Although it has been considered a classic literature by several readers, the novel still remains in the top list of the banned books. The novel’s profanity, racial content, and its references to rape have provoked many readers to challenge the novel and lead to its removal from school classrooms and libraries. Many readers have disagreed to letting the novel be used in the classroom due to its vulgar language that is evident throughout the book. Expressions such as ‘nigger’ and ‘damn’ are used repeatedly which most find extremely offensive especially to young readers. The fact that the characters in the book are children and are the ones using the profane phrases has left many questioning the novel and not wanting their children to find such expressions as acceptable (Why Was it
Shows called "Tom shows" began to air which further deepened the stereotypes. The show mocked the book by loosely following the plot and used blackface actors to present exaggerated distortions of the black characters. Stowe attempted to make the book overly sensitive which was ridiculed by many critics as it could not be taken very
Criminological portrait of Bob Ewell In Harper Lee’s novel “To kill a Mockingbird” we could see the life in the small town with wide spectrum of characters of various social status, but almost the same prejudices. Most of the inhabitants belong to middle class: they are white people, who have some small business, and other part of the town, who, despite the abolishing of slavery, still face pressure. Bob Ewell and his family does not belong neither to any of these groups. He is one of the most controversial characters, who hates both “black” and “white” people. His hate spreads not only on dwellers of Maycomb, but also on members of his own family.
Mark twain demolished coopers romanticism in his novels. Cooper’s tone was also criticized as being reactionary, romantic and pedagogical in tone. Sydney Krause States that all of the harsh criticism and the bad talk about Cooper is not the words of a person with good judgment. She is not saying that Mark is wrong, but that he is over stressing the criticism and even though she does agree with him in some ways Cooper is still an amazing writer (“James”). John McWilliams also believes that Mark twain‘s attack on Cooper is not justified.
I says I’ll never vote again…I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold? (Twain 147)” Twain uses these words expose one of the aspects of racism in this time period especially the aspect that Huck was surrounded by before fleeing from his money-hungry father. The idea of a human being speaking so low of another individual who is, in fact, more successful simply because he is a “nigger” brings me to think that this comes from a heart filled with racism and hatred for African Americans. Although Huck developed a better understanding of the hatred that comes from being racist I felt that him being surrounded by this at some point can explain his belittling comments to Jim throughout the novel. Racism may not have been intended general interpretation of this novel, excerpts like these may help readers, such as myself, develop an understanding of racial context before understanding the concept that Twain wanted to degrade racism and slavery instead of encouraging the use of racially offensive thoughts and
Both enjoyed the pleasures in life but due to society’s intolerance and xenophobia both were outcasted.Despite homosexuality was condemned as evil, it was still widespread. People began to hide their dark desires, and their misdeeds, while presenting a respectable face tot he public. The publication of the novel scandalized Victorian England. Oscar Wlde’s audience reaction clearly demontrate that this novel was
Oyono uses several major themes including religion, sexuality and racism to express how European colonial society misused power to control the local population. Oyono has managed to discreetly insert dark irony throughout his novel. It would have been shocking for its time. The book starts with Toundi’s death and this idea of beginning at the end puts the reader in a position of hopelessness. Throughout Toundi’s life he has been treated inferiorly for being of a darker shade of skin than the European settlers, with criticism both overt and subtle.
Another example is interpreted by Huck when he lies and then swears over a book instead of the Bible, revealing the prevalence of religious hypocrisy in that era. One of the reasons why Twain’s book is not read in many high schools is due to the excessive use of the “n- word”. That word is now considered understandingly offensive but back in the day it was used as common as the word “black”. It was impossible for Mark Twain to predict that his amazing piece of literature would be banned or criticized over a word he wrote with no wrong intention. Nevertheless, he specifically writes at the beginning of the book: “Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot”(Twain, 3).
There are a handful of books read in school that could be considered controversial, but The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn seems to take the cake. This fictional novel by Mark Twain has many lessons and great ideas on maturation, friendship, violence & cruelty in society, African-American history, and morals. Some people, though, don’t see the positives of reading this story. They see the inappropriate language, the stereotypes used against Jim, and the light treatment of the horrors of slavery towards the end of the novel. Although The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is regarded as one of the most classic American novels, some may say it is too inappropriate to be taught amongst high schoolers.
To Ban, Or Not To Ban “The books that the world calls immoral are books that show its own shame”. The final passage from The Picture of Dorian Gray by controversial author Oscar Wilde. This is a thought provoking example of Wilde’s beliefs on censorship and self-realization. Wilde states that any book the world deems immoral, or inappropriate, is because the book reveals a shameful aspect of the world that people, and especially leaders, do not support or agree with, because it has the potential to spoil the righteous reputation they consider themselves to have. Censorship of this manner has occurred for decades, but barely any books should be censored to the point where they are banned.