Books
There are many great works of fiction that, despite their massive influence on the literary canon, present or perpetuate problematic ideas. We cannot ignore the shortcomings of these books, but to remove or discard them would be to disregard their historic importance and artistic merit. Their failures must be addressed and discussed directly, and (whenever possible) countered with works that present similar ideas in better, more enlightened ways. We have compiled a list of problematic classics (left column), as well as examples that provide more nuanced discussions of similar topics (right column).
The works listed below are considered classic works of literature, despite the presence of racist, sexist, or other problematic content. Despite their flaws, these texts still have literary value, and must be taught with the proper context.
Heart of Darkness by Call Number: 823.912 C754HPublication Date: 1899Despite the admiration that Marlowe (the narrator) expresses for the natives along the Congo River, they are still portrayed as backward, barbaric savages. Additionally, the novel minimizes the evils of imperialism.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Call Number: J F T969HPublication Date: 1885Contains controversial depictions of race and racism. Critics are split; some argue that Twain mocks racist ideas, while others claim he falls short of fully breaking away from prevailing ideas of his time.
Jane Eyre by Call Number: 823.8 B8681J2Publication Date: 1847Considered an early feminist novel for its portrayal of Jane, but it has often been criticized for its portrayal of Bertha.
Oliver Twist by Call Number: 823.8 D548OLPublication Date: 1838The character of Fagan draws heavily on antisemitic caricatures. There are subtle threads of antisemitism in many of Dickens's works, but Fagan serves as the most prominent example.
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Call Number: eBookPublication Date: 1852Though considered a powerful anti-slavery novel, the book has been criticized for its reliance on and perpetuation of racist stereotypes.
Stranger in a Strange Land by Call Number: 813.54 H468SPublication Date: 1961Despite its place as a sci-fi classic, the book is criticized as being deeply misogynistic in its portrayals of female characters and discussions of women in general.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Call Number: 813.54 L478TPublication Date: 1960Iconic coming of age story that deals with racial injustice, but often criticized for examining racism from a purely white perspective, and not giving agency to nonwhite characters.
Dracula by Call Number: eBookPublication Date: 1897Female characters are presented either as pure and virginal or as evil (vampire) temptresses, with no middle ground.
Gone with the Wind by Call Number: 813.52 M681GPublication Date: 1936Set in the antebellum South, the novel practically ignores the evils of slavery, and presents its black characters as exaggerated racist caricatures.
At the Mountains of Madness by Call Number: eBookPublication Date: 1936Despite Lovecraft's massive influence on horror, he was notoriously racist, and as a result many of his stories contain racist imagery and metaphors.
Lolita by Call Number: 813.52 N117LPublication Date: 1955Infamously depicts a relationship between a teenage girl and a middle-aged man. Told from his perspective, the novel makes her seem a willing, consenting participant in their affair.
The Odyssey by Call Number: 883.01 H766odyPublication Date: 2017Female characters are presented almost exclusively as temptresses, many of whom serve as sexual conquests for Odysseus while his wife remains chaste, waiting for his return.
Little House on the Prairie by Call Number: J F W673LIPublication Date: 1935Contains stereotypical depictions of both Native Americans and African Americans.
Books listed here discuss similar themes/ideas to books listed to the left, but without the problematic language or ideologies. They should not necessarily replace the classics, but might serve as beneficial complements or counterparts.
Things Fall Apart by Call Number: 823.914 A177TPublication Date: 1958Set in Nigeria, the novel focuses on the experiences of Nigerian characters and does not shy away from the evils of colonialism. A good counterpart to Heart of Darkness.
Invisible Man by Call Number: 813.54 E47IPublication Date: 1952Addresses numerous racist caricatures and stereotypes that the narrator contends with. Highly allegorical; understanding the book's symbols is key to understanding its message.
Wide Sargasso Sea by Call Number: 823.912 R479wPublication Date: 1966Hailed as a feminist and postcolonial response to Jane Eyre, the novel provides a complex, nuanced backstory for the character of Bertha.
The Collected Stories by Call Number: 813.54 P158A6Publication Date: 1994Paley's work, like Dickens's, relies heavily on social commentary and themes of class struggle, without any of the antisemitic undertones.
Black Slave Narratives by Call Number: 301.451 B358BPublication Date: 1970Contains the true accounts of people who endured or escaped slavery, such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Josiah Henson (the inspiration for Uncle Tom's Cabin).
The Left Hand of Darkness by Call Number: 813.54 L521LEPublication Date: 1969Groundbreaking feminist sci-fi novel that discusses gender and its effect on society. A good counterpart to misogynistic sci-fi like Stranger in a Strange Land.
The Hate U Give by Call Number: J F T454haPublication Date: 2017Like To Kill a Mockingbird, deals with the themes of agency, coming of age, and learning about racial injustice, but with POC at the center, rather than white characters.
The Yellow Wall-Paper by Call Number: eBookPublication Date: 1892A hallmark of early feminist horror, it highlights how women often had their concerns dismissed or trivialized by men.
Kindred by Call Number: eBookPublication Date: 2017Told from the perspective of a black woman mysteriously transported from the 1970s to the antebellum South, the novel highlights the horrors of slavery as well as more modern racial issues.
