SHOULD BOOKS BE BANNED?
Throughout the decades, novels such as Tom Sawyer, To Kill a Mockingbird, James and the Giant Peach, Harry Potter and A Wrinkle in Time have been classified as "banned". Should these classics so many have grown up with be banned from readers? In my opinion, it should not be the school or library's decision, but the parent or guardian of the student or reader. If the student is in high school or older, then I believe they should be able to make the choice by themselves to read the novel. Reading books such as these help us to learn about the world around us. For example, Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, helps readers understand what life was like in the nineteen thirties and to understand segregation more than they can from the internet or a documentary.
Mark Twain is one of the greatest writers of American literature. His novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is considered to be a banned book, but I beg to differ. Huckleberry Finn continues the story of Tom Sawyer. After becoming rich, Huck becomes adopted by Widow Douglas and Miss Watson who teach him proper manners and how to be a "gentlemen". Huck helps Widow Douglas' slave escape to the free states. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with the content of the novel, but rather the language that Mark Twain uses. Since the novel takes place in the 1830s and 40s, slavery is still going on in the South. When referring to members of the African American population, Mark Twain uses language that today could be considered profane, in which back them was typical for anyone to say in the nineteenth century. That being said, I believe that Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn should indeed not be banned and it should be the choice of parents, guardians, or teens.
Mark Twain is one of the greatest writers of American literature. His novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is considered to be a banned book, but I beg to differ. Huckleberry Finn continues the story of Tom Sawyer. After becoming rich, Huck becomes adopted by Widow Douglas and Miss Watson who teach him proper manners and how to be a "gentlemen". Huck helps Widow Douglas' slave escape to the free states. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with the content of the novel, but rather the language that Mark Twain uses. Since the novel takes place in the 1830s and 40s, slavery is still going on in the South. When referring to members of the African American population, Mark Twain uses language that today could be considered profane, in which back them was typical for anyone to say in the nineteenth century. That being said, I believe that Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn should indeed not be banned and it should be the choice of parents, guardians, or teens.