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Banning books
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One of the most memorable pieces of literature would be that of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”. However, this award-winning book has been prompted to be banned multiple times since it was integrated into the school curriculum. The reason is that of its use of language. It is completely unethical for this book to be banned for that reason. “Of Mice and Men” should not be banned because; the book is historically accurate, show realism, and portrays life lessons. The first reason is that the book is historically accurate. This is referring to the constant use of vulgarity and mispronunciation of words. One such example would be when George says, “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. . . . With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us”. Steinbeck's uses this style of language show us what the characters were like and gave us a sense of their backgrounds. Also, to give us a taste of what it was like during this time period. …show more content…
To be more specific, the use of language through discriminatory slurs. Have it be that these slurs be discriminatory to race, religion or sex. However, as much as the use of this language may seem inappropriate today, this was the norm back then. Steinbeck did not use this type of language to discriminate anyone, in particular. He uses the language to show what it was thought of others during this time period. For example, when Curley's wife talks to crooks in Chapter 4, “Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny”. This shows the reader that it is still a time of discrimination and presents a situation where it is called
` Even though Steinbecks essay could be considered a dated opinion being written in the 19 hundreds. it goes to show his considerably harsh outlook hasn't sadly strayed from our reality all that much from its original publishment. He makes a statement “We are restless, a dissatisfied, a searching people.” Steinbeck may seem brutal and disappointed. but when reading you get a surprising tone of disapproval that doesn't sound hateful. It’s cruel but almost disapproving in a condescending way. He also makes a statement “We are self-reliant and at the same time completely dependent. We are aggressive, and defenseless.”
The purity of a child is often tainted by the morbid realities in society. Unfortunately, there is no typical way that it is stolen. It can happen from movies, television shows, a regretful event, or a book. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, by Ken Kessey, is an example of such a book with its descriptions of systematic torture, sexual discrimination, and scrutinization of the mentally impaired. Furthermore, the book has been banned in multiple schools due to its graphic descriptions being deemed inappropriate for children. However is protecting the innocence of a child a justified exception of the First Amendment? Despite the First Amendment protecting freedom of speech, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest should be banned from school curriculums
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.
Steinbeck’s word choice has a very significant impact on the effectiveness of his writing. By using words and phrases like “junk man,” “dead terror,” and the repetition of the words “bitterness” and “dead,” he drives his point home in a very matter-of-fact sort of way.
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.
Granted, it does not add much, in terms of meaning, to the sentence, nor does it make the sentence more interesting, aside from getting a chuckle from the reader every so often. In that respect, I can see why Salinger made his character like this, but I can also understand why people would be offended by Holden’s language. Perhaps another option is to partially censor the book. Release a “PG version” that would omit the uses of “G.D.” but leave uses of milder curse words like “Hell” or “damn”. This way, if people are choosing not to read the book because of course, offensive language, then this version may be more approachable to them than the original version.... ...
In the novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck the author uses excessive profanity, religion, and migrants to show the hard times family’s had to go through in the 1930’s. Most people believe that Steinbeck novel is too inappropriate for high school students because of its content. This novel should be banned from the high school curriculum.
Why should this novel be banned from use in schools? Students should be able to hear these words and talk about them and not use them offensively. Racial content, tension, and slurs are used in people’s everyday lives. If people can use these words outside of school why would they not be allowed to be talked about in school? It is important for everyone to be informed about these racial tensions. This book also shows the reader what is was like to be growing up in this time period. Although this book uses the n-word, it uses it in a historical way. Using these racist words explains the way of thinking of the south in the 1930s. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is appropriate to use and read in school.
Lisca, Peter. "Of Mice and Men." The Wide World of John Steinbeck. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1958. 130-143. Rpt. in Children's Literature Review. Ed. Jelena Krstovic. Vol. 172. Detroit: Gale, 2012. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.
I personally believe that the story, To Kill a Mockingbird should not be banned in schools, and the story should be allowed in students’ curriculum. The first reason to why I believe this to be true would be the fact that it allows students the opportunity to learn about human mistakes and how to be better people in the future. A second reason would be that students are able to learn important parts of our history within the book. It also teaches students important morals that may be hard to teach without the context of a book such as this one.
I am a junior in highschool and have just completed your amazing and suspenseful masterpiece, In Cold Blood. The name itself speaks volumes to how thrilling this book was to read. I am writing to you today about the controversial topic of banned books and whether it was justifiable for this book to be banned. This book was one of 737 books to be banned for violence. In Cold Blood should not have been banned because it provides an excellent source of great literature and controversial politics.
Scarseth, Thomas. "A Teachable Good Book: Of Mice and Men." Censored Books: Critical Viewpoints. Ed. Nicholas J. Karolides, Lee Burress, and John M. Kean. Scarecrow Press, 1993. 388-394. Rpt. in Novels for Students. Ed. Diane Telgen. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 11 Jan. 2012.
The novel, The Catcher In the Rye, should not be banned from inclusion in the literature courses taught at the high school level. Banning this novel contradicts an individual's inalienable rights as an United States citizen. It limits freedom of speech and as well as other forms of expression. Although controversial, profanity is not a reason to limit an individual's rights. America is founded on principles that are not fueled by exceptions. Profanity is not an exception to freedom of speech. The Catcher in the Rye should not be excluded from curriculums at the high school level.
Censorship in Schools There has recently been a renewed interest and passion in the issue of censorship. In the realm of the censorship of books in schools alone, several hundred cases have surfaced each year for nearly the past decade. Controversies over which books to include in the high school English curriculum present a clash of values between teachers, school systems, and parents over what is appropriate for and meaningful to students. It is important to strike a balance between English that is meaningful to students by relating to their lives and representing diversity and satisfying worries about the appropriateness of what is read.
Discrimination was one of the issues that caused conflict in the novel “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck. One example of discrimination in the novel comes in the form of racial discrimination against Crooks, as he is an African American. Another example of discrimination is gender discrimination against Curley’s wife. Finally, there is discrimination against mentally disabled people, which is evident in Lennie’s character. The ranch hands' actions and conversations demonstrated the racial discrimination against Crooks for his skin colour, gender discrimination against Curley’s wife for her gender, and prejudice against Lennie, who was a mentally disabled individual.