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Forever Author Judy Blume once said, “[I]t's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.” From 1975 until now the novel Forever by Judy Blume has been banned across the United States, for its sexually explicit nature. After reading Forever one can understand the reasons for its banning, conversely, many consider its banning to be invalid like Ms. Bennett who believes it was a great experience for her daughter to have read Forever “wistfully reflecting that she (Ms. Bennett) didn't have books like Ms. Blume's when she was coming of age. ‘I had to fend for myself'” she said. In accord with Ms. Bennett, Forever is an important story that can help many young adults make the best decision for themselves. In addition, Linda Behen feels that “the book might be helpful to some in learning about sex and intimate relationships. [because] Not all parents discuss sex and intimacy with their children.” Although Forever does not show the physical complications that can arise in a sexual relationship such as sexually transmitted diseases, it does deal with the emotional side effects of a sexual relationship. By informing young adults that sex cannot only hurt them physically but can also affect them emotionally Forever may help adolescents make better decisions in the future. Age and maturity play a vital role in correctly interpreting Forever, and with proper interpretation this book can be a benefit for young adults. Forever is the story of Katherine and Michael two high school seniors who fall in love for the first time. Not long after meeting, Katherine and Michael start dating; soon Katherine has to decide if she is ready for a sexual relationship. Eventually, Katherine and Michael become sexually active, and Katherine goes to Planned Parenthood and starts taking contraceptive in the form of “the pill”. After graduation Katherine and Michael are separated by summer jobs, ultimately Katherine realizes that she “is not ready for forever” (198), and the relationship ends. According to the critics the foremost reason for banning Forever is the novel’s sexually explicit nature. First off, this novel was written for young adults, the main characters Katherine and Michael are in high school where many feel it is inappropriate for adolescents to take part is sexual relationships. In addition, when you “consider the average high school [student]: impressionable, unformed, and strongly in need of guidance to make critical choices,” (Blanchette) some feel that Forever is unsuitable for young adults, claiming it will have a negative influence on them. Moreover, some feel that by portraying “the first time” in positive light, adolescents can be blinded and not understand the negative aspects of premature sexual activity. Others novels that are criticized and banned for sexual content include such classics as The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, and Brave New World by Aldous Huxely. In 1975, Brandbury Press published Forever as Blume’s first adult novel, Blume was infuriated and insisted that it be labeled a novel for young adults as it was intended. Since its publication many outraged parents, have challenged Forever insisting that “one of the major messages of Forever is that teenage sex is fun, pleasure-filled , and carries no moral repercussions,” (Blanchette) which is not a point parents want to broadcast. Therefore, in 1982 it was banned from Midvalley Junior-Senior, a high school library, in Scranton, Pennsylvania and in the Orlando, Florida schools. Again it was banned in 1983 in Akron, Ohio school district libraries as well. Today Forever continues to be challenged in the Fayetteville, Arkansas Middle and Junior High School libraries. Valerie B. Blanchette feels that its “censorship has more to do with concern over the values of promiscuity, duplicity, physical hedonism, and emotional irresponsibility woven into this book.”(Blanchette) On the other hand, Blume feels that books are banned because “books [are] seen as dangerous to young minds. Thinking [is] seen as dangerous, unless those thoughts were approved by groups like the Moral Majority, who believed with certainty they knew what was best for everyone.” (Blume) These conflicting ideas of censorship illustrate the importance of controversial literature in today’s society, this literature, depending on its content, can help people who may or may not be in a similar situations. Also, in this case Forever gives others “a ‘safe’ way … to explore this new sexual world without diving right in.”(Anderson, Elaine) Indeed, Forever is not a novel to be taken lightly; it does deal with serious situations including adolescent sexuality. However, “Forever should not be censored. It should be available in classrooms and libraries for those who wish to read it,.. all books should be available to all students. ”(Blanchette) In the end, censoring causes more harm, for example, by causing young adults to read this novel without understanding the underlying message that “teenage sexual relations… make you feel good physically but are inevitable followed by heartbreak and anguish.”(Blanchette) those who strive to keep their children innocent in turn give their children a misinterpretation of the truth. Additionally, by assuming that “if children who didn't read about it wouldn't know about it, and if they didn't know about it, it would never happen” (Blume) parents and administrators are making the naďve presumption that if their children are uninformed then they will not find themselves in similar situations. All in all, banning books for being “sexually explicit” like Blume’s Forever is not the most effective way to keep young adults from participating in sexual activity. |
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“By informing young adults that sex cannot only hurt them physically but can also affect them emotionally Forever may help adolescents make better decisions in the future.” |