Should The Book Fahrenheit 451 Be Banned

Many books are challenged in the 21st century and banned for their content, some of these include The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Animal Farm, and Fahrenheit 451. Many of the reasons given for banning are the same. The reasons include violence, language, symbols, and religion. This makes it very difficult for educational professionals; which books should be taught and which ones should be banned, when does protection become unnecessary censorship? Although Fahrenheit 451 shows some dark themes such as banning books, disregard for human life, and suicide, it should be included in the school curriculum because it shows the dystopian future that awaits the world if the events in the book become a reality. The first point that needs to be

There are many dark themes in the book like overdose, suicide, disregard for human life, and censorship. This book introduces these themes in a manner that makes these societal problems less traumatic for young minds comprehend. Ellen Hopkins believes this and expands on it when she writes "Books dealing with edgy, dark subject matter such as addiction, abuse, suicide, and teen prostitution can offer young adult readers a broader perspective on the world..." (Hopkins). If teens are not introduced to these dark themes at a young age, they will be ignorant of the same issues when they grow up. As a result, teens who are faced with these problems later in life, having never wrestled with them before may have a very harmful or dangerous reaction. These negative reactions can be reduced if teens are exposed to the dark themes present in this book in the classroom. Another way this book can help teens is the fact that the book makes teens fell as if they are not alone. Andrew Skerritt justifies this "They help teenagers feel they're not alone in dealing with the issues they face. If a book deals with a girl getting pregnant, it doesn't mean the author is glamorizing teen pregnancy" (Skerritt). Just as Skerritt says if a book address a problem it doesn't mean the book condones these actions. It simply

Prohibition also known as the "Noble Experiment" was the ban on alcohol during the 1920s. Prohibition did accomplish its goal, the alcohol consumption did drop, however it did have many negative side effects. One of these was "bathtub gin". As a result of the ban on manufacturing alcohol many still made alcohol. Andrew Evan backs this up when he writes "Enterprising bootleggers produced millions of gallons of “bathtub gin” and rotgut moonshine during Prohibition. This illicit hooch had a famously foul taste, and those desperate enough to drink it also ran the risk of being struck blind or even poisoned" (Evan). In this example many disregarded the ban and produced alcoholic beverages. Because of this ban many people were killed and blinded. This same principle can be applied to banning Fahrenheit 451, there are going to be some people who disregard the ban an continue to read it. In addition a ban on Fahrenheit 451 will have an opposite reaction than intended. Skerritt illustrates this beautifully when he argues "Nothing is more popular than something forbidden" (Skerritt). In reality Fahrenheit 451 will become more popular if it is banned. As can be seen there are many unintended effects of banning Fahrenheit