The three reasons to worry about the effects of the novel on readers were:
(i) The cities were worried about the immoral influence of the novels. They took people away from real surroundings to an imaginary world where anything could happen.
(ii) Women and children were considered as soft targets that could be corrupted easily. They were warned against ailments and diseases, which would ruin their lives if they wasted their time in reading novels. (iii) Men were suspicious of women reading or writing novels. This suspicions cut across communities. Many thought women would become rebellious and refuse to conform to traditions.
