Banned Books by

To Kill a Mockingbird

jburlingame2_1 — 2025-03-22 13:38:16 UTC

To Kill a Mockingbird is a period piece set in Alabama during the Great Depression. It deals with heavy topics such as rape and extreme racism and has faced backlash because of this. The book contains heavy use of racial slurs for black people, which has led many people to consider it inappropriate for a classroom setting. Many schools have faced parental backlash. Parents have complained that the book's use of racial slurs promotes hatred and white supremacy.

Source: https://bannedbooksweek.org/banned-spotlight-to-kill-a-mockingbird/

https://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/to-kill-a-mockingbird/

Analysis

jburlingame2_1 — 2025-03-22 13:58:16 UTC

Many controversies concerning To Kill a Mockingbird began in classrooms. A substitute teacher reading the book aloud received a parent complaint for doing so. The mother of a black student found the book inappropriate as students would giggle whenever a slur was said. There are many cases like these which have been documented over the years. The racial slurs have proven to be the most divisive part of the book. Some claim that they are period accurate and justified while others think that any book with such words has no place in a school building.

Interpretation

jburlingame2_1 — 2025-03-22 13:59:47 UTC

Many problems concerning To Kill a Mockingbird stem from the fact that words have power. Sometimes the power of a word overpowers the context. These issues arose from people trying to look out for high school students, but there is debate on whether this is a good practice. By censoring the book, some would argue that history is being covered up or smoothed over. The power of the racial slurs used so casually in the book is ultimately shown as the book reveals the evil behind the words.

Evaluation

jburlingame2_1 — 2025-03-22 14:05:11 UTC

Media literacy is incredibly important and is something students everywhere should be educated on. When analyzing the story's themes and plot, it is clear that Lee had no intention of spreading hate but rather revealing it in all of its ugly details. The book shows how deadly prejudice and mob mentality are. The clear role model of the story is Atticus Finch, a man who, despite backlash from his community, gives his all in defending an innocent black man. This story will likely always face controversy, but it should not be censored or removed from libraries. It challenges the reader in uncomfortable ways and demands maturity from them. To claim that the book itself is racist because it shows racism in all of its hideousness shows a dangerous lack of media literacy.

1984

jburlingame2_1 — 2025-03-22 14:23:54 UTC

1984 by George Orwell depicts a dystopia in which people are extremely limited by their governments. Even their thoughts can be considered crimes. The book's themes of government control and sexuality have made it a target for censorship. Some have labeled it as being pro-communism. Many have upheld it as a classic piece of dystopian literature, but many still think it should be censored for its mature content and anti-government themes. Until 1988, the book was banned in the Soviet Union.

Analysis

jburlingame2_1 — 2025-03-22 14:24:06 UTC

While there has been civilian backlash against 1984, it seems it has primarily been targeted by governments. This is due to the anti-authoritarian messaging of the book. It was banned altogether in Russia, along with Orwell's Animal Farm. It took decades for the book to be brought to China, and when it was, it was made unavailable to most citizens. It seems that the book faces most challenges from authoritarian governments. It is clear that the book's messaging is threatening to them.

Interpretation

jburlingame2_1 — 2025-03-22 14:24:13 UTC

At its core, 1984 is a condemnation of governments which would discourage citizens thinking for themselves. It criticizes all-powerful governments and shows them as deeply villainous, draining life of its meaning and ultimately being a hideous abomination. Governments like that of Russia and China are infamous for controlling information and for censorship. It is clear why they would feel threatened by the novel. Stalin believed the novel was a personal attack on him and did not want to allow his people to read it. The novel is, itself, a criticism of censorship, so it is in no way surprising that it would end up being censored.

Evaluation

jburlingame2_1 — 2025-03-22 14:24:27 UTC

The governments which choose to censor 1984 expose themselves as the book's target by doing so. It is wrong to censor a book for political reasons. It is important for people to fight against this censorship. The book has proven very influential and stands as a powerful indictment of authoritarianism. By banning it, governments limit people's exposure to thought-provoking literature and art. It stands as a means of controlling the social zeitgeist and, in a sense, of controlling people's thoughts.