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Huckleberry finn novel with criticism
Interrelationship between literature and society
Literature And Society
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In the novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain; it causes controversy by using the word nigger. Twain’s use of the N-word has made many schools to stop reading his book. Some publishers have changed the word nigger to slave, so it get rid of the controversy and so schools can un-banned the book. Removing the word and replacing it with slave diminishes Twain’s attempt to realistically portray race relations during the early times of our country growth. The uses of the N-word made people ban the book and change the word to slave. In the novel, the N-word was used 219 times. The uses of the N-word is shown in this quote by Pap, “When 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…I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold” (Twain 32). It became the most controversy novel when a public library in concord, Massachusetts decided to exclude the book from the shelves on the ground that the N-word …show more content…
in the book was “trashy and vicious”(Harris 3). Some publishers have changed the N-word to slave because it is less offensive and easier for white people to say. This is what people are doing to make it less offensive and easier to read. In the novel Twain uses language to show the history of what people were called back when are country was becoming a country.
Sanford Pinsker said, “In Twain’s case, what he did that so upset the moral arbiters of concord is boldly point out the history of that time” (Pinsker 2). This statement is right because Twain was not just calling black people niggers, but he was showing that throughout are history people of African descent, were called a different name. Joel Harris says, “It is difficult to believe that the critics who have condemned the book as course, vulgar and inartistic did not understand how Twain was writing it” (Harris 1). This is true because the word nigger is to show the history of our country. The changing of the word to slave would not give the real meaning of what colored people had to go through and what they were called the entire life. That is what happens when you change the real meaning of the N-word in the
novel. Removing the word and replacing it with slave diminishes Twain’s attempt to realistically portray race relations during the early times of our country growth. The people who would read this with the word slave instead of the word nigger would not get what Twain was trying to do. Places should not ban the book because it shows history and that the word is not as bad as everyone thinks, but it shows what people go through. That is why the word should not get changed and should not be banned.
The Adventures of Huck Finn is a very controversial book which brings much debate on whether it should be taught to children in America. The main reason for this debate is because the offensive word ‘nigger’ is used commonly throughout. The book is a classic and is seen to some people as such a great book that we should overlook the offensive word to understand the real lessons Mark Twain wanted to get across. One solution to this ongoing debate is something called the New South Edition, which substitutes ‘nigger’ for a ‘slave’ a word that is less personal and describes the history of America. Dr. Alan Gribben writes about the controversy and how the change effects the new edition. He uses personal anecdote, emotional appeal, historical references.
They hear this because of the excessive use of the word “nigger,” the many “racist” comments made throughout the book, and the moral injustices that are shoved into the reader’s face. This of course, can all be taken very literally if someone were to read this book from the surface, without demonstrating any thought analysis as to why the characters are doing and saying what they are. When the reader looks deeper into the book, he/she will see that not only is Mark Twain trying to portray his extremely anti-racist message, but also just recite history as it happens. Many people don’t take into account the time period of this novel. It is set in the nineteenth century, where people were actually excessively racist, and there was slavery.
How would you feel if a white boy couldn’t apologize to a grown black man because it goes against his faith? If I was in the black man’s position I would feel disrespected but I wouldn’t blame the white boy because he was brought up like that and it’s in his mentality to look at African Americans as property and with disgust. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain incorporates racism and slavery to show how and why it is wrong. He uses Huck, one of his man characters, to demonstrate how a white boy breaks forth from society’s racist ideas and the people around him to have a strong friendship with a slave name Jim, who becomes a fugitive. He uses Jim to demonstrate humanity and how it has nothing to do with the color of your skin. He also shows the struggle African Americans had to go through during that period of time in order to be free. Through friendship Huck learns that Jim is a regular human being just like everyone else.
Twain’s use of profane language, namely the inclusion of the word “nigger” over 200 times, is condoned by the exceptionally realistic setting it creates. For proponents of banning the book, the use of obscenities are seen as justification enough to ban, but according to United States federal judge John Woolsey, the obscenities are not in fact obscenities at all. Determined by the Courts, a book can only be found obscene if it stirs sexual impulses or is “dirt for dirt’s sake” (Woolsey). Neither part of this definition fits Twain’s writing. Twain uses vulgar language to realistically depict the Southern antebellum society in which the story takes place.
Paula Lieder is a high school English teacher, and in her classroom while teaching this novel, she leads the class in discussions about racism and slavery. Lieder says that when reading this book “the discussion of race and prejudice must occur.” Her class also discusses the controversy of the book and the use of the word “nigger” (Lieder). When reading this novel students may ask themselves questions about the use of the word “nigger” and how it affects the book like Holbrook did. It’s obvious that Mark Twain was a good writer, and he knew what he was writing. So why would he use the word “nigger” repeatedly? (“Huckleberry Finn”) Holbrook would say it’s because Twain wants the reader to feel disgusted and upset. In order for Twain to get his readers to understand the hurtful nature of this word, he hit them with it over and over (“Huckleberry Finn”). Huckleberry Finn also stirs students’ imaginations while presenting information about human nature. Leo Marx says in Sharon Rush’s article,
There is a major argument among literary critics whether Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is or is not a racist novel. The question boils down to the depiction of Jim, the black slave, and to the way he is treated by Huck and others. In the 1950s the effort to banish The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from required classroom reading lists came publicly to the floor again, not chiefly on the grounds that its depiction of black characters and the use of the word “nigger” were demeaning to African-American students. Many feel that Twain uses the word too loosely. However, many believe that Huck Finn should be taught in schools on the grounds that the novel’s racist theme accurately depicted what life was like for a slave in pre- Civil War times.
