The year is 1980; John Lennon, founder and lead singer of The Beatles has been shot, and the only explanation provided by his assassin, Mark David Chapman, is a copy of The Catcher in the Rye. This event alone was grounds enough for many parents to try and ban the book, concerned it would inspire their children to act out as Chapman had. Today, nearly 67 years since its original publication and 38 years since Lennon’s death, the novel has been challenged countless times, with many articles listing
Siddhi .M. Patel Ms. Johnston AP English Literature 5 January 2015 The Catcher in the Rye (Rough Draft Essay) “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D Salinger has served as a fire for debate and argument. I believe this book should not be censored; banning a book on the basis of obscenity is simply a superficial reason. However, this novel has been the target of criticism, and it has also been the topic which we can discuss widely. I heard that this book was banned because of the language, sex, and
Salinger. Catcher in the Rye was banned for using explicit language, being vulgar, and describing an engagement with a prostitute and the main character. As I was reading, I was hit with an epiphany that I would not allow my daughter to go near Catcher in the Rye until she was at least fifteen years of age. I would not feel comfortable with the idea that Catcher in the Rye was easily accessible to anyone in elementary or middle school. I was
It is easy to say that society is evolving, with the technological advances, acceptance of all kinds of beliefs and people, discoveries made, and a plethora of opportunities granted in this dynamic world. However, there are some things missing in our culture. In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, owning a book is considered a crime against humanity. The story is centered on a fireman named Guy Montag, who was content with burning books for a living until he meets Clarisse McClellan. She opened his mind
public sphere. Michael Yeo describes this as “panoptical surveillance”, where an individual’s belief that he or she is under inspection will prompt him or her to avoid behavior detection of which would have a penalty (53). This is, essentially, self-censorship. The individual, fearful of the repercussions of a certain action – for example, speaking out against government in a private setting, spreading information that is truthful albeit offensive – censors himself in order to become a normal, productive