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Why The Giver Shouldn’t Be BannedWalking into a library, a place of learning and enlightenment, one expects to be able to explore the world through written word. However, banned books over time have shut out important voices, and in turn, closed doors for students. Throughout history, some of the most famous and awarded books, such as Huckleberry Finn, Anne Frank, and Harry Potter, have been banned due to racism, violence, sexuality, and witchcraft. Despite some small R-rated issues, these books are important because they teach about overall slavery, the Holocaust, and using one's imagination. Those who censor certain books believe they do so to protect adolescents from controversial and graphic ideas, but banning books hinders learning and growth.The Giver concerns a society closed off from the danger of the outside world where the Elders, or decision-makers, hold all power. Upon turning twelve, there is no choice; a child gets a life assignment from the Elders. Jonas, the main character, gets assigned the most important job: the Reciever, only assigned when the prior Reciever is getting old. Jonas becomes responsible for maintaining all memories. In his new position, Jonas learns the dark secrets of this society: the Elders are creating a “perfect” world by blocking off any of the past, any history, any books, etc. Jonas finds out this is anything but a perfect world because the citizens aren’t truly free or happy, so he plans an escape along with the help of the previous Reciever (now the Giver).Why The Giver Shouldn’t Be BannedWalking into a library, a place of learning and enlightenment, one expects to be able to explore the world through written word. However, banned books over time have shut out important voices, and in turn, closed doors for students. Throughout history, some of the most famous and awarded books, such as Huckleberry Finn, Anne Frank, and Harry Potter, have been banned due to racism, violence, sexuality, and witchcraft. Despite some small R-rated issues, these books are important because they teach about overall slavery, the Holocaust, and using one's imagination. Those who censor certain books believe they do so to protect adolescents from controversial and graphic ideas, but banning books hinders learning and growth.The Giver concerns a society closed off from the danger of the outside world where the Elders, or decision-makers, hold all power. Upon turning twelve, there is no choice; a child gets a life assignment from the Elders. Jonas, the main character, gets assigned the most important job: the Reciever, only assigned when the prior Reciever is getting old. Jonas becomes responsible for maintaining all memories. In his new position, Jonas learns the dark secrets of this society: the Elders are creating a “perfect” world by blocking off any of the past, any history, any books, etc. Jonas finds out this is anything but a perfect world because the citizens aren’t truly free or happy, so he plans an escape along with the help of the previous Reciever (now the Giver).
The Giver has also been banned because of ideas associated with euthanasia: the lightest twin/triplet is killed painlessly to control population, the elderly are killed because they have gained too much memory, and the society fears uncontrolled emotions and knowledge. The Giver shouldn’t be banned because of mentions of death or suicide. Just reading about these topics doesn’t put the idea of suicide in one’s head. The article “About Lois Lowry’s The Giver” states, “Controversy over the book focuses on two topics: suicide and euthanasia. When a minor character determines she can no longer endure her life, she (Rosemary) asks to be “released,” or killed,” because she realizes the society is giving them no memories, no color, no happiness. Even though the book brings up suicide, the book shouldn’t be banned just because the topic is brought up. Rather, Lowry is trying to show a dystopian society that controls all. Her constant talk of the elderly being killed and Rosemary’s realization is to show how wrong death is: these people aren’t actually allowed to live out their lives the way they want to; all is government controlled.The Giver has also been banned due to sexuality: Jonas and all other growing adolescents must consume a pill at age twelve that suppresses all desires and sexual urges. An Atlantic article states, “Everyone is given pills uppon their first ‘stirrings’, or feelings of sexuality, and marriages are arranged.” Because the Giver tempts Jonas to not take the pill, he does experience attraction to and sexual dreams about Fiona. Even though sexual ideas are mentioned, it’s important not to ban these because all students will have sexual urges. It’s better for a student to be able to read about and bring up questions sooner than The Giver has also been banned because of ideas associated with euthanasia: the lightest twin/triplet is killed painlessly to control population, the elderly are killed because they have gained too much memory, and the society fears uncontrolled emotions and knowledge. The Giver shouldn’t be banned because of mentions of death or suicide. Just reading about these topics doesn’t put the idea of suicide in one’s head. The article “About Lois Lowry’s The Giver” states, “Controversy over the book focuses on two topics: suicide and euthanasia. When a minor character determines she can no longer endure her life, she (Rosemary) asks to be “released,” or killed,” because she realizes the society is giving them no memories, no color, no happiness. Even though the book brings up suicide, the book shouldn’t be banned just because the topic is brought up. Rather, Lowry is trying to show a dystopian society that controls all. Her constant talk of the elderly being killed and Rosemary’s realization is to show how wrong death is: these people aren’t actually allowed to live out their lives the way they want to; all is government controlled.The Giver has also been banned due to sexuality: Jonas and all other growing adolescents must consume a pill at age twelve that suppresses all desires and sexual urges. An Atlantic article states, “Everyone is given pills uppon their first ‘stirrings’, or feelings of sexuality, and marriages are arranged.” Because the Giver tempts Jonas to not take the pill, he does experience attraction to and sexual dreams about Fiona. Even though sexual ideas are mentioned, it’s important not to ban these because all students will have sexual urges. It’s better for a student to be able to read about and bring up questions sooner than
later. Instead of bringing up ideas a kid is having directly, a student can use the book to talk to his or her parents. A third reason The Giver has been banned is due to violence: when learning society’s memories, Jonas learns of war. NPR’s article “The Giver” interviews those who read The Giver at a young age. One man states, “Would I prefer a world where there isn’t war and starvation and greed and envy?” Jonas experiences a war memory and pain through the Giver. Though he watches surrounding soldiers amidst guns and cannons, Ideas of war shouldn’t be censored because war is a reality in modern day. Just because Lowry mentions war, the book shouldn’t be banned; Jonas’s very negative and pain-filled reaction to the war actually teach the message that violence is wrong.Many people have outlandish ideas about censoring perfectly good books. They believe small mentioned topics require censorship. In fact, ironically, if censoring too much, they create a sterile world just like in The Giver. The Giver is definitely not “lewd and twisted.” Although it contains controversial ideas like euthanasia, sexuality, and violence, these concepts all teach us lessons that students should read about when developing the most. People think that they protect children when they actually need to expose children so kids can understand more about the world.