by Kelley Gecik

Created on: July 01, 2008

I have never understood why this story would ever need to be banned. Other than a few choice words that are thrown occasionally into the mix (and always giggled at when my 9th grade class hears me read them outloud), I do not see what is so profoundly devastating to our youth. Especially in today's society, where my students favorite television programs are gems like "Tila Tequila" or "The Real World." Some of the topics presented in the book are controversial and in this PC age, may cause some people to squirm. These are some reasons why I believe Of Mice and Men is often banned:

1. Segregation
Crooks, the black ranch-hand, is excluded from the main group of characters because of his race. He is also made out to be the whipping boy and the object of frustration. Readers are allowed to see inside of Crooks' mind, to see his feelings of rejection, lonliness and despair. Some of the scenes in the book are disturbing and the language used, (i.e. nigger) is very disturbing. Can a book really be banned because it displays the reality of the time? These scenes have often sparked wonderful discussions in my classroom and have given me the opportunity to discuss this time in history, not only for African-Americans, but all migrant workers during the 1930s.

2. Themes of Despair
Everyone in this story seems to have a problem. Depression abounds and shows itself in different ways. Curley has an anger management problem. He doesn't see his wife anymore due to the jealousy that clouds him. Curley's wife feels rejected by her husband and while she is called a "tart" by the men, some feel that she is only lonely and wishes for company. Crooks longs to be accepted. George bears the burden of keeping Lenny in line and of making sure that they are not forced to leave their jobs. Candy is in a state of misery after he is forced to have his old companion, his dog, put down. This book is not full of tidy, happy endings, but of the pure struggles of life.

3. Sexuality
In the beginning of the story, Lenny and George are on the run. Lenny has done something to a girl and while it seems to have just been a misunderstanding, everyone thought he had tried to rape her. Rape is a strong, violent image in itself. This is combined then with Curley's wife who is made out to be a lusty, flirtatous young woman with too much time on her hands and too many men on her ranch. There are somewhat explicit lines in the story alluding to sex, such as Curley keeping a hand soft for his wife. Some may feel that the sexuality in this book may be too much for young minds to absorb, but I feel this medium is much more educational than what they are watching on TV or seeing on MySpace.

Of Mice and Men is a wonderful story of the struggles of many different people, all of whom are struggling with different demons. It is a story that tells a seldom told history of the United States and allows readers to share in the heartbreak and sorrow that follows the characters where they go. Why people are focusing their efforts to ban such an educational book while they let today's music, TV programs and internet sites go unchecked is a whole other writing topic.

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