Should The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn be required in school?
Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is said to be one of the greatest American novels to ever be written and is what all other pieces of American literature are based off of. The novel has been debated for over an entire century and will continue to be debated for much longer. Never the less, Huckleberry Finn teaches young students and adults the important life lessons. ”The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain should remain required reading in American Literature classes because it enlightens students about the horrors of racism and slavery, familiarizes students with the South during time period, and properly portrays the powers of conformity.
Throughout the entire novel there are numerous examples of slavery and racism of African Americans in this time period. The use of what some may see as racial slurs in the novel is the vernacular of the average person in the South. While traveling down the river with Jim, Huck conveys, “I see is wasnt no use wasting words you can’t learn a nigger to argue. So I quit” (80). This is a strong example of how Huck uses the word nigger in a non-derogatory way. Huck uses it as many uses the word man. Many students and parents view this type of the word in a demeaning and racist way. Many people are led astray because of the word and do not understand what the word really means. Although today the English language has morphed and changed to suit society’s needs, the word nigger has become a slanderous word used to speak downley on an African American. In the times of Huckleberry Finn slaves like Jim did not take offense to the word because that is what they titled black slaves. Many believe Jim is portrayed...
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...ever heard of getting a prisoner loose in such an old-maidy way as that?"(243). Huck being with Tom really affects how he looks at Jim not getting him out when they could but going along with the plan when they could have gotten him out much quicker.
Ultimately, Mark Twain’s ageless classic, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” should remain taught in schools. There are many lessons to be taught and learned by reading and understanding Huckleberry Finn. Although some sources may say that a child can pick up this book and think it is ok to lie, ok to steal and ok to be blasphemous, this is not the case (Culture Shock). If future students are unable to read and comprehend the book they will be less off than other students. Society should not ban a book from schools that allows students to learn about our ancestors just because it is offensive to some individuals.
Life in the late eighteen hundreds was very different from the life we know today. Not only was there more inequality, there were also more health concerns and lapses in education. Mark Twain, in his book “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” has given us a special look into the past through the eyes of a young boy. Though this book is one of, if not the most highly criticized books in the American school system, it is also one of the most highly renowned. Through the criticism, Twain has given us a golden reflective opportunity.
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.
“Who gets to decide what I get to read in schools?” This question was brought up by Dr. Paul Olsen in a recent lecture. This question inspires many other questions revolving around the controversy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It makes one wonder if books like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be included in high school curriculum even with all the controversy about them or are they better left alone. Should The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn be taken off of school reading lists because of a single word when it has so much more to offer students? The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be included in high school English curriculums because it is relevant to current issues, it starts important conversations about race
First off, I would like to ask you if you think Huckleberry Finn should be banned from society? With that question in mind I would like to tell you why it should not. The Novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, according to an offended citizen, that the novel "should be removed from schools curriculum and expunged from public library shelves." This novel is already banned from all black schools and Christian schools for the profusely use of the "N" word and the insults of religion by Mark Twain. The "N" was used over 200 times throughout the course of the novel. Also, the actions of Huck and other negative characters in the novel does not help plead my case on why I disagree with this citizen. I disagree with this citizen and I think it should be allowed in schools curriculum and in libraries because it is a classic American novel and it shows how America has evolved as a nation. Huck Finn lies profusely in the novel, depicts African Americans negatively or using the "N" word, and his attitude is a negative influence on children today.
The people who are trying to ban The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are only trying to block out a part of American history that they would just as soon be forgotten, but every part of American history needs to be dealt with and accepted by everyone at a young age. Trying to shield students from any important part of history is a crime within itself. Hannibal, Missouri is a prime example of this type of crime. Every year they have a citywide celebration of Mark Twain, but they do not celebrate The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson nor do they teach it in their schools. Best stated by Shelly Fisher Fishkin, the theater company in Hannibal “was upholding a long American tradition of making slavery and its legacy and blacks themselves invisible”(Zwick, Jim.
Many people feel that Huck Finn should be banned from schools. John H. Wallace presented several arguments against the novel. In particular, he felt strongly about how demeaning the book is towards African Americans and that they are offended by language used within it (Wallace). For example, in the book, Aunt Sally asks if anyone was hurt and he says, “No’m. Killed a n****r” (Twain 221). This implies that slaves were worthless. Considering the treatment the African Americans have received in the past few hundred years, it is completely understandable that they are bothered by this. Wallace also feels that Twain chooses terrible role
The act of banning something is an aggressive measure. However, this being said whether to ban Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has long been debated. While some say that the book is offensive and disrespectful, others claim it to be a valuable learning lesson. Because of its beneficial lessons, its way of shocking the reader, its reputation as being one of the best novels in american history along with other controversial books being allowed in high schools, The Adventure’s of Huckleberry Finn should be read by every High School across the country.
