Racism in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

2100 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impact of the adventures of huckleberry finn

Famed novelist Ernest Hemingway believed that “[a]ll modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn…the best book we’ve had.” The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic American tale with all the essentials of a story that feeds our imagination. On the surface, the novel appears to be a very unpretentious tale of adventure, and self-discovery that has earned a place on every high school required reading list. However, if the story is closely examined, it takes on darker undertones of a racist culture replete with derogatory language and glimpses into the ugliness and turmoil that followed in the years immediately after the Civil War, and that still exist today. Controversial and racist are two words commonly used to describe Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It is considered to be the quintessential American novel, yet it remains in the middle of a debate over whether or not it should be taught in schools. The first point of the novel from which most controversy stems is the inclusion of the word “nigger”. The inclusion of the word in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is unnecessary and offensive. Initially, critics of the novel disliked Twain’s use of vernacular because it was “vulgar and unpleasant”, disturbing genteel white Americans, not because the word “nigger” was found to be offensive (Kaye 3). Fostering an uncomfortable atmosphere for black students, critics believe that primarily white educators allow the novel because they prefer Twain’s depiction of subservient blacks (Kaye 4). Due to the prolific use of the “n-word” throughout the novel, the NAACP believes the story causes damage to black students’ self-esteem (Powell 3). Critics argue Twain’s use of a... ... middle of paper ... ...E. "Teaching The Novel." Huck Finn's "Hidden" Lesson: Teaching Across the Color Line. N.p.: Lanham, Rowman, and Littelfield, 2006. 81-85. Print. Ryan, Kevin, and Karen E. Bohlin. Building Character InSchools:Practical Ways to Bring Moral Instruction to Life. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1999. 25-40. Print. Smiley, Jane, and James Phelan. "Say It Ain't So, Huck: Second Thoughts on Mark Twain's "Masterpiece"" Mark Twain Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Case Study in Critical Controversy. Ed. Gerald Graff. Boston: Bedford/St.Martin's, 2004. 456-66. Print. Spicer, Mackenzie. "Censoring Huck Finn." E-Vision. James Madison University, n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2014. Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Signet, 1959. Print. "Visiting Monticello with Huckleberry Finn." Education Digest. N.p., Dec. 2006, vol.72 issue 4, p.65-69. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.

Show More
Related

  • The Immature Huck Finn in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

    1726 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hoffman, Daniel.  "Black Magic--and White--in Huckleberry Finn."  Adventures of Huckleberry Finn:  An Authoritative Text Backgrounds and Sources Criticism.  Ed. Sculley Bradley, et al.  2nd ed.  New York:  Norton, 1977.  423-436.

    Read More

  • Hyperboles In The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

    841 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel written by Mark Twain during the late 1800’s (Mintz). The book brought major controversy over the plot, as well as the fact that it was a spin-off to his previous story, Adventures of Tom Sawyer. This book has remained a success due to Twain’s interesting techniques of keeping the audience’s attention. Chapters eleven and twelve of “Huckleberry Finn,” uses a first person limited point of view to take advantage of the use of dialogue while using many hyperboles to add drama to entertain the reader by creating description within the story without needing to pause and explain.

    Read More

  • Should Huck Finn Be Banned Essay

    941 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Adventure’s of Huckleberry Finn’s unique ability to incorporate moral lessons through satire and simmilar literary techniques prove it to be vital for High school students, especially at Rye, to read. The vast nature of things it teaches is something very rare for one book to do. It not only provides the reader with important life themes like other great novels do but it also shocks the reader to show the power of racism which makes it one of the greatest pieces of literature of all time. Just think of how different things would be if no one had read such an important book.

    Read More

  • The Integrity and Strength of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

    1379 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hoffman, Daniel.  "Black Magic--and White--in Huckleberry Finn."  Adventures of Huckleberry Finn:  An Authoritative Text Backgrounds and Sources Criticism.  Ed. Sculley Bradley, et al.  2nd ed.  New York:  Norton, 1977.  423-436.

    Read More

  • racismhf Prejudice and Racism in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

    2062 Words  | 5 Pages

    Mark Twain's novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn depicts how he is a racist. He shows it in many ways in which his characters act. All of the people in the towns are slave owners, and treat black slaves with disrespect. In the time period of the novel slavery was not legal, but racism was. Many scenes in his novel make slaves look like fools. Mark Twain does this purposely to make colored people look and sound like fools, because he is a racist person.

    Read More

  • Hucklebery Finn by Mark Twain

    923 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mark Twain’s book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, educates high school students on how the Southern society operated at that time. When analyzing the novel, one can see that Twain’s writing clearly does not endorse slavery or the use of derogatory language toward African-Americans. In a petition to remove this book from a high school required reading list, a school board in New Jersey concluded, "the literary value of the book outweighed the negative aspect of the language employed.” (2) Huckleberry Finn is a satirical novel that was written to show the flaws of 19th century American society. It shows how people thought and acted back then, and points out what was wrong with the white supremacy mindset of many Southerners during these years. “The book itself is a great testament that...

