Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men has been banned from numerous schools and libraries since its first publication.
1. What specific aspects of this novel could be considered controversial?
2. Do you think that this book should be banned? Should it be optional? Explain your thinking.
If you're interested in banned books, you should also check out the following link: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/People/spok/most-banned.html
Please remember to type in Microsoft Word first to maintain spelling and grammar; also, be sure to read everyone else's comments before writing your own so that you can have a conversation with each other and avoid repetition.
19 comments:
I think that "Of Mice and Men" could be considered controversial because of how George kills Lennie. This might be too graphic or depressing for many readers to handle. However, I honestly don't see anything too bad or affending in this novel, therefore, I don't really see why it is banned.
I personally believe with no help of a gun to my head that Of Mice and Men does have some stuff that are ban worthy but also some redeeming aspects. For instance there is quite a bit of talk about going to flop houses. In fact after reading the book I wanted to go to a flop house to at least "pass by" because I was "in the neighborhood" because it sounded like so much fun. So that means that tons of other young impressionable people would want to check out these mysterious forbidden flop houses. And that is not really a good thing in my opinion at least. But then again if all the kids are inside flop houses then they wouldn't be on the streets to vandalize public property and steal candy bars from gas stations. On a side note this will also keep them away from the Catholic church, I mean talk about a hedonistic Plato's retreat. Where can I sign up?
But anyways there is also excessive killing of small animals. People can't find out how much fun that is or else next thing you know my dog will be dead. I don't want some dude walking in here and killing my dog and then leaving quietly. I mean sure he didn't make a mess and he left the place the way it was but that is just not right in my opinion. And I repeat this is just my silly opinion so you can just stop reading now if you wanted.
Oh yeah and also that kaseyb person said something about that the part where George kills Lennie is pretty graphic too. Yeah, after all the flop houses and drinking and mice and puppy killing and gambling and horseshoe that does add a little to the reason why this should be banned.
Also this book could make it seem cool to be negro hatin' once again. But then again Curley's wife was a bit of a flooze so no one would really listen to her anyway except for neo-Nazi skinheads from L.A. But how many of those are still around. That was so 1993.
So to put all of this together this book is pretty influential. Meaning I want to do half the stuff these characters do. George and Lennie are as cool as Bruce Willis from Die Hard. But no way do I want this book to get banned. If this is banned then we'll have no choice but to read Harry Potter. I would rather read the note that the men who kidnapped my rocket scientist wife and my kids left me than to read that series. No offense to all the Pot-heads out there but that just isn't my thing. And I don't mean that killing puppies is my thing but I would seriously read hate mail directed towards me for 15 hours a day than to read that. And also don't say I have no right saying this stuff but I read the first two and during it I would have rather heard the death rattle of my only child than to read that. So to conclude, Of Mice of Men is way better than Harry Potter and the death rattle of my only child.
I think that the novel "Of Mice and Men" should be considered a controversial book because it depends of the age group reading it. For example, if it is for high school readers, I do not think that it should be considered banned because older teenagers can handle the graphic scences and depressing moments in the book. I think for middle school readers, it should be banned because they are "tweens" and just starting to be teenagers and the graphic and depressing images brought into their heads might be too much for them. The younger the better not to have the schools have graphic, and depressing images in their choosing of novels to read through the year. The cleaner the book the better, because I think that parents would rather have it that way, and keep the other sort of books that should be banned until high school.
I think the book Of Mice and Men should not be banned. Even though it has some graphic parts and strong language I think it is a good learning experience. It definitely got me thinking about how times were different back then. But yeah I really don’t think that it should be banned.
I believe it was band from schools and libraries for the deaths and the plot. I however disagree that it should have been band. It shows us a side of the past and how many black and slower people were treated. As a free person in the United States, I believe that we have the right to read what we want and that the government cannot control our minds.
1. In Of Mice and Men I think the words they use and all the deaths in the book could be considered controversial because they are very vivid and not suitable for young people and may offend many people.
2. I think this book doesn't need to be banned because it is anyone's choice to read it and maybe if you wanted to read it but you couldn't just because it offends some people is really stupid. Also most people today are use too a variety of more graphic things so this is nothing to everything that is out there now. This is a great book that everyone should get a chance to read.
I think that the book "Of Mice and Men" can be controversial because of the graphic scenes and the languge. I believe that it depends on the age level for who should be able to read it. For instance, I think that students in high school can be able to read this but maybe students not in middle school should read this because it might be too hard to take in on the language and graphic scenes. I do not think that the book should be banned considering that this book is recommended by our teachers to read in order for us to learn and expand our reading skills. It is a great book over all and I think everyone should get the chance of reading it.
