Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Top Seven Classic Novels Banned from High Schools


Gerald at the very popular Catholic blog Closed Cafeteria has a nightmarish but true post about the proposed sex education curriculum in Germany. My first thought was the novel Brave New World. However, so many in America would not be familiar and thus warned about the implications of such a program because they have been exposed to mediocre teen lit and insipid multicultural trash instead of great literature from their time in high school and college. When Barack Hussein Obama states he wants sex education for kindergarteners, many young people instead of running away from this guy as fast as they can as they should, are embracing him because they feel proud of their multiculturalism in this Brave New World. There are so many lessons about life that teenagers should be gaining from classic literature but are not because much of classic literature has been banned from classrooms across the nation. Thus, teenagers are not warned or educated about many of life's lessons and will have to experience them the hard way.

I've come up with the top seven classic novels (in no particular order) banned for a variety of reasons from classrooms that teenagers (and all educated adults) should be familiar with because of the important lessons that these novels provide:

1.
Brave New World

Aldous Huxley's absolutely dazzling science fiction novel about a liberal world shows a society where God is banned, leaving an incredible spiritual void that is filled with sex, drugs, and shallow social relationships. The novel is surprisingly sexually explicit, but it is perfectly suited for teenagers, who instead of being attracted to this type of sex and drugs are guaranteed to be repelled. Liberals are bringing us at warp speed towards this type of society of "community, identity, stability," so teenagers should definitely be forewarned and forearmed to combat this type of society. It is not surprising why liberals have banned this book. They are embarrassed at how similar their ideal society is to that of this book!

2.
1984

This is a dynamite novel by George Orwell that truly is one of the best in the English language. There are three parts in the book. Parts 1 and 2 come across as thrillers whereby the two main protaganists attempt to escape and come to grips with the totalitarian society they are in. Part 3 is totally unexpected and is one of nightmarish horror and will knock you out. This book packs a devastating and disturbing punch. It is unforgettable, and teenagers will be certain to avoid having society go this route that liberals are taking it. Teenagers will be familiar with the terms "Orwellian" and "doublethink" and are sure to be wise enough when liberals start engaging in these activities to call them on it. 1984 has been banned from schools supposedly because of the sex and the intensity of the horror, but that is not to be believed. After all, liberals want sex education for kindergarteners, so it is not possible that liberals would ban a book for sex. The real reason 1984 is banned is because socialists and "social justice" advocates do not want students to be aware of their true agenda (or are not fully aware of it themselves and do not want to be reminded of the actual horror of it ). In fact, if forced to teach this novel, liberals will engage in doublethink themselves and claim absurdly that 1984 is a novel about a society that doesn't value nonconformity and, thus, bizarrely attempt to implicate capitalism and democracy. That's classic doublethink. 1984 is about and only about the horrors of socialist totalitarianism.

3. Ivanhoe

This novel by Sir Walter Scott is perhaps the best historical fiction ever penned, and yet it has been banned from virtually every classroom in America for its anti-Jewish stereotypes in the character of Isaac. First of all, it is somewhat strange that liberals and socialists are so concerned with anti-Jewish stereotypes when they so openly are against the War on Terror and embrace themselves so readily the culture of Islam and Muslim nations. David Horowitz's Unholy Alliance details the close relationship between the Left and Muslims. Leftists, who have banned Ivanhoe, are as anti-Semitic as they come. Thus, it seems that Ivanhoe is actually banned more out of spite for the literature of "dead, white males." Never mind it is one of the most engaging and magical reads in Western literature and that teenagers will really take to it. Furthermore, the character of Isaac (while comical) is also one of the most fascinating in Western literature. The reader is certainly to have sympathy and respect for Isaac. Furthermore, the Jewish Rebecca is one of the most sympathetic, winning characters in Western literature. So, teenagers are much more likely to have a POSITIVE view of Judaism and a distaste for Isaac and Rebecca's treatment than not from reading this book. Liberals are always so eager to nannyishly ban books for what they perceive are negative stereotypes in order to superficially appear enlightened. Instead of banning great literature, however, they should look in the mirror and reexamine their anti-Semitic support of jihadists' agenda. Teenagers should definitely be exposed to this colorful and memorable novel that positively portrays the chivalry and high culture of the Middle Ages (another possible real reason that liberals have banned this book). It will definitely interest them in the history of Western Civilization.

4. Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair is a magnificent book. It is extremely long but engrossing throughout, thanks to Becky Sharp, one of the most fascinating and scheming characters in English literature. I can't help but think that Margaret Mitchell modeled Scarlet O'Hara for her Gone With the Wind (another great banned novel students should be exposed to) after her. There is a lot of comedy and drama in this wonderful novel in which Becky is determined to rise in society, connivingly using every ruse possible. This novel by William Makepeace Thakeray is a terrific expose of the superficial vices or the upper echelon of society--and, of course, remains timely today. This novel is a must for teenagers because they are absolutely guaranteed to be put off by things like superficial, Paris Hilton-like fame and Hollywood pop culture. This classic novel contains an immense amount of wisdom that students should be exposed to. I don't know why this is no longer taught. Perhaps the length takes up too much time for banal multicultural lit. . .or do liberals uncomfortably see themselves in the characters of this brilliant novel?

5. The Portrait of Dorian Gray

If Brave New World will turn teenagers off of casual sex and Vanity Fair will expose the banalities of pop culture, then The Portrait of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde's great novel, will have teenagers question self-centered gratification of one's desires at the expense of others and of moral and religious principles. Oscar Wilde was one of the most gifted writers of the English language. His wit, dialogue, and descriptions of scene are some of the freshest and most delightful in English literature. The comedic The Importance of Being Earnest is one of the best plays ever written. Oscar Wilde was a flamboyant genius who lived in high artistic society of Victorian London. Yet in The Picture of Dorian Gray, he questions the values of this aesthetic and hedonistic lifestyle of "art for its own sake." In the end, it simply is not fulfilling. Oscar Wilde, as everyone knows, was homosexual, yet he questions the lifestyle that so many gay activists are pursuing. Dorian Gray is a young man mesmerized by his portrait submitted by an admirer. He is brought into a lifestyle he is enthralled with by another friend, a new artistic acquaintance he is attracted to in high society. He pursues nonstop his self gratification. For some reason, though the years pass, he remains beautiful on the outside but on the inside his soul is corrupt and disgusting as shown on his portrait. The more he sins, the more disgusting and evil the portrait becomes. The characters are heterosexual in the novel, but Oscar Wilde makes it clear through descriptions and dialogue that homosexuality is the issue here. It just was simply not possible at that time to openly write that type of novel. However, the implications are there, and teenagers most likely will not be as tempted to get into this type of lifestyle. At least they will have the wisdom of this great novel to fall back upon.

6. Great Expectations

Every teenager should be exposed to Charles Dickens, yet amazingly very few are. Dickens simple is the very best writer in our English heritage. He has the most memorable, fascinating characters, both major and supporting. I would say David Copperfield is my very favorite novel in all of English literature. Great Expecations is another, and this one provides great lessons to teenagers though its memorable and appealing protaganist Pip, who goes from being poor to a wealthy young gentleman through a mysterious benefactor. As he becomes engrossed in money and the debonair lifestyle of the young and wealthy (hello Hollywood?), he becomes more self aware and builds his character as he discards the superficial. This wonderful, memorable novel is a must for students and provides great lessons about life, what is truly important. Dickens is a wealth of wisdom that students should feast upon. This novel will truly build character.

7. Silas Marner

For some inexplicable reason, George Eliot has been banned from the classrooms, mostly from indifference. Yet she is one of the most brilliant writers of our English heritage. I would say she is the second best writer of the novel, second only to Dickens. Silas Marner is a gem of a novel. The protaganist selfishly withdraws from society and miserly cares only about accumulating gold. He adopts a young orphan who is found abandoned in his yard and is touchingly transformed as he cares for the young orphan and reintegrates himself into society. This novel provides a wealth of wisdom about many topics from suffering, materialism, and charity, and it is highly memorable.

18 comments:

Michael J. Farrand said...

Thank you for standing up for literary freedom. Thought you might enjoy my list of classic novels.

Anonymous said...

Hi:

Good choice of novels. Many are very, very dear to my heart. However, I must be reading them very differently from you. For example, "1984" decries all of the following issues that don't seem to have a "lefty" spin to them:

* domestic spying
* torture
* censorship
* protection by ignorance

It is counter-intuitive to me that these concepts are exclusive leftist arsenals. Great antagonists throughout history, from divergent ends of the ideological spectrum, e.g. Stalin and Hitler, have utilized the same ploys.

