Argument Essay

Argument Essay

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, is easily considered one of the greatest literary works of the twentieth century. It has influenced countless authors and people everywhere. So the question remains, why has the book been a favorite of book banners everywhere? For fifty years, parents have tried to get this book from schools across the nation. They argue that the book is too inappropriate. They try to keep this great piece of work from teens everywhere, just because they don’t like it. These parents say that the book has too much profanity and “content unfit for young adults.” Though many want the book banned because of its excessive profanity, sexual content, and unruly behavior, it should not be banned because most teenagers can relate to the book and it can help them understand society and life as an adolescent.

One of the main reasons the novel has been banned or challenged so often, at least thirty times since 1960 [ala.org], is because of what some consider excessive profanity. For example, in 1963 the book was challenged because parents found it “obscene.” Since then, the book has been banned or challenged because of profanity specifically thirteen times. For example, “school libraries in Morris, Manitoba…because [it] violates the committee’s guidelines covering ‘excess vulgar language…’” in 1982. The most recent challenge was in 2009 in Big Sky High School in Missoula, MT. These multiple bans of the book leads one to believe that this book is excessively vulgar.

However, the novel should not be banned due to profanity for multiple reasons.   First of all, many of the “vulgar language” found in this novel are not usually considered all that bad. “Three of the top five words in Catcher in the Rye - ‘goddam,’ ‘hell,’ and ‘damn’…” [prooffreader.com]. Other words such as bastard, crap, and sonuvabitch frequent the book as well. These words aren’t typically considered bad nowadays, and are even used everyday without any shock or concern. These words are even allowed in PG-13 movies. Eighth graders, and the many high schoolers who had this book banned, are all over thirteen. So these words are clearly acceptable for teenagers in the eyes of adults. There shouldn’t be a difference between watching a movie star say certain words, and a teenager reading the same words in a book, including a book as popular and influential as this one. One may argue that stronger words, like “fuck,” are used throughout the text. This word does appear in the text a couple times, but that doesn’t mean it is a bad thing. In fact, Holden rarely says the word at all. He only notices the word written on the wall and expresses disgust about it. “I went down by a different staircase, and I saw another "Fuck you" on the wall. I tried to rub it off with my hand again, but this one was scratched on, with a knife or something. It wouldn't come off.” Here Holden sees the words “Fuck you” scratched on to various walls in the Natural History Museum and his sister’s elementary school. Instead of laughing or ignoring the words, he tries to get rid of them. Holden may say ‘hell’ and ‘damn’ a lot, but he draws the line at ‘fuck,’ which is what most people now consider unacceptable. Holden isn’t encouraging teens to say serious curses, he just utilizes curse words that are now acceptable by most people. It is also worth noting that Holden also says, “It's hopeless, anyway. If you had a million years to do it in, you couldn't rub out even half the "Fuck you" signs in the world.” Holden unintentionally makes a point about how children will be exposed to vulgarity at some point in their lives. Cursing is very much ingrained in our culture, and sheltering children forever from the harsh realities of the world won’t save them.

Furthermore, many want to ban the book due to its sexual content. Many schools and parents do not want their kids and teens to read about sex and the act of having it. For example, the book was challenged at Jamaica High School in Sidell, IL because it contained “premarital sex and prostitution.” The book was also banned and challenged at several schools for sexual content at Napoleon, ND High School, Waterloo, IA Schools, Goffstown, NH Schools, and Glynn Academy High School among others. It is clear that many schools are concerned about students reading sexual content. However, Catcher in the Rye should not be banned due to sexual content for several reasons. First of all, many teenagers are already thinning about sex, so it shouldn’t be all that worrisome for them to read about it. “Though discussions of teenage sexuality are generally considered taboo, it is something that most kids begin to think about as soon as they hit puberty. [Can Book Censorship Save Our Children and Their Innocence?]. Also, about 1/3 of high schoolers are sexually active [childtrends.org]. So if such a large portion of teens are already having sex, it doesn’t make sense that they’re not allowed to read about it in school. If so many teens at least know about sex, why can’t they learn about it? The book may even be able to help the teen understand sex. Although sex is mentioned frequently, there is never anything graphic in it. Holden does order a prostitute, but does nothing except talk to her. The goal of the scene isn’t to promote prostitution. The book does offer many opinions on sex, both good and bad. However, since it doesn’t take a clear stance and doesn’t show anything explicit, it allows teenagers to make their own decisions and form their own opinions on sex. Holden Caulfield thinks and talks about sex as much as the average teenager. So sexual context isn’t a valid reason to ban the novel.