Twain himself has been suggested as a racist based on the fact that he uses the word "nigger" in his book. However, Twain was an avid abolitionist. For those who claim that Twain was a racist must have only been looking out for themselves and not those who are willing to learn about the past whether it be ugly or perfect. Racism was and forever will be a dark part of the American past, and no one can change that, no matter how many books one may alter.
The classic American novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain has been a source of controversy since it was published. The controversy is centered around Twain’s use of the N word. It is a very heinous, powerful word that is almost always offensive. Mark Twain is well known as a satirist, in laymen's terms he makes light of social issues through his use of language. The story takes place in pre-civil war America so in order to effectively show the racism of the decade he had to use their vernacular. He did not intend to offend. He actually meant to make you feel uncomfortable with the racism. Huck Finn should not be censored because literary decisions should be left to the authors to make (5 Kathleen Parker), we need examples of ignorance to provide contrast to how far we have come, and because The powerful language Twain uses is necessary for the story and the story would be worse off for it.
As for some, the novel of Mark Twain, known as Huckleberry Finn, is subjecting high school students to a literature they are not mature enough to handle. These individuals who share in this idea encourage the novel to be introduced to students after their college enrolment. This is simply because they are not comfortable exposing the word, “nigger” in such a manner that it can be viewed as harmful to African Americans. My stance on this subject is very in favor of exposing the novel to high school students for many reasons. I find that many people look at the word “nigger” in only one viewing, and need to broaden their views of this word. The maturity of high school students is almost the same as those in college. However, many college students
A lot of people want to know about the writing of Mark Twain. Mark Twain’s writings are widely known around the world. ” English teachers are always saying that Mark Twain is the greatest author in American literature.” Stated Dr. Engel in his lecture called “The Genius of Mark Twain.” Mark Twain has been criticized a lot by people about his writings. Especially his novel called The Adventures of huckleberry Finn. The only reason he received as much criticism as he did for that novel was because one specific word. That word is powerful too. This word can be used by one person in the wrong way and shut down a community, a family, and maybe even a life. That word is the word “nigger.” We are not even going to get into that subject right now because that is not what we are here to talk about. People always
In fact, true appreciation of the novel requires the reader to “read between the lines” and pick up on the hidden subtext and more importantly, the story of Huck Finn’s moral development. In his arguments on the New York Times’ Room for Debate article, Do Word Changes Alter ‘Huckleberry Finn’?, Dave Matthews states, “Great books — or any work of art — require that the reader meet the author half-way.” In this quote, he is saying that for the reader to fully comprehend Huckleberry Finn, he/she must put forth a great deal of thought in addition to simply reading the text. By removing the N-word from the novel, the story becomes nullified and the task of stomaching the word, which is purposely included to upset the reader, is bypassed. One of the reasons why our curriculum waits until tenth grade to teach the book is because it is meant to be challenging; the reader is supposed to struggle with the reading. If the word is replaced, the book truly becomes a children's book; subtext-wise, it will still require good comprehensive skill to understand Huck’s development, but story-wise, the book becomes an easy-to-read story of a child running away from home and embarking on an action-packed adventure with a slave who he befriends along the
The lessons Mark Twain teaches throughout his book are vital for every High School student to experience. One of the major points for arguing that The Adventure’s of Huckleberry Finn should be banned is the repetitive and overuse of the N word. On a surface level, the way the N word is used could seem very disrespectful however as one dives deeper into analysis, Twain seemingly uses the N word loosely to portray a message. Throughout the book, Jim is always looked upon with a negative attitude and being just a typical black person because of these traits. However, as Huck and Jim venture along the Mississippi river, Huck begins to act more and more like Jim is an actual person. A prime example of this is when Huck says “they’re comin for us” (Twain 63) rather than saying they’re coming for you. Huck sees him and Jim as a relationship rather than just him and a slave. Another example is when Huck says, “It was 15 minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a n----” (89). Huck’s apology shows how Huck’s mindet towards not only Jim but all black people has changed, and that he actually has feelings for them now. The overall lesson tha...
This book has been banned from school libraries all over the country because of the main character's teenage angst, which many feel is too graphic for teenagers, and its profanity. Profanity, whether it be frequent or a rare occurrence, is a characteristic of many literary classics, as is the use of racial epithets.In the book Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (ranking number 2 on the list), an epithet is use many times over to describe the people of color in the book. Now since the book was published in 1885 and such language was common at the time, I do not belie...
Students will hear the word "nigger" in movies, songs, and TV. So what makes it so inappropriate for it to be in a book? " The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is not just a bunch of racist nonsense. It talks about the hate that existed in the south and has helped students learn about mankind and its humanity. Mark Twain wrote Huckleberry Finn in multiple different dialects.
Mark Twain, an author who grew up in the racially-biased southern society of the United States, wrote based upon what he saw and heard around him. As a result of this fact, the word “nigger” is used often to reflect the dialogue that was used at that time. Although this word is used, it should not be enough for people to accuse the book of being racist. “Huckleberry Finn” is not a racist novel, because of differences in the history, laws, and connotation that are associated with