What does it mean to Bowdlerize a text?

To Bowdlerize a text means to censor or remove content that is considered inappropriate or offensive, often to make the material more acceptable for certain audiences, particularly children. The term originates from Thomas Bowdler, who famously published a censored version of Shakespeare’s works in the early 19th century, aimed at making them more suitable for family reading by omitting or altering parts he deemed unsuitable. As a result, Bowdlerization typically involves creating a version of a work that is stripped of its more controversial elements, emphasizing a version that is sanitized or more palatable.

The other choices involve enhancing or critiquing the text, which does not align with the specific action of Bowdlerization. The idea of publishing a new edition could suggest a revision or update of the text without necessarily implying censorship, thereby separating it from the act of Bowdlerizing.