“Flowers for Algernon, first published in 1959, is considered a landmark work on both science fiction and disability literature,” (Werlock 2009). The American Library Association reports that this novel was banned as an obscene for its love scenes. When the main character, Charlie Gordon, increases his IQ from 68 to a level that makes him a genius (after received experimental brain surgery), his maturity leads him to fall in love with his teacher, and a sexual encounter ensues. This caused Flowers for Algernon to be banned and challenged in many places (Plant City, Florida- 1976, Emporium, Pennsylvania- 1977, Oberlin High School (Ohio) - 1983, among others). Most people consider the sexual scenes fairly mild, but there are those who consider any mention of sexual behavior inappropriate for teens or pre-teens, hence the attempts at censorship. Many of the challenges have proved unsuccessful, but the book has occasionally been banned from school libraries including some in Pennsylvania and Texas. Flowers for Algernon has won numerous awards, even for the film, and it is regularly taught in schools around the world; therefore, it should remain on shelves. Flowers for Algernon received a Nebula Award for Best Novel from the Science Fiction Writers of America in 1966. In addition, Cliff Robertson won an Oscar for acting in the movie Charly. Even the original version of the short story was published in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction received the Hugo Award for the Best Novelette of 1960. (http://www.danielkeyesauthor.com 22 May 2011). Many parents allow their children to watch television, and most shows have sexual content. If parents allow kids to watch this on a screen, they should also be allowed to read a book contain... ... middle of paper ... ...pread and resulted in a better-than-average television movie, which was under the title The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon (Werlock 2009). Due to its accomplishments, the novel Flowers for Algernon should not be banned. “If there is bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that Government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable,” states William J. Brenna of the Supreme Court. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, is criticized for sexual, religious, and unmoral themes and are the reasons for opposition. However, these examples do not give reason for banning any literature, especially when it has an important, underlying lesson of how wisdom does not make the person but can actually hurt them. Therefore, Flowers for Algernon should not be banned and should remain on shelves.
“ Parents in one school district called the book “pornographic and obscene” in 1977.” Nathaniel Hawthorne was unable to give an opinion on the banning of his book because he passed away. Many people feel that the books should be banned in middle school, they also feel that the best time to read the book is their sophomore year after learning sexed because they are more understanding of the book. While others some most parents feel that age reading the book in their senior year or in
The act of banning something is an aggressive measure. However, this being said whether to ban Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has long been debated. While some say that the book is offensive and disrespectful, others claim it to be a valuable learning lesson. Because of its beneficial lessons, its way of shocking the reader, its reputation as being one of the best novels in american history along with other controversial books being allowed in high schools, The Adventure’s of Huckleberry Finn should be read by every High School across the country.
Did you ever think that books that have sex, obscene language, and immoral subjects can make a good book? The Catcher in the Rye has been on the banned reading list for exactly those reasons. The book was mainly put on disapproval from between 1966 and 1975 in almost every school district in the United States. The book was said to be so bad that in 1960 a teacher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was fired for assigning the book to an eleventh-grade English class. Despite some opposition to the novel, however, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye should be on a reading list for the freshman students because it gives a crystal clear image on how the world is in violence, sex, and obscenity and the book also teaches the motifs of lying and deception.
In Knox County, Tennessee the tenth grade English class challenged the book in 2012. Parents of the tenth grade class wanted the book removed from the reading list. People think the book is pornographic, and fifteen year olds should not be able to read the book. “We ran with it to the TV room, closed the blinds, locked the door, and watched the movie...It opened with a women standing on a bridge with her legs spread while a guy knelt in front of her, giving her oral sex” (Green 87). The board of educat...
With the thought that someone can be hurt by reading a book, people will try to challenge and ban them. To ban a book is to have it restricted from a certain age or audience. Banning and challenging books is trying to keep a certain book away from an audience due to sexual content, going against religious beliefs, language and vulgarity, violence, drugs, self-harm, racism, occult/satanic views, promoting gangs, and going against community standards. An argument from someone who believes books should not be banned is that it is important for the age group to learn about certain content and material as they grow up. Due to controversial content, the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald should be banned.
