"Of Mice and Men" banned for themes of race and disability
Another classic I read for Banned Book Week, "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck manages to be both a good book and a terrible read at the same time.
After managing to touch on a surprising number of controversial topics in a short period, I was left feeling as though the good writing was overshadowed by a bitter, unrelenting pessimism that purveyed every facet of the story and ruined what could have been a pleasant, if devastating, experience.
Following the story of George Milton and Lenny Small, "Of Mice and Men" displays their struggles during the Great Depression and managing life with Lenny's mental disability. It is a simple, sad story that somehow manages to be extremely polarizing.
For those unaware, "Of Mice and Men" has been banned for a few different reasons, such as its depictions of racism, women, and the mentally disabled.
Honestly, I can see why.
Though I do not condone the banning of books, "Of Mice and Men" is cannot be read lightly or without prior consideration simply because of the themes it depicts and how it depicts them. Though it is a beloved story with plenty of stellar prose and an emotional core, I would venture to say that it verges on the problematic.
At the same time, however, it is an accurate depiction of the time it portrays and the social values that ruled over individuals during that time.
As shocking as it may be to read, certain instances of cruelty flesh out the characters and make it easier to understand the circumstances they found themselves in: the cruel reality of the world's worst economic decline.
There is still plenty to enjoy here once readers overlook the more questionable aspects of the novel. For those more inclined to do so, they will find the story is exceptionally well-written and filled with instances of humanity that explore and analyze people to their very core.
They will find that the story is engaging and easy to follow, and they will find that there is never an instance where the narrative lacks earnestly.
Steinbeck writes as though there is no other choice for him, and that in itself is worthy of praise. The real kicker, though, is the ending.
For those looking for a happy ending, stay far, far away; Steinbeck is not exactly known for writing the happiest of novels, and "Of Mice and Men" is no exception.
As much as I love tragedies and find they add to the artistic integrity of literature, the way this novel ends is question-able, to say the least. For thos way how eat it mean - a certain character is depicted and treated in a way that I found to be quite concerning.
As a whole, I found "Of Mice and Men" to be dis-turbing; I'm not quite sure what Steinbeck's bigger picture was, but the way he went about describing it left a bad taste in my mouth.
For those who enjoy classics, definitely give it a read but proceed with caution.
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