There have been many reasons why John Steinbeck’s 1937 novella Of Mice and Men has often been placed on banned book lists. One of the most popular reasons has been his use of profanity. For example, God’s name is repeatedly taken in vain (e.g., “…….God damn four miles,….”). There is also the use of sexual overtones and statements that are degrading to minorities (e.g., “Ya see, the stable buck’s a nigger.”), women (e.g., “Jesus, what a tramp.”), and mentally and physically challenged individuals. For example, one developmentally-impaired man is ridiculed and verbally abused (e.g., “Course Lennie’s a God damn nuisance most of the time.”).
Also cited have been some of the novella’s morbid and depressing themes. For example, there is the assumption and belief that Steinbeck’s fictional Depression-era migrant workers who roam from farm to farm laboring as field hands will never be landowners or enjoy the freedom of growing their own crops. In another chapter, a man explains that he has drowned four of nine puppies to save the mother from caring for all of them. In another chapter a young woman explains how she has married a man she hardly knows or even likes just to spite her mother. The woman soon finds herself seeking companionship with anyone who will give her the time of day.
Another factor seems to have been the story’s violent ending. Lennie, one of the main characters (i.e., mildly-retarded traveling partner of George) accidentally murders the ranch owner’s daughter-in-law (i.e., Curly’s wife). A vigilante chase ensues and George must kill Lennie to save him from this angry group.
Social implications, racial behavior and harassment are prevalent throughout. An elderly man with only one good hand (i.e., Candy), a black man with a broken back (i.e., Crooked), and a large, strong, yet developmentally-challenged man (i.e., Lennie) are often ridiculed, disrespected and placed in oppressive and embarrassing situations because they are seen as the weakest individuals within this crowded ranch setting of able-bodied laborers.
As early as 1939 this book, which quickly was made into a movie and play, was originally banned or condemned by various publications (i.e., The Catholic World), police departments (i.e., The Police Bureau in Providence Rhode Island), an army chaplain (i.e., Ft. McClellan, Alabama), and even a country (i.e., Australia). Touted as morbid, degenerative and nauseating, another premise for banning during those days was the concern that this fictional novella “chipped away at the nation’s faith in the incantatory dream: a new beginning, a tidy home.” (Shillinglaw xxiv). As recently as 2007 this classic was still being banned by communities and institutions across America as well as overseas (i.e., Ireland).
Resources:
Steinbeck, John (1937). Of Mice and Men (5th ed.) with introduction by Susan Shillinglaw (1994). New York, NY: Penquin Classics.