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Vulgar Language In To Kill A Mockingbird

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The book that I chose to read is by Harper Lee, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ The novel’s setting features the Deep South and envelops an intense portrayal of prejudice and race narrated through a little girl’s eyes. Filled with impressive evocations of American life at the peak of the Great Depression that shook the nation in the 1930s, whilst also underpinned by caring and moral susceptibility, the novel proofs as both an excellent rendering of a particular place and time as well as an all-inclusive tale of how old and wicked perceptions can be triumphed by understanding. It was published by J.B Lippincott in New York in 1960 (Topham, 2018). ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ has received both positive and negative feedbacks from a wide audience of readers. …show more content…

Although it has been considered a classic literature by several readers, the novel still remains in the top list of the banned books. The novel’s profanity, racial content, and its references to rape have provoked many readers to challenge the novel and lead to its removal from school classrooms and libraries. Many readers have disagreed to letting the novel be used in the classroom due to its vulgar language that is evident throughout the book. Expressions such as ‘nigger’ and ‘damn’ are used repeatedly which most find extremely offensive especially to young readers. The fact that the characters in the book are children and are the ones using the profane phrases has left many questioning the novel and not wanting their children to find such expressions as acceptable (Why Was it …show more content…

The school also received numerous letters of complaint about the novel and its consequential use in the classrooms. However, some found the situation funny and ridiculous. The book was also flagged in 1968 as the second most criticized about novel receiving the most negative attentions. In Eden Valley, Minnesota, learning institutions banned the book for the words “whore lady” and “damn.” Sherill Vernon Veron, a New York School District described the book as a “trashy and filthy novel” which led to its

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I do not think this book was reasonably challenged because there are so many other books with more vulgar language and sexual scenes than this book. I think it was unfair to challenge this book. Also none of the sexual scenes or language is that excessive or graphic. I think it is okay for this book to remain in the high school library.

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Blei’s argument, as to why banning the book is counter productive, is very insightful. While other critics argue that the profanities in the book should be ignored when considering banning the book, Blei accepts the profanities and points out that there are a multitude of other ways for kids to be exposed to such things in their

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The idea to ban the book came about when students were asked to read it in school. Parents of the students reported, as said before, the book contained explicit language, references to child molestation, adolescent sexual exploits, and violence relating to the abusive father (“Banned Book Awareness”). High school parents began to challenge the book in 2010 at, William S. Hart Union High School District in Saugus (in California), and Sade-Central City High School. Successes in getting it banned took place in both Texas and Michigan. A parent at Traverse Public Schools said “It’s just really inappropriate for 13- and 14-year-olds” (“Banned Book

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This book has won several awards, in 1999 the National Book Award Finalist; in 2000 it won the Michael L. Printz, and the Coretta Scott-King award. Despites its many awards it has also been challenged and banned in many different school districts because parents didn’t think it was appropriate for their children to read. According to Dean 2013, states “Seven D97 families filed a request with the district last month to have the book removed. A "request for reconsidering" can be made under board policy, which deals with educational materials deemed "offensive or controversial. " The policy also calls for an internal committee to be convened to review such materials”.

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“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view” (Harper Lee). Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a wonderful book that is enjoyed by many people. The book was published in 1960 but is set in the 1930’s during the Great Depression. Lee shows many different ways of what was wrong with society during that time.

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Just because a book that was written many decades ago may have bad words in it, doesn’t mean that it should be withheld from the students. Additionally, the educational value of, The Catcher in the Rye would be totally lost if a book is banned just for containing “explicit” language. Sophomore students are at the age where they are old enough to know what is appropriate and what isn’t and they can read a book that has bad words in it. If a book is banned because of its explicit content, that overshadows the educational content and the moral lessons that the reader would take away from reading this book.

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In the book “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Harper Lee uses negative connotation and vivid symbolism to persuade that being judged by an outward appearance or backstory can affect a person negatively and make the judgers feel superior. Lee uses an outstanding amount of characters to persuade this but some distinctive characters that she uses is Aunt Alexandra and the Cunningham’s. Lee also uses the Ewells and Tom Robinson to persuade her meaning. In chapter twenty-three Scout asks Aunt Alexandra if she can play with Walter Cunningham but Aunt Alexandra declines the request and does not give Scout permission to play with Walter. She explains why plus starts to judge Walter.

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In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, cruelty comes up again and again as a central theme and driving force in the plot. The novel takes place during the Great Depression, a time period where segregation is the norm, and cruelty is commonplace. The main character, Scout, grows up seeing all of this, and questions it. She watched racism take place around her, and grew up throughout the course of the novel, and found that even though the events that transpired were unpleasant, they made her a better person. “To Kill a Mockingbird” was set in the Great Depression.

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“Using profanity was against school policy and having the book in the library made newly elected school board member, Larry McDonald, feel uncomfortable.”

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