- Published: September 17, 2022
- Updated: September 17, 2022
- University / College: University of Pittsburgh
- Level: Secondary School
- Language: English
- Downloads: 45
Banned Book: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men is a story of two friends – George and Lennie – who dreamed of becoming rich someday despite the financial challenges of the Great Depression. However, in a series of unfortunate events, where Lennie was innocently involved in the death of the wife of the man for whom they are working as tenants, things changed from bad to worse. However, certain elements of the novel plus the idea that George shot Lennie at the back of his head somehow make people believe that the book should be banned.
Of Mice and Men was banned because it demonstrates concerns regarding profanity especially as it mentions Jesus Christ in a bad light. There are also racial slurs throughout the novel. Moreover, the book does not also contain traditional values of friendship and love. There is also foul language and violence in the conversations of the characters (“ Of Mice and Men,” Marshall University).
The ban of the book was actually banned as per the request of a parent in Kansas in 2008, but it was banned in Illinois earlier in 1997. The problem with the book is that it has derogatory statements against women, as well as derogatory description of African Americans (Redwin).
Nevertheless, another source stated that Of Mice and Men was banned since the 1950s to the 2000s. Other reasons for the banning of the book was because of the promotion of euthanasia, lack of mercy for the retarded and the mentally ill, the anti-business attitude, and the idea that the Great Depression would somehow make mice out of men (“ Of Mice and Men: Steinbeck’s Controversial”).
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Works Cited
“ Of Mice and Men.” Banned Book Week. Marshall University, 2008. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. “ Of Mice and Men: Steinbeck’s controversial banned book for 50 years.” Books. Examiner. com, 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. Redwin, Breanna. “ Why Was Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Banned.” Suite, n. d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. 2009. Mr. Pheaneuf’s Textaual Gumbo. 22 Apr. 2014. “ Titles Challenged 2004-2011.” National Council of Teachers of English, n. d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
