Many books are banned from high school due to their explicit profanity and references to adult topics. One of the books was JD Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye, which was banned between the years of 1962-1981, due to many references to sex, drugs, profanity, and even suicide. JD’s novel tells the story of a teenage boy traveling throughout New York after he leaves his school. His pessimistic outlook on life reveals the way in which human nature can work when one feels as if they have no one in life. While the novel includes many explicit things that some may not see fit for teens, it is actually a very purposeful text that should be taught across all high schools. The Catcher in the Rye’s relatability to the struggle of adolescence and
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Catcher is a worthwhile text to be taught as it gives high schoolers a character in which they may relate to as they journey through their teenage struggles. Teens often face many hardships as they grow up into adults, feeling as if they become ostracized from society. While teens may feel as if they have no one to relate or talk to, Holden gives teens a relatable outlet in which they may draw similarities to within their hardships. We see an example of Holden's struggle, as he wanders through the empty streets of New York, he expresses his loneliness, describing, “New York’s terrible when somebody laughs on the street very late at night. You can hear it for miles. It makes you feel so lonesome and depressed” (Salinger 91). The phrase, “you can hear it for miles,” can represent how many feel when they see …show more content…
Instead it is revealed that one should live their life for themselves instead of for the acceptance of others. The banning of this book during the late 1900’s has shown to be irrational and ill-advised, as its true teachings and meanings can shine through when one chooses to look past the profanities it contains. This helps to show how works of literature across the world should not be banned when its lessons can impact the youth with such important lessons. Allowing our youth to benefit from the lessons taught in literature will help them to grow and prosper as human
Catcher is a worthwhile text to be taught as it gives high schoolers a character in which they may relate to as they journey through their teenage struggles. Teens often face many hardships as they grow up into adults, feeling as if they become ostracized from society. While teens may feel as if they have no one to relate or talk to, Holden gives teens a relatable outlet in which they may draw similarities to within their hardships. We see an example of Holden's struggle, as he wanders through the empty streets of New York, he expresses his loneliness, describing, “New York’s terrible when somebody laughs on the street very late at night. You can hear it for miles. It makes you feel so lonesome and depressed” (Salinger 91). The phrase, “you can hear it for miles,” can represent how many feel when they see …show more content…
Instead it is revealed that one should live their life for themselves instead of for the acceptance of others. The banning of this book during the late 1900’s has shown to be irrational and ill-advised, as its true teachings and meanings can shine through when one chooses to look past the profanities it contains. This helps to show how works of literature across the world should not be banned when its lessons can impact the youth with such important lessons. Allowing our youth to benefit from the lessons taught in literature will help them to grow and prosper as human