They make the point that while reading the book, you must remember that Mark Twain was not a racist. He rarely spoke or wrote of race, but when he did it was more favorable to blacks than whites. "You must understand what Twain was trying to do with his story; trying to reveal the plight of the slave. And he was doing it with the vernacular of the time". Twain wrote Huck Finn in mindset of Americans during the 19th century, and it is important for readers to see how far Americans, have come since then. "Huck Finn is a novel that, despite the N-word, portrays great values that should not be overlooked. If we ban Huck Finn, then we are ignoring our history, and racism was a part of our history, whether we like it or not, and reading the book helps us remember the mistakes of our American past". It is also argued that banning books often robs students literature. "Do we remove Macbeth' because of the murders and witches?". It is argued that censorship of any kind is an attack on our freedom, freedom that our country was found upon, freedom that Huck and Jim both sought and found in Twain's
One word has held The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn out of many high schools and libraries, kept kids from reading this amazing novel, and sparked controversy all across America. This is considered one of the greatest stories of all time, but kids are kept from reading it because of the “n word” used over 200 times. While it’s offensive to some people, that does not mean all children should be kept from it, because maybe some children are not offended. We need to teach this novel in high school because it shows history kids need to know, kids need to read this great novel, and it is actually an anti-slavery story.
You can not please everyone, so it's better to just please yourself. Huckleberry Finn has been a big controversy since it was published, People either find it offensive or helpful. The book tells the tale of a man and a teen who are both trying to escape their reality, there's only one problem Huck is a regular teenage boy who befriends a African American. Considering this took place in the 1800’s this was seen as dreadful. The book says the N-word all throughout the book which upsets some of its audience and which is why schools want to ban it. Schools should not have to ban this book because it teaches students about the past, you can't ban something that already happened, and most importantly it stands up to African Americans.
Frances W. Kaye suggests that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an essential milestone in American literature. This powerful novel is structured around slavery and racism. Removing those elements from the novel serves to change the story itself thereby eliminating its effect. The novel wouldn’t be the novel that it is (1 of 21). Frances W. Kaye discusses the continuing significance of Huckleberry Finn, it emphasizes that the book marks over racism in the white society. She tells the reader that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is beautiful, cruel and is indecisive. The novel is the bondage of two people and their fight for someone’s freedom. She points out that readers must read carefully because this was written his Twain’s time and the language was different. She tells us that “nigger” was meant for black people back then so she has quoted us what Huck said in the novel “Good gracious! Anybody hurt?” “No’m. Killed a nigger”. “Well, it’s lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt. (Chapter 32)1 Frances W. Kaye tells us that if Twain opinion of slavery ends up being surprising, she believes that Twain opinion o...
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a book that is highly censored, and even banned in some schools. It is a book wrote for children, which many people find controversial. A debate popular in high schools today is whether or not we should expose students to certain issues or if we should be sensitive to them. Michael Kreyling, an English Professor, stated “If it isn’t a dangerous book, there really is no reason for anybody to read it or teach it.” His statement was correct and there is a lot of evidence of this. Books that contain sensitive topics can open up a student’s minds and make them think about real issues going on in the world.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is an immensely realistic novel, revealing how a child's morals and actions clash with those of the society around him. Twain shows realism in almost every aspect of his writing; the description of the setting, that of the characters, and even the way characters speak. Twain also satirizes many of the foundations of that society. Showing the hypocrisy of people involved in education, religion, and romanticism through absurd, yet very real examples. Most importantly, Twain shows the way Huckleberry's moral beliefs form amidst a time of uncertainty in his life.
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.
Mark Twain used his extensive knowledge on society and its hidden impurities to vividly reflect the novel’s symbols to applicable real-world issues. The novel’s enormous impact and notorious relevance at the time of its publication are big factors to why the novel is still referred to as such an important piece of American Literature. Mark Twain proved to be strikingly successful in shaping The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn into a literary masterpiece by embellishing the novel with the proper literary devices and meaningful