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The Theme Of Banning Books In Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye

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The Theme Of Banning Books In Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye
The Bluest Eye- Toni Morrison
Is banning a book breaching a student’s first amendment right? Or perhaps is it protecting them from topics which may be considered vulgar? Some critics wish to ban books from schools because of the book’s content. However, other critics believe that no books should be banned, and that instead they should be read at the reader’s discretion. The topics in the books that critics wish to ban range from violence, sexual acts, racism, and many others. One such book that has been challenged in schools is Toni Morrison’s, The Bluest Eye. Although Toni Morrison’s, The Bluest Eye has been challenged in schools by those who wish to ban it because of its obscenities, some critics believe the book has meritorious morals.
The Bluest Eye has been challenged several times in the United States, since the novel was first published in 1970. The most recent banning occurred in 2014, at Legacy High School, because the novel was deemed a “badbook” (“Banned”). Educators often use their personal opinions to justify their
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One reason critics praise Toni Morrison’s, The Bluest Eye is because of the way the novel accurately portrays the way society views itself and others (Hoffman). She precisely shows in her work, that mankind is flawed in this aspect. Similar to that, Toni Morrison asks the novel’s readers “to think about perspectives of all types” (Hoffman). With the book’s inclusion of racism and self loathing the author wants the readers to connect with the protagonist, on an emotional basis, and try to first-hand understand Pecola’s perspective. Perhaps the most significant reason critics cite in favor of the novel not being banned is the story’s potential to incite analyzations about self-esteem and body image (Lalami). Readers and educators alike could read the book in detail, and have discussions about the author’s

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