Posted by Jane on April 30, 19100 at 20:24:40:
That is a dumb question...
If there is an offensive page or theme or concept in a book, it
WHO gets to decide that? We should teach our children to decide
for themseleves between what is moral and what is wrong. If all things
of a sensitive nature where to be removed, wouldn't that make us MORE
sensitive to it?
I liked CR. No I didn't like Holdens frequent swearing. It was infact hard
to get past that at some points in the novel. I don't swear, and I'm not
going to start because I read some words in a novel. My parents have taught
me that using swear words is offensive to God and others. If they had never
mentioned what swear words were, I'd probablly be more apt to use them.
Holdens cussing is typical of alot of boys I know. Nows a time
when they feel like they have to prove themselves men. Talking big has
always been a way we try to feel "grown up".
Holden uses swear words because he is struggling to find his mature self.
He has seen alot and been through a lot. His experiences with adults have
left him unsure he wants to become one. He seeks his inner-self in rituals
and behaviors he has seen adults indulge in. A lot of which aren't necessarily good.
I do not see how the "occult" in this novel..and adults tend to read too much into things
sometimes, especially if they get oversensitive about stuff....like Holden..
because I'm not sure what reference the occult has in the novel (from an article by the
Christian Scinece Monitor for banning it).
I don't think books should ever be banned from a library, and as for required reading lists:
This is an excellent novel for young adults. We can relate to the search for adulthood while
wanting to maintain our innocence. Holden is a confused r who hasn't had the best
childhood growing up. His parents probably had no idea how to help thier children deal with the
death of thier brother. It obviuously affects Holden alot becasue he is always talking to him, wanting
Allie to help him. Allie never lost his innocence. DB went to CA and lost his. Holden talks about him
he dosen't seem to miss him like he does Allie or his innocent youger sister.
As for Holden disobeying adults. ALl kids will at some point, its part of the learning process. He felt bad
about repeatedly getting kicked out, and about having a prostitute over, etc.
Salinger isn't saying Holdens parents were terrible either. Death is a hard thing to deal with, even adults..so
that factor just added another dimension to Holdens personality. His parents could have given him more guidance
structure, but in his day it was standard for boys to be sent away to boarding school. There is a hint of
ual offense towards Holden. The way an adult friend patted his head in the night...But I didn't really think Salinger
was making a big statement about it. All the things that people don't like about the book are the things that
make HOlden a multi-faceted character. More people can find something to relate to in the novel.
Here's what I got out of it..the moral of the story..(because adults always like to ask that about books, movies, songs)
Holden is a boy on the verge of adulthood. He knows what he doesn't want to be liek as an adult. A phoney, because so many
people in the world are phony..But he doesn't know what he wants to be, or how he wants to be. He lacks strucutre and
motivation. Until he visits his younger sister... then his search for what is innocent is over. He has seen/expereinced
many things that have taken away his innocence and he wasn't ready for all of it. AT one point he wants to be the one
who protects the innocence of children. He realizes his sister needs him around to "protect" her innocence and this
is when he begins to grow up. His actions affect others, and he doesn't want to do things that will have a bad influence
on his sister. So in the end he decides to stay home to be near her and eventually go back to school and finish.
He isn't promoting promiscuity. Or disobedience to parents. He is promoting the fact that love and family is important.
How can that be a bad moral..no matter the path he took to get there...
READ THE GREAT BOOKS
TERM PAPERS, RESEARCH PAPERS, ESSAYS