Censorship in Huckleberry Finn and Of Mice and Men
Censorship in Huckleberry Finn and Of Mice and Men
Censorship has been around since the ancient times, although it became more popular in the Middle Ages when books became more and more common. The church has been censoring books since the time after its persecution. It banned books about superstition and those written by opposing individuals to the church, such as Arius and his book “Thalia.” (New advent) Censorship today is a way for parents and teachers of kids to regulate the reading material of those they are associated with, but is it always right? Those who censor the books obviously think so. They believe they are protecting their children and students from harsh language, crude humor, violence, or for religious reasons. Parents and teachers across the nation have censored The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Of Mice and Men for similar reasons. These people need to see the bigger picture. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Of Mice and Men should not be censored because they teach the history of our nation, valuable outlooks on life, and the value of having a family.
It is easy to see why parents may be alarmed at certain material in each book, but in most cases the language is used in good historical context, and is not intended to insult anyone. For example: usage of the word “nigger” has been extremely criticized by many people. In fact it is one of most popular reasons for censorship of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. (Online books) The word can be seen numerous times on page five, but it is not trying to make fun of the African American race. It is merely historical dialogue. This is the way that common people spoke in this time. On page three when Jim is referred to as “Miss Watson’s big nigger,” it is only stating exactly what anyone in that time period would have said. This does not make the word acceptable for use today, but it was back then. Along with unsuitable language for kids, Of Mice and Men was challenged for its views on the life of a mentally challenged person, the dialect used to represent a mentally challenged individual, and sexual comments throughout the book. (Online books) On page fifty-six, this phrase was said, “George, how long’s it...