I agree that the book "Of Mice and Men" should not be banned. It teaches about the American Dream in a way that a lot of books don't. I can see why some people might find this book offensive because of the language, or the violence. But i think that all of those things are necessary to get the books point across.
I agree with Maria and Nathan becuase the language and graphic scenes in the book could be to much for certain age groups and such but the book could also be a wonderful learning experience for many readers. The book Of Mice and Men should not be banned just for those reasons.
Maybe a reason that Of Mice and Men could be banned is becasue as everybody else has mentioned the graphic scene at then ending but also because of the of the all of the different deaths. Another reason it may of been banned was becasue of the content like Flop houses. Although this book was banned an may be slightly graphic i disagree and don't think that this should have ever been banned. The reason people enjoy a good book is becasue of things like graphics. Otherwise the book is just boring stuff. And nobody wants to read a boring book.
I think that this book was considered controversial because of all the profane words in the book. I think that this book was a great book and there is no reason for this book to be banned from schools only because of language. If teachers don’t want you reading it then you shouldn’t but other then that students should be allowed to read these kinds of books.
1. I agree with everyone else that the book was banned because of all the death scenes. Some inappropriate words are also used.
2. I agree with majority of my classmates. I don't see why the book was banned. I think if the parents are okay with the kids reading the book and the teacher wants to teach it then why not?!? I can see why it might have been banned like 10-20 years ago, but not now.
I agree with everyone else of course because the short novel "Of Mice and Men" does have alot of deaths and language but it shows you how people were treated back then and how hard you had to work. There was alot of discrimination between the blacks and slow people. I don't think this book should have been banned.
1. I agree with Kasey when she said this book could be considered controversial because of how George kills Lennie. To some people it could because considered a bad book with the language and actions in it.
2. I think it should be optional if the book is banned or not because to some people it could be considered bad because George kills Lennie. It should be the school's choice if the book is banned or not.
There are some aspects in Of Mice and men that are controversial, like Lennie’s death, Curley’s death and like Jason and Traci mentioned all the other deaths. Also the language can be pretty controversial in some parts. I think that this book shouldn’t be banned unless the parent or the teacher doesn’t think it’s suitable. Like Brooke said the book’s controversy is the only way to get the point across. So I agree with everyone else that this book shouldn’t be banned.
1.I agree with most of everyone else that this novel could be controversial because of the deaths and language. I think that this novel is controversial because there are a few scenes that are gory and not the best novel for those looking for a happy book.
2.I think this book should be optional because there are people who would enjoy this book for the depth and those who are disturbed by the images created by the book. This book really is a great book to read but is not the happiest book.
Agreeing with the rest of the class, I believe that there are many controversial issues in Of Mice and Men. The first simply being discrimination, Lennie is rarely even aloud to speak because George doesn’t have faith that he will say the same thing. Curley’s wife is so hated that she is never even given a name let alone any respect. Crooks, the black stable boy, is constantly called nigger, and negro. Adding to this, many deaths occur throughout the novel, whether something a little lighter, like the dead mouse, or something as extreme as Curley’s wife. To top all of this off, swear words are plastered on most every page on this book.
Again, agreeing with the rest of the class, I don’t believe that book should be banned. Yes, there may be some foul language, racial slurs, and gruesome content but when compared to some/most of the blockbuster movies and hit TV shows this book almost seems innocent. The current generation is so desensitized to almost every thing considered controversial; banning this book would have no effect on anyone. Also, as controversial as it may seem, it contains much historic information you cannot get from a history book. Banning this would be like trying to block out part of our history, when the reality is that people were, and in some places still are treated like that.
1] I agree with Amanda's statment. Due to all the language and vivid details in the death of Lennie, Curley's wife, and even the animals, this book could definately be considered controversial.
2] I would also agree that this book should not be banned. It is a personal choice whether you decide to pick this book off the shelf and read it. This book is a great peice of american literature, and although perhaps offensive to some people, it is very educational on the lifestyle during The Great Depression. It also provides a meaningful and dramatic story line. In todays world, you can barely step outside your front door or turn on the television without hearing graphic events, so it is simply a poor excuse to say this book is "too graphic" for younger readers. It should be up to the reader as to whether they decide to choose this book or not, but people should not be completely deprived of reading a book out of curiosity. I think it should be a personal preferance, and an option to everyone.
i dont think that the books should be banned becasue there is really nothin that is wrong with the book so if it is offensave to them then they don't have to read the book so that others can still read it if they chose to or they dont have to so its a win win situation.
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