Why+was+Of+Mice+and+Men+banned?

What’s right and what’s wrong? This common question is asked among several people. Many guardians wonder how their children should be taught lessons as they become young adults. These questions can also be referenced to the messages presented to readers through the use of context and characters in books. John Steinbeck teaches lessons about the nature of human existence in his classic book //Of Mice and Men//. This famous story has several morals Steinbeck puts across to his readers, in what is said to be vulgar. Steinbeck’s use of profanity, adult themes, sexual references and unaccepted language isn’t praised by adults who are presenting the book to younger audiences. // Of Mice and Men // "brings out the worst, the lowest, and the most self-centered aspects of human nature." (Understanding, 19) These representations are unaccepted by those who don’t agree with the values and crude situations being taught throughout its pages. Adu lts don’t want to use this classic book to teach the middle and high school student’s lessons in life.

Of Mice and Men is a classic book that is constantly debated as to whether its messages outweigh its inappropriateness and violent circumstances. As the readers follow the two main characters, Lennie and George, they are able to see the violence and killing that occurs in several situations. Lennie, being mentally challenged, means well but doesn’t know his own strength. "Lennie's great hands, not being under the control of an adult conscience, cannot resist the temptation to touch and caress any soft things they encounter." (American Writers, 58) He kills small animals such as mice and puppies by mistake. Lennie also unintentionally snaps the neck of Curley’s wife as he feels the softness of her hair. "The provocative, amoral wife of the ranch boss's son attracts Lennie's limited but disastrous interest." (American Writers, 58) Lennie is frightened when she begins to scream and doesn’t realize he needs to let go of her hair, eventually her neck. The ending of the book is said to be an endorsement of euthanasia as George kills Lennie out of mercy and to end the life of a man who is unaware of the predatory powers that surround him. These violent acts are not acceptable to a younger audience.

Adult themes in //Of Mice and Men// involve characters who are racist, sexist and ageist throughout the books pages. These characters also use language unsuitable for immature spectators. As the men work on the ranch the readers see the discrimination of Candy who is becoming older and is worried that his age will make him useless. Crooks is dark skinned meaning he loses respect from the other men and is isolated. Living in the harness room, Crook longs to be with the others but "racial discrimination makes this impossible." (Literary Companion Series, 65) The only female character, Curley’s wife, represents enticement in a male overriding world. Curley’s wife is never given a name to show the meaningless need for women in this society. She is often referred to as a “tramp” and a “tart” as she seeks attention from the working men in the only way she know how to, by flirting. The language and use of inappropriate words used to describe these and many other characters helped get this offensive novel on the banned list.

A classic book, //Of Mice and Men//, was banned in the nineteen hundreds for its mature languages, adult themes, and discriminating characters. This novel is inapt for immature audiences even though there are values and principles to be learned from it. This classic questions the goals of building character, educating young people in the rights and duties of citizenship, and teaching self-respect.

Works Cited

Johnson, Claudia Durst. //Understanding Of Mice and Men, The Red Pony, and The Pearl: a Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents//. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 1997. Print.

Steinbeck, John. //Of Mice and Men//. New York: Penguin, 1993. Print.

//Literary Companion Series.// San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 1999. Print.

"Steinbeck." //American Writers//. New York: Scribner, 1974. Print.

"Hemingway, Ernest (Miller) (1899-1961)." //DISCovering Authors//. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. // Student // // Resource // // Center //// - Junior //. Gale. Boyertown Jr. High School West. 25 May. 2010 <[]>.