The Danger of Banning Books
- Aubree O’Rourke
- Apr 3
- 3 min read
Throughout history, writing has been a safe haven for self expression. Sylvia Plath once said, “I write only because there is a voice within me that will not be stilled,” and this is exactly what this creativity has always been about. But nowadays, books have been banned, simply because of certain ideas being present that don't align with people’s beliefs. On a surface level, it may appear like these books might have something wrong with them, but books that are commonly criticized or “banned” often tackle important themes that are critical for students to understand.
Firstly, let’s start off with a household favorite, The Hunger Games. The novel is a sci-fi about a world where children ages 12-18 from 12 districts are sent to fight in the “hunger games" each year. The reason for this? To act as a symbolic sacrifice for the war that caused the divide between all the districts and the main city, Panem. This book was challenged because of themes like violence, anti-family values, and immorality. However, the truth is, the book serves as a symbol of our society and the dangers of an extreme leader, like President Snow. The book is about inequality, gaining independence, and finding unity in our similarities. This book isn’t inherently flawed, it simply reflects aspects of our society that some of us would rather not acknowledge.
Another commonly challenged book is The Diary of a Young Girl, a powerful first-hand account of the Holocaust,. This book is a diary of Anne Frank, a young, Jewish girl who was in hiding during the Holocaust in order to not be sent to a concentration camp. Only Anne Frank’s father, Otto Frank, survived, and published the diary. This moving testimony of the pain Jewish people felt during the Holocaust was banned for the alleged graphic things Anne says in the diary. However, this censorship is deeply misguided. This diary was an honest look at the events of the time period, no matter how graphic they were. The intended purpose of the diary isn’t to capitalize on the short sections where Anne talks about personal things, but to highlight the life of a young Jewish girl, hiding with the endless fear of being discovered by the Nazis. Anne wasn’t writing for an audience, she was writing for herself, and her story is a powerful reminder to not let history repeat itself.
Lastly, an English classic, Lord of the Flies, has also faced significant controversy. This timeless novel tells the story of boys stranded on an island after a plane crash. Over time, stuck on the deserted island, the boys begin to descend into savagery and turn on each other. The central theme of the book focuses on the natural evil that exists within us all. It was banned for profanity, defamatory statements, and more, but at the end of the day, the book was never meant to feature perfect characters. The characters are flawed and imperfect, offering a realistic portrayal of boys in the real world, much like people in general. The book powerfully reflects the hatred that exists within all of us and the dangers of allowing this hatred to take control. A book that so accurately captures human nature simply shouldn’t be banned.
To conclude, banning books is a way to silence ideas that people aren’t comfortable confronting. Books continue to be a way for people to express things they can’t always say out loud, and that right should not be infringed upon.
Sources:
Barnes & Nobles. (n.d). Challenged & Banned Books List. Barnes & Nobles
Colorado Department of Higher Education. (n.d). Banned Book List | Colorado Department of Higher Education Home. CDHE.
Donohoo, T. , Iacobucci, J. , Doll, K. , Davis, M. , Robinson, R. , Goyaz, A.
(2024, November 13). Why The Hunger Games Has Been Banned in the U.S. CBR. https://www.cbr.com/why-hunger-games-banned/
Coplac Digital. (n.d). National Opposition - Banning Anne Frank. Banning Anne Frank.
McMane. (n.d). Banned Books Webquest – Lord of the Flies. Ms.McCane’s Classes.
Photo Source: Florencia Viadona:
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