Argument Essay

     I have recently read the book "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. After finishing the book I have made the conclusion: Of Mice and Men should be banned from middle school libraries because there is a lot of mature content, it is racist, and  it could be a bad influence.

     I believe a book like Of Mice and Men should be banned because there is a lot of mature content. Most young adult books these days have to do with drugs, sex, rape, alcohol, etc. Some kids are not ready to read things like rape of the side effects of crystal meth. In the book Of Mice and Men on pg. 20 it states, "tell ya what-`know what he done Christmas? Brang a gallon of whisky right in here and says, 'Drink hearty boys. Christmas comes but once a year.' 'The hell he did! Whole gallon? 'Yes sir. Jesus, we had fun. They let the nigger come in that night." This quote shows the mature content of them having "fun" while they were drinking a whole gallon of whiskey. Another example is on pg. 29 "Where is the Gd. damn nigger." The cursing is strong and racist. Kids could call someone this and hurt their feelings not knowing what the word means.

     Another reason a book like Of Mice and Men should be banned because it is racist. This is a reason it should be banned because being racist can hurt people and make them think negatively of themselves. For example  on pg. 68 when Crooks is talking to Lennie and says,” I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse and you ain’t wanted in my room. ‘ Why ain’t you wanted?’ Lennie asked. ‘Cause I’m black. They Play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, all of you stink to me.”  Because other people were racist toward Crook, he think negatively about himself. Being racist is another form of bullying. Middle school librarians and teachers should be aware of these things to prevent it from happening with the students of the school.
      Another reason a book like Of Mice and Men should be banned because it could be a bad influence. Most parents wouldn't want their kid reading about drugs, rape, etc. In an article we read in class "The sick-lit." The article states “One girl, Jess says that while the book put into words what she felt, ‘It was also too close to home for me to read’. She added: I’d finish reading and immediately reached for my blade.” I know when I finished Crank, another book that has rape and what happens when you do meth, i didn't reach for a knife. If I was a parent I wouldn't want my kids trying to kill themselves over a book as strong as it is. 

     One might argue that these books teach lessons. Yes Crank by Ellen Hopkins shows kids the symptoms of crystal meth and what happens when you do it. But what if your child doesn't understand these lesson what if they get curious. In the article Darkness Too Visible it states If a teen has been abused, the logic follows, reading about another teen in the same straits will be comforting. If a girl cuts her flesh with a razor to relive surging feelings of self-loathing, she will find succor in reading about another girl who cuts, mops up the blood with towels and eventually learns to manage her emotional turbulence without a knife.” Managing your emotions with a razor is not a good idea. 

     Books like Of Mice and Men should be banned because of the amount of mature content, it is racist, and it could be a bad influence. Be for you read another book read the blurb and ask yourself: Do I think I am ready to read this? Will it influence me in a bad way?