The Morality of Reading The Catcher in the Rye in School...

The Morality of Reading The Catcher in the Rye in School The story of The Catcher In The Rye, can and is misinterpreted by many people. It is very easy to find The Catcher In The Rye immoral if you are reading the book only to prove that idea. This is so because you can ignore the good things and ideas the author is trying to convey by using certain incidents that might be labeled wrong. On the other hand, if you are reading the book and taking that extra step to analyze the things that Holden Caulfield does and the things that happens to him you end up having a greater appreciation for the novel and what it says. Throughout the book Holden has shown that he is a boy who in reality has a conscience and uses it. One example†¦show more content†¦His name was Ernest Morrow. Holden tells us that he thinks Ernest is â€Å"the biggest bastard that ever went to Penecy†. However, he started telling Mrs. Morrow how Ernest was one of the most popular boys at Penecy, how funny he was, and how everyone wanted Ernie to be class president, but Ernie wouldn’t let anyone nominate him. Holden had no obligation to rave about Ernest. He could have told Mrs. Morrow the truth about how her son acts, and what people think about him. Instead he sheltered her from the truth, and helped her to stop stressing and worrying about how her Ernest was doing socially with the other boys. Another incident in the book that could easily be misapprehended is the prostitute scene. When you think of a prostitute you think immoral, and inappropriate. When Holden orders for the prostitute to be sent to him he just doesn’t think of her as a person. But, when he sees her in her green dress, he pictures her buying the dress and how the people at the store didn’t know that she was a prostitute and he empathized with her. After he thinks about her and feels for her he can’t have intercourse or use her any more. He makes up a reason for not being able to have sex with her, pays her off and then she leaves. This shows that Holden sees and treats people how they should be seen or treated. Holden Caulfield, from what we know, doesn’t come from a religious family. However, we do know that he doesn’tShow MoreRelatedAmerican Library Association Vs. Salinger s The Catcher s The Rye 1230 Words   |  5 Pages J.D. Salinger’s, The Catcher in the Rye, holds the honor of appearing on â€Å"Time† magazine’s 2010 list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923 (Lacayo). In contrast, the American Library Association (ALA) notes that the novel also holds the dubious honor of being the tenth most challenged book in the United States from 1990 to 1999. In 2001, 2005, and 2009 the book again made the ALA top ten most frequently challenged book list (Banned and Challenged Books). In the lightRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye Essay1442 Words   |  6 PagesThis paper proposes to delineate the characteristics of Holden Caulfield, the adolescent protagonist hero of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and illuminate t he reasons as to why this prototype of brooding adolescence, displaying a rather uber-cool style of disaffection, disenchantment and disillusionment became an indispensable figure of interest, in literary circles as well as popular culture. The paper seeks to take issue with the wider dimensions attached to the ‘incapacitation and debilitation’Read More J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye1435 Words   |  6 PagesThis paper proposes to delineate the characteristics of Holden Caulfield, the adolescent protagonist hero of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and illuminate the reasons as to why this prototype of brooding adolescence, displaying a rather uber-cool style of disaffection, disenchantment and disillusionment became an indispensable figure of interest, in literary circles as well as popular culture. The paper seeks to take issue with the wider dimensions attached to the ‘incapacitation and debilitation’Read More Catcher in the R ye Essay: Holden - The Misfit Hero2101 Words   |  9 PagesThe Misfit Hero of The Catcher In The Rye      Ã‚     The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger was published in 1951. A recurring theme in J.D. Salingers stories concerns people who dont fit in with the traditional American Culture. Salingers misfit heroes, unlike the rest of society, are caught in the struggle between a superficial world and a conscious morality (1 Wildermuth). 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NoneRead MoreEssay on Censorship - To Censor Literature is to Censor Life2196 Words   |  9 Pagesbooks, and exposing children to such inappropriate language will contaminate them.   Proponents of censorship also object to plot lines in childrens books that deal with confusion and uncertainty; they do not think books should address issues of morality or the meaning of life.   They feel that children are not equipped to deal with these issues or, if they are, then their sole guidance should be parents and other authority figures.   Finally, some groups object to exposing children to literature a tRead More Censorship in Schools Essay3746 Words   |  15 PagesCensorship 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. 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