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Critique This book, in my opinion, was a good book. It’s a book of reality; things that a seventeen year old really goes through. This book shocked me in a few ways. Catcher in the Rye has very inappropriate behavior, horrible language use, and not the best example for others to look up to. I liked the book and think others should read it. I think many can learn from his mistakes and where it leads him. It doesn’t curse as much as I thought but swears about every other line. I can very well understand why the book is banned from schools.
This book isn’t one that has a great valuable lesson behind it, where you could fight for it to be read in schools. Catcher in the Rye shows examples of lust, cynicism, and erratic behavior. There are many situations that Holden encounters. An example is he lied to a lady he met on the train. The lady turns out to be a mother of someone he knows and doesn’t feel like telling her his name, so instead tells her the janitor’s name. He lied almost the whole conversation, just because he was enjoying himself.
There are a few days he stays in a hotel and one night he goes to a bar, reminding you he’s only seventeen, dances with a few girls in their thirties. This behavior isn’t only lustful but not the best example to give other boys his age. In addition, he visits a few bars that night, and invites a prostitute to come to his hotel room. What kind of an idea is that to be put guys heads? Another is violence, fighting with the “pimp” that brought the prostitute, or the fight between him and his roommate, Stradlater. The next day after meeting a friend, he messes around with her in the backseat of the cab.
Which I will be honest, is typical guy behavior, but not right to be read in schools. Following the date with a friend he becomes very drunk; going from bar to bar, again. He then thinks he can ditch his life, and his problems by running away to live in a cabin in the west. Unfortunately is stopped by his younger sister who makes him realize that he doesn’t really know what he likes or what he enjoys. He then ends up in the mental hospital where he stops telling his story because he doesn’t feel like telling anymore of it.
I would agree with critics and it is a “dangerous” book because of vulgarity, violence and sexual content, etc. The book does, in many ways, go against school rules; drinking, swearing, smoking, profanity, etc. However, the book “speaks right to high school students. It is very appropriate for high school students,” but as the critic goes on to say that you have to be mature enough to read the book and understand it. I don’t agree with it being able to be taught at all high school levels. Juniors and seniors are the best class to recommend this book to.
Ones younger, it will only boggle their brains and get ideas started. I feel that the book is great to read and compare your life with. Holden does go through many struggles, stages of depression, nervous break downs, impulsive spending, sexual exploration, and other erratic behavior. However, most students should be able to realize where he has messed up. It’s also good to learn from and see where you’ll end up if you follow his ways. Holden shows examples of where he needs stability, seeks independence, and growth.