The film, Charly, directed and produced by Ralph Nelson, was released in September of 1968. It is an American science fiction drama film based on the book “Flowers for Algernon” written by Daniel Keyes. The film tells the audience the story of Charly, a 30-year-old and intellectually disable man who is struggling to survive the “normal” society. He has been taught by Alice Kinnian how to read and write for 2 years and he has a strong desire to learn, however his attempts to learn prove to be difficult. He qualified to be part of an experiment to increase his intelligence. This experiment has only been tried on laboratory mice, however helps Charly to rise his very low IQ to be a genius. This film can be related to three themes: the struggle
Algernon is a mouse. He's a special mouse, Charlie Gordon is told, and it must be true, because whenever Charlie and Algernon run a race (Algernon is in a real maze; Charlie has a pencil-and-paper version), Algernon wins. How did that mouse get to be so special, Charlie wonders? The answer is that Algernon's IQ has been tripled by an experimental surgical procedure.
'The novel has long ignited disapproval, and it was the most frequently banned book in schools between 1966 and 1975. Even before that time,
Some people think that the book Flowers for Algernon should be banned. This book is challenged in areas of profanity, and some bad behavior and religious issues. I personally think that this book shouldn’t be banned, I think the literary merit out rules the challenged parts. If you are a mature person, you should be able to read on past these parts and be able to enjoy the book.
When was the last time you wanted something so much, you would sacrifice your life to have it; even if just for a moment? Charlie Gordon, a 37 year old man with a learning disability, did just that. In the story "Flowers for Algernon", by Daniel Keyes, Charlie gets a chance to alter his I.Q. substantially through operation. The only drawback to this is, the long-term outcomes of the operation are unknown. The operation does succeed, but later Charlie is sent on a riveting downward spiral into the life he tried to run away from. The operation hurt Charlie in every imaginable way; and did nothing to help him.
Althouse, Spencer. 15 Classic Children’s Books That Have Been Banned In America. 26 June 2013. 12 March 2014 .
Flowers for Algernon has in fact many similarities and differences from the Hollywood film called ¨Charly¨ which is the job Charlie works in, how was Charlie in the start of the tale, and how the ending for both the film and story. From the start however, Charlie was in fact really mentally retarded in either one of those stories. You could easily tell in both of the tales based on how much intelligence Charlie officially started off with barely any. One very big difference however was how Charlie was in fact working in both stories. It was one of the many big differences in the film because of the fact that Charlie worked in a plastic factory, it wasn't even a bakery at all. Another big difference is the ending. During the book version of Flowers for Algernon, he fled from New York because of what happened to his friends when compared to the movie which showed Charlie playing with three children in a seesaw instead with Mrs.Kinnian watching Charlie.
Sherman Alexie's book is about an Indian boy named Arnold who is very smart and loves to make cartoons. He was raised on the reservation, but now wants to leave for a better education. Many bad things happen on the rez. where he lives, but he sticks out through the rest of the year. In 2014 this book was challenged over 300 times making the top 10 most challenged books. This book should not be banned because It shows people how bad drinking can be, how bad abuse can be, and people already know about sex and swearing when they read it.
The Catcher in the Rye Should Not be Banned. & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; Since its publication in 1951, The Catcher In the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger has served as a conflagration for debate and extreme controversy. Although the novel has been the target of scornful criticism, it has also been the topic of wide discussion. The novel portrays the life of sixteen year old, Holden Caufield. Currently in psychiatric care, Holden recalls what happened to him last Christmas.
Considering all of this, Of Mice and Men should not be a banned book because it provides readers with information that they can use in school or for later in life. Another thing is that John Steinbeck makes readers enjoy the book with details that bring you inside the story. Also because banning a book that contains euthanasia is not necessary because having something suffer would be much worse. Lastly Steinbeck’s book helps people understand the disabilities that people have. Don’t let this great book rot away with the other banned books!