Argument Essay: Should The Giver be Banned?

Imagine going to a bookstore, and choosing a book, only to find  that it is banned by your school. This would certainly pose a conflict of values for you and your family. Ultimately the decision  as to what you should be exposed to must be left to your parent, who seeks to impart the family’s values to you. The Giver, by Lois Lowry, however, remains one of the most challenged books in The United States of America, even as it has such relevance for the middle-schooler, just coming of age in an increasingly complex world. The Giver is about a boy who grows up in a futuristic society where everybody is almost exactly the same, and emotions are considered obsolete. As the book progresses, the boy begins to realize that people could reach greater actualization of their aspirations than exists in their society which seeks to repress individuality. Although the book portrays this repressiveness in graphic terms,  The Giver should not be banned because it informs readers as to the importance of individuality and tolerance for differences, as well as the oppressive nature of imposing conformity.

Although The Giver is, at times violent, this too is not a justification for banning the book. Such violence, in this book is not gratuitous but rather, instances of poaching, scenes of war, and occurrences of euthanasia reflect the realities in some parts of the world and reinforce the premise of the book of a world without texture and creativity. Some might argue that The Giver is too violent  for a younger audience.  In fact, this is the second most common reason for it to be banned or challenged. Although that is a compelling argument on the surface, it is really rather superficial as none of the scenes promote violence. For example, in chapter seventeen, Jonas is overwhelmed by the ignorance of his peers as to what war is really like, "His childhood, his friendships, his carefree sense of security-all of these things [seem] to be slipping away. With his new, heightened feelings, he was overwhelmed by sadness at the way the others had laughed and shouted, playing at war. But he knew that they could not understand why, without the memories. He felt such love for Asher and for Fiona. But they could not feel it back, without the memories. And he could not give them those." (Lowry 135). Although some argue, spuriously, that this book promotes violence, it should be clear that it does not. Rather it is thought-provoking and catalyzes self-reflection and assessment of one’s values.  

The sexually explicit themes in The Giver  should also not be a justification for banning  the book.  In The Giver, Jonas has a dream that he bathes Fiona, a girl for whom he has strong feelings. even though these emotions  are not acceptable in his community. The accompanying nudity in this scene, although natural, is commonly viewed as inappropriate in some sectors of our society. That  argument is weak because the scene is used to tastefully show that Jonas has his own thoughts and emotions, very human emotions, and the behavior and fantasy he engages in have a naturalness that reflect his true emotions. According to Kenneth R. Morefield, “It’s worth pointing out that some of the objectionable themes… are not exactly glorified in the dystopian classic. People who ban books aren’t always the best interpreters of the stories they contain.” (1), this includes the nudity in the aforementioned scene.

The Giver is a noteworthy book that uses some adult themes to stimulate thought and to encourage and express individuality, and creativity. Because the book employs these adult themes, it is controversial in some sectors. As a result, many schools are opposed to having it in their libraries. Even though it is clear that this book should not be banned in schools because of its explicit themes, the decision of whether the student should read The Giver must ultimately lie in the parent’s hand. Indeed, a close and secure family might utilize such a book as an opportunity to teach the child values, the importance of striving, and the expression of feelings and values.

Work Cited

Blatt, Ben. "Will the Giver Movie Prompt More Schools to Ban the Book?"Slate Magazine. N.p., 14 Aug. 2014. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1993. Print.

Morefield, Kenneth R. "The Giver." Christianitytoday.com. N.p., 15 Aug. 2014. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.0