How Is Holden Caulfield A Hero

The Catcher in the Rye: A Book About a Teen yet Unsuited for Teens

In a quintessential storybook, a hero's character is meant to convey a lesson, and teach a behavior that the reader should adopt. Unfortunately, not all protagonists have the good character of the archetypical hero. Such is the case in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, one of the most widely taught and analyzed novels with a teenage protagonist: sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield. Although The Catcher in the Rye is an enduring classic about the woes of growing up, its content is inappropriate for school study due to the fact that the main character, Holden Caulfield, is a poor role model for impressionable adolescents.

One of Holden Caulfield's most deplorable actions

is his heavy consumption of alcohol. Throughout the book, the rebellious prep school dropout uses alcohol to cope with his depression and boredom, always without consequence. What kind of impression does this make on young people who read the book? As author Kelly Dedel brings up, young adults are subject to peer pressure as well as the need to fit in, and "it is likely that their perceptions of others' alcohol use influence their own drinking" (3). In books, movies, television, and other forms of media, the already prominent culture of teenage drinking is essentially broadcasted to teens who may not have been exposed to it before. In turn, this perpetuates the idea that underage drinking is normal, influencing teens to conform and participate. Furthermore, because Holden Caulfield is one of the most famous teenagers in classic literature, teenagers may be even more inclined to imitate his alcoholic tendencies. In a study by Dartmouth Medical School, it was proven that students who are exposed to alcohol consumption in the media are three times more likely to participate in underage drinking than those who do not view such content ("Preface to..." 1). Because the media has such a powerful influence over young people, it is imperative that schools consider the impact of the content they teach. Upon reading the The Catcher in the Rye, it is clear that the content could have a very negative impact on the actions of students. During just one of the many instances of drinking in the novel, Holden says, "I ordered a scotch and soda... 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" (Salinger 69). This crosses the line from merely being an instance of underage drinking to being advice on how to get away with the illegal behavior, which teenage readers could easily apply.
Another reprehensible behavior that Holden Caulfield exhibits is an utter lack of respect for others, particularly women.

In nearly every instance that Caulfield encounters a woman, he salaciously describes their physical appearance as if they were lesser beings. These women are merely distinguished by their hair color, their physical assets, or lack thereof, and whether or not he is attracted to them. In one instance, even after learning the ladies' names, Caulfield crassly continues to call Bernice "the blonde one" and Laverne "the ugly one" (Salinger 75). Because he is the narrator of the story, Holden limits the reader's knowledge of what the women are actually like in personality and character. This is a message that should not be accepted or taught to anyone, especially in a time when women face harassment, both online and in real life. The words used in The Catcher in the Rye are not unlike those in President Trump's Access Hollywood tapes, which contain lewd comments on journalist Nancy O'Dell's body. O'dell later reflected, "there is no room for objectification of women, or anyone for that matter, not even in the locker room...the conversation has got to change because everybody deserves respect no matter the gender or setting" (Izadi 1). While Holden Caulfield's comments are fictional, they may spread the idea, particularly to teenage boys, that such "locker room talk" is acceptable and will garner respect from other boys. There is no reason that students should

be exposed to this type of content, as the poor message it sends negates any potential literary value it might provide.
Many educators assert that the Holden's profanity in The Catcher in the Rye has no impact on students because they are mature enough to handle the content and discern it as unacceptable in real life.

In fact, it is true that swearing is generated on a completely different side of the brain than everyday speech, thought, and action (Ong 1-2). However, according to the studies researches at Brigham Young University, teenagers in particular are especially vulnerable to the influence of profanity, because "behavioral constructs are still being developed during these formative years" (Coyne 2). For this reason, The Catcher in the Rye is only suited for older audiences who are more mature and better able to realize the potential deeper meaning behind explicit nature of the novel rather than simply the crude nature of the words. Unless schools are trying to condone these types of behaviors, they should not expose students to vulgar content. Additionally, adolescents may be more likely to imitate Caulfield's speech because of his status. In the same study, researchers found that profanity is most often uttered by "characters that possess characteristics that adolescents might wish to obtain" (Merrill). This phenomenon is known as social learning theory, and it is what causes behavior found in the media to be observed and consequently reproduced by adolescents in their everyday life (Merrill). Surely Holden Caulfield, a wealthy prep school dropout who bums around using his parents'

money, would attract mimicry. The effect of this exposure is extremely detrimental. It has been proven that "the use of profanity also is related to aggressive behavior" and that "other studies have found that exposure to profanity can induce a numbing effect on normal emotional responses" (Merrill). The last thing any school wants to do is to promote content that could potentially plant a seed of aggression or discord within their pupils. Overall, Holden Caulfield's profane words are not the sort of content schools need to be teaching to developing adolescent minds.
Based on the immense and insurmountable evidence, it is clear that The Catcher in the Rye should not be taught in schools, as its protagonist, Holden Caulfield, is a horrendous example of character for students. He is a borderline alcoholic at age sixteen, and much of the story takes place in various bars. His treatment of others, particularly women, is truly abominable. Finally, the entirety of the book is narrated through his uncouth and vulgar speech. All of these factors together are so prominent that they obscure the deeper meaning of the story from adolescent minds. Teenagers are likely not yet mature enough to understand the symbolic purpose behind Holden Caulfield's behaviors, as intended by Salinger. As has been noted, teenagers are easily influenced by the media, so it is crucial that the content they are exposed to impacts them in a way that is positive and constructive. Because young people spend a vast majority of their time in school, the education system has a monumental opportunity to make a difference in the character of the next generation through the content it teaches. As Albert Einstein so eloquently stated, "setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means." Lest the world be full of Holden Caulfields, schools should edify young people to be like true heroes: empathetic, caring, and respectful.