Cheers.

Chiang

Anonymous said...

Thanks for that list, I'll be sure to read those books.

Anonymous said...

I think that is a great list of books. But I want to say that your insulting of the "left-wing", liberals is misguided. You could just as easily say that these books have been banned by "right-wing conservatives". It's probably true that more of the oppression comes from conservatives rather than liberals.

Nevertheless, I want to encourage you to keep your mind open and not narrow your thinking by knee-jerk classification of books and/or ideas into one category or another.

Some liberal ideas which are good, some are bad. This is just as true as saying "Some conservative ideas which are good, some are bad."

Since you are in the depth of your education, keep your mind open, and learn.

FYI- I am Catholic, and sex is not all bad. It can be an incredible bonding experience between a husband and a wife. Also, a marriage without sex is not a marriage. In other words, sex is not just for making children.

Peace.

Anonymous said...

I am a Democrat and I have read all of the books you mentioned. Many who ban books are conservative Republican pro-life Christians who seem fearful of anything that doesn't conform to their beliefs. Perhaps you need to take a hard look at who is actually banning these books. Liberals tend to have a "live and let live" philosophy and are more open to expression of ideas different from their own. I may not agree with what you say but I will defend your right to say it.

Twoflower said...

I really enjoyed your post - very thought-provoking. I have read Ivanhoe, Great Expectations and 1984 - all very great books that contain great lessons. I don't those should be banned from schools. I will now have to read the other banned books you mentioned.

I remember in 7th or 8th grade having to read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Now I'm not a fan of banning books, but I never thought - then or now - that it had any substance of value, and yet it was part of the school curriculum. I would have been much happier to have read one of the books on your banned list, I'm sure.

Anonymous said...

I am a teenager and have read several of these books. I have been taught two of them in school so clearly they are not banned!

Anonymous said...

I'm a teenager (Democratic) and I, while appreciating your comments on these books, find the comments against liberals very offensive. For one, I have seen none of these books banned in my school district, or any other for that matter. In fact, several of these are suggested reading. And I don't think its fair to say that liberals are banning these, on the contrary, I think many of these are banned by conservatives. I mean, Dorian Gray was a very pro homosexual book, and the conservative party is against many of those ideals. Granted, some people may be put off by the book, but it wasn't talking about the gay lifestyle, but the lifestyle of society as a whole. Next time you mention classics, don't put your opinions in with them, they are meant to be deciphered by the reader, not taught to them, else, what is the point of reading them in the first place?

Anonymous said...

I'm a 9th grade student who has read Brave New World. Yes, it was very explicit, but it also was the most thought provoking book I've ever read. It included many parallels to life and society that were very interesting to think about.

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Unknown said...

The greatest disrespect a reader can give an author is the implication that they have a right to assert their own opinions to the story over that of the one who penned the words themselves. A great writer won’t need to be deciphered to the point of using opinions to base merit with their understandings or lack of for that matter. Dorian Gray is not a “pro-homosexual” book. If one was to comment on it’s sexual nature it would simply be that it was a means of vice which Wilde used wonderfully to convey Dorians’ sudden and ever growing desire for sins of the flesh (and assuming that you will not take that as flesh being more than actual skin) then you may find deeper meaning than what you have at this point.

Unknown said...

Did you know that Orwell was raised Catholic, turned toward the Anglicans and thus penned anti-catholic sentiments and became extremely political in the 1930s? Did you know that he fought with the REPUBLICANS in the civil war against the side with in which Catholics had the majority of their parishioners? When he died he received final rights. When he MARRIED he did so in the church. When he died he went out the Christian exit clinging to Dante’s Inferno and on the brink of pure madness? He was very insightful but also very hypocritical. His works actually portray the mentality of their author perfectly. Nobody can claim what Orwell felt when only he could bear witness to his true soul and the desires of it. In life or afterwards. Considering the fact that he himself questioned everything including his own mind, I don’t think one should be so hard pressed to prove themself to be wholly correct against another when stating an opinion regarding his work or his true self. The saying long stands Everyone has two faces. One they show the world and the real one.

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