The Grapes of Wrath by John SteinbeckThe Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is considered a classic novel by many in the literary field. The trials and tribulations of the Joad family and other migrants are recounted throughout this novel. In order to gain perspective on the lives of the “Oakies,” Steinbeck uses themes and language from the troubled times of the Great Depression. Some of these aspects are criticized for their vulgarity and adult character. In some places, The Grapes of Wrath has been edited or banned. These challenges undermine Steinbeck's attempts to add reality to the novel and are unwarranted. In 1939, The Grapes of Wrath was published and was criticized for its content. Vulgarity and misrepresentation by a preacher were the main complaints that led to the banning and burning of the novel in the libraries of St. Louis, Missouri, in September 1939. The vulgarity may be widespread in the book, but it has its purpose. Steinbeck used vulgar terms to accurately represent the jargon and slang used by people in the 1930s. Most terms considered vulgar can be a little obnoxious, but it's nothing you don't hear on the street today. Extreme profanity is not foreign to the novel, in fact, it is insignificant compared to the slang terms used today. Casy, the former preacher who traveled with the Joads, does not have the connotation of a very holy man. Casy did not consider himself a minister at the time The Grapes of Wrath takes place. "But I'm not a preacher anymore" is uttered repeatedly by Casy to deny that he is a man of the cloth. Indeed, Casy is brutally killed in the novel, but he does not go into graphic and violent details. Once again, Casy's feelings against employers and the government were common at the time and were used to express this idea. Another point of controversy lies in the final sequence of The Grapes of Wrath. In this finale, an old man breastfeeds Rose of Sharon, a young woman whose baby was born stillborn. Some think it's pornographic, sexual and inappropriate, especially for young children. In fact, in some states the footage is removed. This sequence may be vulgar, but it is an essential element of the novel and is not pornographic...