Is Legend PG-13? Understanding the Rating
When approaching the novel "Legend" by Marie Lu, an essential question to ask oneself is whether it is rated PG-13 or not. In this article, we will delve into the reasons behind this question, exploring the book’s rating and the elements that warrant such a classification.
The PG-13 Factor: Why It Matters
In the United States, the Motion Picture Association (MPAA) ratings provide guidelines for parents to judge the suitability of films, including the content, duration, and genre. Ranging from G (suitable for all ages) to NC-17 (unsuitable for minors without adult supervision), the categories aim to provide an overarching judgment of the movie or TV show. However, the MPAA classification does not extend to the world of literature, yet we can use these classifications as a basis to understanding the PG-13 guideline for the "Legend" novel.
Why It’s Not PG-13
Strong Violence, Language Throughout, and Some Sexual and Drug Material are the chief reasons why "Legend" cannot be considered a PG-13 book. Author Marie Lu crafts a suspenseful narrative filled with these elements, which have no place in a rated-PG-13 reading material.
| Criteria | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| Strong Violence | Grisly scenes, deaths, fighting, and intense conflicts |
| Language Throughout | Swearing, explicit profanity, and graphic statements |
| Some Sexual Material | Partially dressed illustrations, romantic encounters |
On page 37 of "Legend", for instance, the reader encounters blunt violence, shooting, and casualties, creating an intense atmosphere of hostility and fear. At another point, Day gets caught in a battle; he’s shot in both arms, resulting in painful, bloody injuries resembling war casualties (p. 146-147). Such violent interactions and scenes make the work inconsistent with the PG-13 classification standards.
Additionally, within the story, the swearing, profanity, and explicit language, while sparingly used, cannot help but raise the level of the rating to one indicating mature content.
Incorporating the last factors mentioned above (Sex, Romance & Nudity), while they might involve only tender emotions and intimate situations, still present the risk of compromising one’s judgment for parental discretion, pushing the level even higher. By any means, this can effectively prevent the "Legend" novel from achieving the low-end PG-13 stamp of approval.
Reasons Why Legend Might Even be Rated R
• The Death and Near-Death of Day, Metias, and Protagonists’ Friend
• Sexist, Racial, Age-Related Profanity from Certain Characters
• Battles and Scenes Leading to Fatal Injuries/Fatalities
With attention-grabbing moments revealing gruesome wounds, explicit battles, and explicit statements across various age, sex, and racial backgrounds, not only would these incidents fall short of a PG rating, but even exceed requirements for a strict G, PG, or some higher level rating, for that matter. That leaves only NC-17 and Restricted, making R for Rated R, not counting, for obvious reasons as these two higher rated warnings apply only to cinema while books remain their own unclassified domain. In consideration of these, I declare: No, not in any PG-13 or G form of movie/book classification will it rank as it would break PG-13 criteria beyond comprehension.