REASONS FOR BANNING
Why do books get banned? Have you ever asked yourself that question? Most of the time
the main reason for a book being banned is when the novel tells a story going against
someone’s believes or religion. It can make the reader feel offended or discriminated.
Some novels are open minded enough to talk about racism or improper behaviors like
drug and alcohol abuse.The novel doesn’t necessarily have to talk about persuading
improper behaviors but overall writing about it can bring frustrations to the society and
even the government. There could be a bunch of reasons a book being banned even for
political views, being age inappropriate, or presence of witchcraft. It all the depends on a
reader and what their view is on life. Not a lot of people like to talk about racism or express
their feelings about it that’s why it’s another reason for books being challenged/banned.
The biggest issue that the society has for banning books in my opinion are religion and
improper behavior. That is the categories that my novel falls into Elmer Gantry written by
Sinclair Lewis. Amazingly written novel being banned by the society and the government
all over the United States.
WHAT DOES THE STORY TELLS US…?
The author Sinclair Lewis wrote the novel Elmer Gantry in 1927 telling us a story about a
young guy named Elmer who, like most of the teens enjoys to go out, party drink/smoke
and spend time with a lot of girls. He also enjoys getting into fights and building chaos. He
isn’t really a“school” buy or studies a lot but his best friend Jim always pushed him to
finish his senior year in College. He likes school for popularity and sports but decides to
attend school anyway because it’s the easiest way to being kept out of “hard work” labor.
Elmer likes the easy way out in life and follows it. In his speaking class he learns about
himself that he is really good at public speaking and holding the audience’s attention. He
could have joined the debate team but the work required to be on it wasn’t for him, he
liked easy stuff. One night after sitting in a bar with his friend Jim, drinking a couple of
beers, he noticed a preacher Eddie Fislinger on the street being picked on by some bullies.
Elmer without a second thought stood up for him and wanted to fight the bullies and that’s
when Eddie first introduced Elmer to Christianity. Elmer’s mother comes to town for
Annual Prayer Week and drags Elmer with her. Weeks after attending all the prayers and
meetings and learning so much about Christian religion that it finally made him go to the
alter and become a preacher himself. Elmer Gantry loved the religion, loved spreading the
words of god and preaching to people.
Making the audience listen to him was what 
kept him alive and going. He loved the
attention and the title that came with it, the
minister, the preacher. Even though
he loved that life he missed his old one.
Where he could do whatever he
desired to, getting drunk and spending time
with girls. He also missed him best friend Jim
that would do anything for Elmer. That’s one obstacle that always dragged Elmer down
and one way or another he couldn’t let go of his old life. Being a preacher and loving the
“irresponsible, fun”life didn’t quite go together. That is why the novel was banned by the
society. Many felt that is was a discrimination to their religion and disrespectful to their
believes and god. Elmer was also the one who spoke the truth as it was. He spoke openly
that life isn’t always beautiful. Sometimes there are obstacles that people need to over
come and if it gets difficult they cannot blame god for it. He wasn’t afraid to speak to
people. His difficulty was letting go of his past life which he couldn’t but does that make
him a bad person? The society couldn’t accept him. Why would a preacher praise the word
of god if he still enjoyed getting drunk and fighting with others? The society went against
this book and made the government ban it. The people couldn’t accept the fact that
someone like that could preach to them and tell prayers when they know that on the other
side he does things that a minister should not be doing. It seemed like Elmer Gantry had
to choose between two lives which he loved both. The society couldn’t accept his love for
god and that he was a good human being because he had habits he also loved. But did that
make him a bad person? To find out more details about this novel Click Here
SNEAK PEEK ABOUT THE AUTHOR 
The author of the novel was named Sinclair Lewis. He was an American novelist,
short-story writer and playwright. He was born in Sauk Centre, Minnesota on February 7th,
1885. Sinclair was the first writer from the United States that received the first Noble Prize
in Literature. His work in mainly known for his thoughtful and critical views on American
capitalism and materialism between the wars. He was a great writer, some of the other
novels written by him besides Elmer Gantry were: Free Air, Work of Art, Ann Vickers, The
God-Seeker and many more! To see all of the novels written by Sinclair Lewis Click here!
Not only he has written novels, he as well wrote short stories like The Way to Rome or A
Rose for Little Eva. Besides Mr.Lewis being a great writer he also had a life outside of
writing. He married Grace Livingston Hegger who was an editor for Vogue Magazine. The
had a son named Wells Lewis who was unfortunately killed in a war while being in U.S.
Army and soon after Sinclair got a divorce with Grace in 1925. Soon he remarried and had
another son with Dorothy Thompson, a political newspaper columnist. His second’s sons
name was Michael Lewis. Unfortunately, Sinclair Lewis didn’t have a successful marriage
because both of them have failed. His personal life wasn’t the best but his career was
successful enough for him to be known and recognized to win a Noble Prize. Sinclair Lewis
passed away on January 10th, 1951 in Rome, Italy.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
After getting familiar with the novel what do you guys think? Was it the right decision for
this novel being banned? Was it the right decision for sending Sinclair Lewis to jail for
writing such dramatic but amazing novel? This book expresses a true person who loves
god and wishes to spread his words to people around him. Elmer is the one who opens
peoples eyes that life is not just rainbows and unicorns. Just because something looks and
sounds good does not necessarily mean that is it good. We all have our own opinions on
life and how to live it. Do you guys want to know my opinion? I disagree with this novel
being banned. I believe that everyone deserves a chance to express their true self. Truth
always needs to be spoken to matter if its good or bad, it always comes out. The character
of Elmer Gantry in this novel was plays a true role of a minister/preacher. God accepts
everyone under his wing no matter who you are and what you do.
Works Cited
- “Banned Books: Reasons for Banning Books.” Reasons for Banning Books. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
2. “Elmer Gantry.” Favorite-Banned-Books.com. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
3. “Sinclair Lewis.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
4. “Elmer Gantry, a Flawed Preacher for the Ages.” NPR. NPR. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.