The book, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is very controversial because it includes text about racism, sexism, and even targets those with special needs, because of this, many people think the book should be banned altogether. However, the book should be read by students who are mature enough to handle the content of it . The book is about Lennie and George, George is the brains of the two, he’s the smart one and is the caregiver of Lennie. Lennie is very cumbersome and is not very smart. Lennie and George are forced to leave their home after an incident, caused by Lennie. They stumble upon a farm and decide it would be a great place to work and make some money for their future dream, their own ranch. This book should be read, although it is very controversial, it helps the readers understand and get a feel to the characters daily life, it also helps us think before we act, and give us some insight on reality. Therefore, it should be read by those who are mature enough to handle it.
One reason Of Mice and Men, should be read in schools and not banned is because it helps readers get a feel as to what ridicule people, such as Crookes received daily, “Well, you keep your place then, nigga. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t funny.” (Steinbeck 81). This text gives us a feel as to how horrible some characters were treated in the book. When we hear all the rude and negative remarks it makes us want to be better people. Therefore, the book should not be banned because it helps us to become better people.
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Another reason the book should not be banned is because it helps readers to think before they act. In life, readers react before they actually think. In Of Mice and Men, when George kills Lennie he wasn’t really thinking, he was just acting. He didn’t realize that what he would do would have to stay with him forever. “And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the mussel of it close to the back of Lennie’s head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger.” ( Steinbeck 106). This book helps readers learn that sometimes taking a second to think can help, so it’s another reason the book should not be banned.
One more reason Of Mice and Men, should not be banned is that the book helps readers get a view as to how terrible life was back in the Great Depression. The book gives readers a closer look into history, instead of hiding it. 'He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural. Soon he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it.' (Steinbeck 81). During the Great Depression many people's dreams were crushed, such as Curley's wife’s. Learning from the past gives us wisdom to avoid making the same mistakes In current times. These are my reasons for thinking Of Mice and Men should stay in schools.