Social
issues in books could mean new knowledge for young adults. 1984 by George Orwell
is a book about Winston, a questioning and different citizen of Oceania, where Big
Brother is always watching you. Winston learns of the secret rebel
organization, The Brotherhood, and starts a revolution that could change the
course of the future. Although it is one of the most challenged books written,
it should not be removed from middle school libraries because students are just
stepping into the adult world and this book teaches them about it.
Many
students can learn about the threats of different totalitarian governments
around the world, because in 1984, Oceania’s government directly represents
those real world governments. One of these governments is North Korea’s; Big
Brother is the dictator of Oceania, as Kim Jong Un of North Korea. “Kim has put
more than 200,000 North Koreans, including children, into labor camps,
according to Humans Rights Watch; they’re tortured, starved, and attacked by
dogs if they get out of line.” States Bryan Brown in his Upfront article “Could
Hitler Happen Again”. Big Brother mirrors this, and takes roughly the same
actions. Another example is Oceania’s thought police. Which supposedly “read
people’s thoughts” for any rebellious ideas and make them “vanish”. Many other
totalitarian government share the same secret police or mafia to punish their
people undercover. Students need to know of the threats from countries like
North Korea and they enter a dangerous world where they need to be cautious.
1984 is on
ALA’s list of most banned books for one reason only, sexual content. This seems
to scare parents so they don’t let their kids read it. However, this book’s
supposed “inappropriateness” should be used as a guide to the kids about sexual
dangers. The most challenged scene in the book is when Winston tell a story of
him in contact with prostitution. Writes in his diary, “When I saw her in the
light she was quite an old woman, fifty years old at least. But I went and did
it all the same.” (Implying that he had sex with her anyway). This may be
thought as encouraging it, but after, Winston states that it was the hardest thing
to write down and he regrets every second of it. Instead of being badly
influenced, children are being warned about the consequences you have to live
with after.
Although
1984 has been challenged many times, parents and teachers should know that
although it may seem that middle school students are not ready for the content
in this book, but that is the opposite, if they don’t learn in middle school
then they are stepping into the adult world without any knowledge of it.
Situations like the Eric Garner case that question law and rights will fly over
their heads. They will be walking into a world where they will be oblivious to
the problems around them.
