To Release or Not to Release

How would the novel be received in different areas of the world? Would the novel have the same impact in another country or culture?

My final blog post will have to do with the reason why we as North Americans see Slaughterhouse-Five differently than someone else would from somewhere else in the world.  There are two answers and they are quite simple.  These two reasons are why the novel was banned in the first place.  The answers are religion and parental discretion.  These come into play more towards Europe and Asia where religion is very strong.  A lot of the content in the novel does offend many beliefs with its idealism of contradicting god with fate or destiny and with the aggressive narrative and inappropriate images.  The reason that the novel is not banned in North America anymore is because we have lost our strong religious connections.  When we lost this connection our opinions have changed and we have opened our minds to see more opportunities.  We think that profanity is just a part of our lives now, and that it’s ok to hear it and use it.  We do not think that showing our bodies to someone who is not our spouse is ok and that profanity is not a sin.  In the parts of the world where religion is a big part of their lives they might see this novel differently.  They might see the narrative and images described as offensive because it goes against what they were taught. 

The final thing that may play a factor to wither the novel is banned or not is the location that the novel is sold.  What I’m trying to say is if the novel was released in the country where Dresden was bombed they might not want to ban it because it is a big part of their history and it lets the people of the country know what had happened such a long time ago.  On the other hand if it was released in Britain where they had a hand in the bombing of Dresden they might not want to have it read because it is a bad part of their history.