Texts from 40-60 years ago that reflect discriminatory ideas of their time should not be censored. A Good Man Is Hard to Find highlights the recent past’s racial realities, demonstrated by the grandmother’s derogatory remarks toward a black child (O’Connor 8). Retaining that fragment can help one understand whether the country has advanced in the equality department regarding the language (“pickaninny”) and income, as the boy “didn’t have any britches on” then (O’Connor 8). On the other hand, Hills like White Elephants remains relevant because some women still tend to rely on their husbands’ opinion and permission as far as certain decisions are concerned (Hemingway 42). In the short story, they range from insignificant ones (“Could we try it?” regarding a drink) to major dilemmas (“I think it’s the best thing to do” as the man’s reaction to abortion) (Hemingway 44). One may argue that the American will respect the girl’s decision regardless of the outcome, making the text nuanced (Hemingway 44). Overall, censoring literary works from the last century is meaningless and even detrimental because they are closely connected with today’s realities and indicate whether the situation has improved.
Works Cited
Hemingway, Ernest. Men Without Women. Simon & Schuster, 1955.
O’Connor, Flannery. A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1992.