There were also many challenges to The Catcher in the Rye due to its protagonist, who isn’t exactly the best role model. Actually, he is pretty far from it. It has been challenged in schools because some think it showcases bad morals. For instance, in Morris, Manitoba, the same school that challenged it for profanity also challenged it for “things concerning moral issues.” It was also challenged in Linton-Stockton, IN High School because it was “blasphemous” and it “undermined morality.” Many schools, including the previously mentioned ones, didn’t elaborate on what the “moral issues” were. However, the book should not be banned for whatever vague moral issues people complain about. Holden certainly does certain, what some would call inappropriate, activities. He drops out of school, hires a prostitute and often makes insensitive comments. He also has a general hatred of just about everything. Despite his bad attitude, he never actually does any really morally wrong activities. He doesn’t commit any crimes or anything. It’s also important to realize that Holden is an adolescent, and he’s in a period of his life that is very difficult. He fears going into adulthood and leaving his innocence behind, and he often acts out to cope with that. Many teenagers also endure this same time of experience. Adolescence is a time of rebellion, where many teens challenge what is expected them. They can relate to Holden and empathize with him. Holden Caulfield pretty much the whole “rebellious teen” type of attitude. He is an outcast and kind seems himself as a failure. In the book, he not only fails every class except english, he also leaves school and spends a week on his own. Teenagers can help understand themselves better because of Holden. In a letter written from the Lake Braddock English department, they say “Reading and studying books that expose us, imaginatively and safely, to that trouble steels our souls to pull us through our own hard times and leads us to a greater empathy for the plight of our fellow human beings.” Teenagers will be able to understand themselves and their peers. They’ll be able to develop empathy to the outcasts of society. Some say that the book encourages rebellious behavior. That it makes teens act out. The book may do this, but it’s better than letting teenagers just accept whatever happens. They have to understand that it is okay to be different and they should even encourage it. As it’s put in “The Wilds of Education,” “Isn’t education supposed to provoke, disrupt, challenge the paradigms that young people have consciously embraced and attack the prejudices that they have unconsciously absorbed?” The book is the perfect book to guide teenage outcasts, and help young people everywhere challenge conformity. 

The Catcher in the Rye shouldn’t be banned for such superficial reasons such as profanity, because teenagers are prepared for the material in it and the book will truly help them. Of course teenagers are prepared for vulgarity and sexual content, it isn’t nonexistent and teenagers will have to face certain experiences that they may be uncomfortable with. The novel can both inform and guide them in these situations. Instead of everyone trying to ban this book, they should be celebrating it.

Citations

"Banned And/or Challenged Books from the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century." Banned And/or Challenged Books from the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics/reasons>.

Bruni, Frank. "The Wilds of Education." The New York Times. The New York Times, 27 Sept. 2014. Web. 18 Dec. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/28/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-the-wilds-of-education.html?_r=0>.

Shapiro, T. Reese. "Fairfax County Parent Wants 'Beloved' Banned from School System." Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2014. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fairfax-county-parent-wants-beloved-banned-from-school-system/2013/02/07/99521330-6bd1-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_story.html>.

Gurdon, Megan Cox. "Darkness Too Visible." WSJ. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014. <http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303657404576357622592697038>.

Rich, Jake. "Can Book Censorship Save Our Children and Their Innocence?." University Wire. 07 Oct. 2014: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 18 Dec. 2014.