I don't know why I had to read Scarlet Letter, but I know that the themes of hypocrisy, sin, redemption and religion imposing on individual will should have resonated with me. My guess is that I hated it, because it was assigned. It's why I loved Brave New World, The Great Gatsby, Catcher in the Rye and The Color Purple.
Although I think there are limits to what is acceptable literature, I believe we need to include the great books that pass the test of time and enhance learning, curiosity, and human growth at appropriate ages. This post struck me as important to our conversation about these big topics.
I agree! Although I wish that I had to read Brave New World, 1984, Beowulf etc.in my English classes so that I could at least get exposed to these books, report or no report. I’m sure there are hundreds of great books that I haven’t heard of because I never touched them in school, but discussing them in class might have given me a better understanding.
Thank you for the great comment Kamilla. There are many wonderful books that students can benefit from and it is the conversation that we can have which helps bring them to life.
I suspect that if it was banned and a big deal was made out of it being banned, its readership would soar. People would want to know what the hubbub was all about! ;-D!
I’ll bet if it was included on a list of other classics and a teacher said the students could pick one, but was emphatic that Beowulf might be too strong or too much for them or that their parents might not approve, kids would be downloading it in droves…
Russ
I think so. Make it taboo and they will seek it out. In this case, with classics, that might be OK.