For centuries, censorship has been a prevailing issue in American society. Whether it be through propaganda—relentlessly altering the public’s view, or by banning books from schools in hopes of shielding America’s youth from reality; we have wrestled with what is socially acceptable to be publicizing and discussing, and what is far too taboo. The Catcher in the Rye, an American classic is one of the most notoriously challenged books in our education system for its explicit language and sexual themes. Additionally, many critics and educators argue that the main character of J.D. Salinger’s novel, Holden Caulfield is an apathetic student and a terrible model for adolescents to be studying. When looking at this character through an alternate
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Caulfield detests the world around him because he has a heightened social intelligence and sees the façade society masks itself with. Alex Pitofsky, a professor of English at Appalachian State University furthers this point, in his 2011 review, “Masculine Competition and Boarding School Culture in The Catcher in the Rye,” arguing that Caulfield is in a constant “‘search for the genuine’ in a ‘terrifyingly phony’ society” (Pitofsky 68). Caulfield’s search for the sincere is most severe during his adolescence. The culture that surrounds Caulfield in the series of private schools he attends is one of a competitive and materialistic nature. Caulfield resents his classmates for dressing and acting in such a way that shows off their financial success, “On my right there was this very Joe Yale-looking guy, in a gray flannel suit and one of those flirty-looking Tattersall vests. All those ivy bastards look alike” (Salinger 95-96). This hatred toward materialism is not just present within Caulfield’s school however, Caulfield also resents his brother, D.B., comparing him to a
Caulfield detests the world around him because he has a heightened social intelligence and sees the façade society masks itself with. Alex Pitofsky, a professor of English at Appalachian State University furthers this point, in his 2011 review, “Masculine Competition and Boarding School Culture in The Catcher in the Rye,” arguing that Caulfield is in a constant “‘search for the genuine’ in a ‘terrifyingly phony’ society” (Pitofsky 68). Caulfield’s search for the sincere is most severe during his adolescence. The culture that surrounds Caulfield in the series of private schools he attends is one of a competitive and materialistic nature. Caulfield resents his classmates for dressing and acting in such a way that shows off their financial success, “On my right there was this very Joe Yale-looking guy, in a gray flannel suit and one of those flirty-looking Tattersall vests. All those ivy bastards look alike” (Salinger 95-96). This hatred toward materialism is not just present within Caulfield’s school however, Caulfield also resents his brother, D.B., comparing him to a