learn to deal with it. 56% of the book is challenged by parents and only 13% by libraries. This tells the reader that parents have a more difficult time with the book so you ask yourself is it more of the parents why they see the book? Or is it their child’s way they see the book? both child and parents are going to see the book differently so children may like the violence in the book but the parents may say th...
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. & nbsp;... ... middle of paper ... ... Banning books is unconstitutional.
Censorship in Schools There has recently been a renewed interest and passion in the issue of censorship. In the realm of the censorship of books in schools alone, several hundred cases have surfaced each year for nearly the past decade. Controversies over which books to include in the high school English curriculum present a clash of values between teachers, school systems, and parents over what is appropriate for and meaningful to students. It is important to strike a balance between English that is meaningful to students by relating to their lives and representing diversity and satisfying worries about the appropriateness of what is read.
The Catcher in the Rye, like many other great works, was met by scornful criticism and unyielding admiration. However, many literary critics also marveled at Salinger's use of language, which was used to make Holden Caulfield, the main character, extremely realistic. Such language includes both repetition of phrases and blatant cursing, in order to capture the informal speech of the average, northeastern American adolescent. Through Holden's thoughts and dialogues, Salinger successfully created a teenage boy.