"The Catcher in the Rye" is one of the most frequently banned books in America today for many reasons, including its language, sexual reference, Characters (their actions and descriptions), and Violence. .
The language J.D. Salinger uses in "The Catcher in the Rye" is very offensive as well as racist and rude. In the book, Holden manages to put down women, Catholics and Gays, by only "being himself." This can be expressed very well in the first paragraph of the book: .
"IF YOU REALLY want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. In the first place, that stuff bores me, and in the second place, my parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them".
This paragraph alone shows that Holden has a seriously bad vocabulary that continues throughout the entire book. Later on, he also manages to take the Lord's name in vein, more than once, which is one too many, and put down anyone he doesn't like. J.D. Salinger's style and language was a large problem in the 1950's and still remains a problem today. .
Prostitutes, pimps, and the constant referral to breasts seems to be very insulting as well as disgusting and not thought out in the least. In numerous chapters Holden is always thinking about or describing or talking about the female anatomy. Many women find this very offensive and rude. The hiring of a prostitute does not make the situation any better. Although he only talks to her, the actions and thoughts are very sexual, even still in today's culture. Many of these sexual phrases and content are not even necessary to give a good description of Holden, for example; when Holden is talking about visiting the museum almost every Saturday, there was always this female Indian sculpture without a top on.
