Reasons For Being Banned: The Great Gatsby (Week 4, Post 1)

Jennifer Hong
Nov. 28, 2011


I have done some research about why and where this book ,The Great Gatsby, had been banned. This book has been banned in many schools as of now and for various reasons. The book has suggestive scenes that show sexual references. It has also been banned because of the language the author uses and the bad messages that it gives off. Many copies of the book had been changed and re-written so that it would be more acceptable for young readers. I think this relates a lot to Ray Bradbury's coda in his book Fahrenheit 451. He stated that changing and taking out even the slightest of words in an original book takes away the feel of the author and more importantly, destroys the book itself, much like burning the book but in a more metaphorical way. The Great Gatsby had been banned because many say that it gives young readers, and even adults, a bad message and puts wrong thoughts into their minds. But what I think is that having all this language and references in the book makes it more intense and realistic. It also shows the perspective of the author very much and not in the wrong way since it was his original version. The book may give off the wrong message like being rich is all power since it shows Gatsby being rich and everyone giving him respect just because of that. For example, when the policeman saw who he was and let him get away with speeding (pg. 73-75). Another thing is that the book implies sexual affairs between married people like Tom and Daisy with Mildred and Gatsby (pg. 80-83). It also shows sexual things such as how Nick described Jordan or any attractive female that he had just met (in previous chapters). My questions so far is that why do people take all this language stuff so seriously? Books that have their originality can show students how it used to be back then, when the author wrote it, if taught correctly by a teacher. Sure, there can be negative messages, but the teacher just has to guide the students in the correct direction of thinking.