Should "The Catcher in the Rye" be banned at schools?  

The book The Catcher in the Rye is a book that most high school seniors are required to read for their English class. However, though the book contains symbolism and meaning, many people argue if it is appropriate for school due to the language, sex, violence and use of drugs within the pages. These are the main reasons why this book was banned after it first came out, despite it being the doorway to countless others similar to it. After reading the book myself, I have decided that it should be allowed in schools as a required reading, just like the Tess of the Durbervilles, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Great Gatsby.

In all three of the books previously mentioned, sex played a major role in the plot, some more directly than others. Yet all three of them are required reading during the first three years of a high school education. Looking at this, we know that sex alone isn't the reason for such a dislike of the book by parents. Language, drugs and violence, though not very present in previous books, is, in itself, no reason to not allow it as reading material. Most parents do not seem to realize that today's students are surrounded by all these things, from television, to friends, to work. To the students of today, these things rarely effect an adolescent's mind-frame due to it being considered normal to experience in today's world. No, it isn't the prettiest thing, but its reality. And that's the main reason why this book SHOULD be read. Young adults should know how hard life can get in order to be prepared for the worst. "There are times in life when you've got to crawl, lose your grip, trip and fallso we can learn how to climb" (Lonestar, "Mountains") is a perfect example as to why we need to read this and to help us learn from the mistakes of ourselves and others.

More people will argue that this is not a good read because of the constant depression this book appears to revolve around. Yes, I do agree that this book is rather overly-dramatic during depressing scenes, but holds no reason as to why this book should not be read. Young adults need to learn that growing up and getting out of the house isn't all fun and games, especially when you refuse help from those who love you. Because these areas are rather unappealing to young audiences, it might in fact help them do better so as to avoid these situations themselves.

The Catcher in the Rye, though a very different book for its time due to its focus on unappealing aspects of growing up, is not a book that should be discarded as a required reading for the senior year of high school. This book introduces the hardships of life through a collected and intellectual fashion that is appealing to young audiences due to the diversity of it in comparison to regular school literature. In hindsight, The Catcher in the Rye is a book that not only should be read in high school, but thoroughly understood by all graduating individuals.