Banned books have become a hot topic in recent years, with many attempts to challenge, restrict, or completely remove certain books from public school classrooms and libraries across various states. Some states, like Idaho, favour book bans, while others, like Washington, oppose them.
Historically, the United States has seen numerous books banned due to their controversial content, often focusing on sexually explicit or racially insensitive themes. These challenges aim to shield youth from such material.
So let’s think about why controversial literature is important. Even some famous books end up on the “blacklist” of literature. But the main advantage of such books, if you are ready for the content, is their frankness. Very often, these books contain frank facts or express existing opinions in society, even those that go against government policy.
Famous Banned Books Throughout History
1. Shakespeare’s Works
Several plays by William Shakespeare, including “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Merchant of Venice,” and “Twelfth Night,” have been adapted into books and are frequently taught in junior high and high school English literature classes. Despite being written in the 16th and early 17th centuries, these works continue to resonate with modern audiences. They address timeless themes of tragedy and comedy but have faced bans, challenges, and teaching restrictions due to their content involving sex, profane language, humour, antisemitism, and suicide.
2. “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain (1885)
Mark Twain is often considered the American equivalent of Shakespeare due to how deeply his works are embedded in the country’s cultural fabric. However, “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” has faced significant controversy and has been banned in schools for its depiction of Black people and frequent use of the N-word. The book also addresses themes of racism and slavery, which were considered sensitive and controversial. The NAACP filed a complaint in the 1950s, citing over 200 uses of the N-word, bringing the book under further scrutiny.
Of course, you can still use the story reading app to get acquainted with any book from the banned list. All that’s left is to install the FictionMe novel app. Here you can find any content, from werewolf romance novels to hot stories for adults. You choose what is right for you and what is not, instead of delegating the right to choose to the government.
3. “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe
While not every controversial book results in a trial, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin stands out for its monumental reaction and impact. Published in 1852, this novel is often credited with setting the stage for the Civil War. The story centres around Uncle Tom, an enslaved Black man, who is repeatedly sold between families. Stowe draws a sharp contrast between Uncle Tom’s unwavering dignity and the diverse moralities of his owners, including the notably villainous and brutal Simon Legree.
4. “Tropic of Cancer” by Henry Miller (1934)
Henry Miller’s “Tropic of Cancer” was written in 1934 and details aspects of his sexual experiences in France. It wasn’t until nearly 30 years later, amid censorship laws in the U.S., that the book’s banning became a significant issue. An uncensored U.S. version published in 1961 sparked censorship and obscenity charges against the publisher. In 1963, a New York state court deemed it obscene, leading to its removal from all public libraries in Brooklyn. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually ruled in favour of the publisher in 1964, allowing the book to be distributed.
5. “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger (1951)
J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” is infamous for its controversial reputation and the author’s reclusiveness. The book has been banned in schools for its professionalism and episodes involving sex and prostitution. Some teachers have even lost their jobs including it in their curriculum. But students can still open the App Store, install a reading app, and safely read a book. Additionally, it has been blamed for inspiring anti-social behaviour in teens and has been linked to instances of violence, such as the murder of John Lennon, where the shooter cited the novel as inspiration.
6. “Naked Lunch” by William S. Burroughs (1959)
Originally published in France as a series of short stories, “Naked Lunch” by William S. Burroughs faced significant censorship when brought to the U.S. Its explicit content, including drug use, profanity, and same-sex relationships, led Massachusetts government censors to attempt to ban it as obscene. However, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling determined that books could not be banned as obscene unless they were “utterly without redeeming social value,” allowing “Naked Lunch” and other controversial works to be widely published and distributed.
7 “Ulysses” by James Joyce (1922)
Irish author James Joyce’s “Ulysses” is often reserved for advanced high school courses or college English majors. Widely regarded as one of the greatest works of English literature from the past century, “Ulysses” was deemed obscene upon its release due to its explicit depictions of sex and profanity. Initially serialized in a literary magazine, it was later collected into book form in Paris before being brought to the U.S., where efforts to ban its publication began. A New York court initially ruled it obscene, but a later federal judge’s ruling allowed it to be published and distributed in the U.S., a decision upheld by an appeals court.
How Has Literature Impacted Culture?
Do you know what any bans generate? Anger attempts to take control of your freedom into your own hands, and arguments. That’s the whole impact of not books, but bans. Even if you can’t add everything to the curriculum, blocking a book is not the most effective method and it does not have a positive impact on the culture in the country.
Conclusion
Book bans and efforts to restrict books in schools and libraries are long-standing issues. Despite the First Amendment’s broad protection for writing, publishing, and reading, public schools and their officials can limit materials based on educational suitability. This amendment also supports the rights of parents and community members to petition for or against book restrictions. While those advocating for bans have the right to do so, they should be aware that such attempts can often increase a book’s popularity, even long after its initial publication.