    Read More

  • Huck's Conflicted Nature in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

    1455 Words  | 3 Pages

    Clemens, Samuel. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter, et al. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Lexington: Heath, 1994. 236-419.

    Read More

  • Abolitionist Mark Twain

    1400 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is considered a classic novel from the realism period of American Literature that accurately depicts social conventions from pre-civil war times. Despite this reputation as a historical lens of life on the Mississippi River, elements of blatant racism overshadow the regionalist and realist depictions. Huck Finn does not promote racism because all derogatory or racist remarks are presented as a window to life during the 1850s, in a satirical context, or to show Mark Twain's moral views on racism.

    Read More

  • Prejudice and Racism in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

    1060 Words  | 3 Pages

    Despite all the criticism, of racism and other questionable material for young readers, Mark Twain’s The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn is a superbly written novel, which in the opinion of this reviewer should not be remove the literary cannon. Twain’s novel is a coming of age story that teaches young people many valuable lessons and to some extend makes students reexamine their own lives and morals. The most common argument for its removal from the literary canon is that the novel is too racist; it offends black readers, perpetuates cheap slave-era stereotypes, and deserves no place on today’s bookshelves.  However one must ask if Twain is encouraging traditional southern racism or is Twain disputing these idea.

    Read More

  • Racism: A Lingering Echo in Huckleberry Finn

    1113 Words  | 3 Pages

    Racism, a major issue in society for hundreds of years, even after the abolition of slavery, still affects millions of people. African Americans today still sensitivities towards racism, and the reading of Huckleberry Finn demonstrates the pertinence of racism today similarly to two hundred years ago. When reading novels containing nineteenth century racism, African American readers are exposed to the torments their ancestors were put through, and the novel can have a positive or negative effect in that the reader may enjoy the learning of their history but may also feel humiliated in relation to their classmates of other races. In the literary novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, the apparent racism in the book affects

    Read More

  • Racism In Jane Smiley's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

    849 Words  | 2 Pages

    However, many opponents fail to consider that Twain’s emphasis on outside problems makes the novel worthy of being a literary canon. Author, Jane Smiley, of “Say it Ain't So” argues that Twain’s inability to accurately represent racism re-emphasizes the racism feeling mentality. Smiley claims “ If Huck feels positive towards Jim, and loves him, and thinks of him as a man, then that is enough. He doesn’t have to act according to his feelings” (Smiley 63). Yet, Smiley fails to acknowledge the power of thought on each person's actions. The main reason people in Huckleberry Finn act in certain ways is dependent on their personal thoughts. Thus, the ability to amend a person’s perceptions can affect future actions. Twain does not make Huck only change his preconceived racial attitudes, but makes Huck make crucial decisions between “what society deems correct” versus “ doing what is right”. Thus, Smiley’s argument is ultimately invalid by failing to concede Huck’s actions toward

    Read More

  • Huckleberry Finn

    1052 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mark Twain’s masterpiece The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through much criticism and denunciation has become a well-respected novel. Through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old boy, Huckleberry Finn, Twain illustrates the controversy of racism and slavery during the aftermath of the Civil War. Since Huck is an adolescent, he is vulnerable and greatly influenced by the adults he meets during his coming of age. His expedition down the Mississippi steers him into the lives of a diverse group of inhabitants who have conflicting morals. Though he lacks valid morals, Huck demonstrates the potential of humanity as a pensive, sensitive individual rather than conforming to a repressive society. In these modes, the novel places Jim and Huck on pedestals where their views on morality, learning, and society are compared.

    Read More

  • The Controversy of Huckleberry Finn

    1527 Words  | 4 Pages

    　　Over the 129 years for which the book has been in print, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been regarded with much controversy, for many different reasons. As it has progressed, the subject of this controversy has been almost constantly changing. This essay will explore some of the claims and explanations of the controversy, as well as a discussion on whether the book is even that controversial. While everyone is entitled to their own opinion about this novel, The main complaints seem to revolve around three core topics: Twain’s portrayal of Jim and other blacks, The extensive use of the racial slurs and racism, and the final chapters of the book itself.

    Read More

  • Morality in Huckleberry Finn

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    Twain, Mark. “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” The Norton Anthology: American Literature. Ed. Julia Reidhead. New York: Norton & Company Inc., 2012. 130-309. Print.

    Read More

  • The True Father of Huck Finn

    1332 Words  | 3 Pages

    Twain, Mark, and Cynthia Johnson. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2009. Print.

    Read More

More about Racism in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Open Document