Huckleberry Finn Should Be Banned Essay

Not to Ban: Teaching The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published on December 10, 1884. From that date to present times, the novel has been challenged by many. For years the question has been “To ban or not to ban the teaching of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Across the world, schools and libraries choose to ban this book because of its content. The author of this novel, Mark Twain, pushes the boundaries on the topics that are considered a taboo by most. His use of satire throughout the novel brought a new approach to the realm of writing. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should continue to be taught in public schools because it realistically expresses southern life for the time period in which

it was written, it teaches a moral lesson, and it is original that dares to discuss societal taboos.
The setting of the novel is Missouri in the 1830’s and 1840’s. For those who do not know why this is significant, it is because during this time period white people in the south are extremely racist; especially to those who are of African descent. During the 1830’s and 1840’s slavery is legal, African Americans are kept and owned like animals, and white people are the only important citizens in society. White people during this time are disgusted and hateful towards people who are not of caucasian descent. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark
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Twain captures this white supremacist attitude perfectly. One of the most racist characters in the novel was Huckleberry Finn’s father, whom the reader knows as Pap. There is an agglomeration of racist things that Pap says during his time being alive in the novel. One of them is, “It was ‘lection day, and I was just about to go and vote myself if I warn’t too drunk to get there; but then they told me there was a state in this country where they’d let that nigger vote. I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote again” (Twain 37). Pap shows how racist he is in this quote, he would rather waste his own rights than to support an African American having a basic right. Unfortunately, this attitude is common in old southern reality as well. African Americans are often lynched in this time period for wanting these common rights. The second way that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn shows a realistic depiction of southern life is when the reader hears the character Jim speak. Jim is an African American slave who works for Miss Watson. He is uneducated like most slaves during this time period in both the novel and reality. Jim speaks in broken English that is difficult for the reader to understand. For example Jim says, “De men ‘uz all ‘way yonder in de middle whah de lantern wuz” (Twain 55). The reader can tell that Jim is uneducated by the way he speaks which is also common in actual southern life during this time period. African Americans are not educated because they are considered inferior and serve the sole purpose of doing manual labor in the 1830’s and 1840’s. Another quote that supports this reason is when Huck plans to go back to turn Jim in because that is what society will say that he should do. Huck says, “What did that poor old woman do to you that you could treat her so mean? Why, she tried to learn you your book, she tried to learn you your manners, she tried to be good to you every way she knowed how. That’s what she done" (Twain 99). Huck says this
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because he is torn between turning Jim in or letting him remain free because society would want Jim to be turned in. This is true for actual southern life as well. In this time period society wants all slaves to be turned in if they run away. The third way that Twain captures the aura of southern life in the 1800’s so well is by adding a feud in the novel. The Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons have had a fued for decades. Buck Grangerford says “A feud is this way: A man has a quarrel with another man, and kills him; and then that other man’s brother kills him; then the other brothers, on both sides, goes for one another; then the cousins chip in- and by and by everybody’s killed off” (Twain 119). This is a stereotypical element of the frontier ages of southern life so Mark Twain adds it to the novel to show irony and satire towards the old way of life in the south.
In the novel, readers can see the moral evolution of Huckleberry Finn himself and what life lessons he learns throughout his journey on the raft with Jim. In the beginning of the novel Huck shows his conformity to the opinions of the rest of society. However, after Huck and Jim set out on their escape, Huck’s views and opinions begin to change. Huck says “I was ever so glad to see Jim. I warn’t so lonesome now. I told him I warn’t afraid of him telling the people where I was” (Twain 52). Before Huck and Jim leave civilization, Huck does not consider Jim to be a friend because white people are not allowed to consider African Americans as their friends in this old society. Now that the boys are on the river, Jim is the only person Huck has. Huck finally begins to see Jim as a human being with feelings. One early review says that “ - the moral of the book, though is not scrawled across every page, teaches the necessity of manliness and self-sacrifice “ (The Atlanta Constitution 1885). Huck learns gradually throughout this journey
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that Jim is in fact a human being and his realization of this represents maturity.

A modern review by Avil Beckford says, “Huck uses his past experiences to survive. His father abused him, and left him to his own devices frequently. The experiences make Huck much stronger and as a result, whatever life throws his way, he is able to overcome the challenges” (Avil Beckford). Huck has had a hard life with his Pap. He hates civilization because he does not fit in. Huck has finally found the place where he belongs, on a raft far away from civilization. Twain uses irony and satire by showing that Huck learns to be more morally civilized than the rest of society even though he is separated from society. One last thing that Huck does that truly shows his moral development is when he says “Alright then, I’ll go to hell” (Twain 221). Huck says this when he tears up a note that was for Miss Watson on the whereabouts of Jim. He knows that society will condemn him for not turning in a runaway slave but he does not care. Huck would rather save his friend and be reprimanded by society than betray his friend just because he has a different skin

tone.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be taught in public schools because it is unique and original literature that is different from any other novel in its time.

Mark Twain is an author that took an approach to people and stabbed at society like no one else dares to do, even today. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel that perfectly exposes society for its crookedness. “Humans can be awful cruel to one another” (Twain 242). Twain writes this out in this novel because it is extremely true across the world throughout all of history from ancient times to present days. Many renowned critics have called the novel one of a kind. New York Times says “Ernest Hemingway would say, it’s the best book we’ve had. All American

writing
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comes from that” (New York Times). Twain’s remarkably original approach to the wickedness of society earned him an article written by New York Times. If this novel is not unique and original it would not be looked at by widely known critics such as these. Another review says that “Mark Twain may be called the Edison of our literature” (The San Francisco Chronicle). This review compares Mark Twain to Thomas Edison who was one of the most inventive minds of his time. Another review says that “There's a reason why many consider The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to be one of the great -- if not the greatest -- American novel. It broke many of the literary rules of its time and thus set the pattern for much of American literature ever since” (Matt Berman). This claim is one of many that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a phenomenal and unique literary work.
A counter argument to this would be that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should not be taught in school because it teaches racist sentiments. One source says “The negative impact of the book about a boy who goes down a river with an escaped slave outweighed its literary benefits” (The Telegraph). This source comes from a school that banned the novel for its content. This is unnecessary because the novel does in fact have high literary benefits. The novel shows a realistic picture of what southern society was like in this time period and teaches a life lesson to its readers. Another source says “It is difficult to believe that the critics who have condemned the book as coarse, vulgar, and inartistic can have read it” (The Atlanta Constitution). The novel truthfully criticizes the flaws and corruption in society and that is important for the whole world to know.

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should continue to be taught in public schools because not only does it teach a life lesson and expose society for its flaws, it shows readers that they too can set themselves apart from popular opinions. Huck Finn teaches the audience that their opinions do matter and that people should always do what they feel is right. Taking away the teaching of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from public school systems will only harm students. They will never have the chance to read about a boy who chose to stand out when everyone else chose to cower if the book is taken away. The novel is extremely inspirational because it relates to life today, especially the lives of students. Kids today are afraid to separate from the crowd but this novel teaches them exactly how to do that and that it is acceptable to be different because doing the right thing will always come back to reward them in the end.