Article Review Of Mark Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn'

The revisional author, Alan Gribben, said he worried that the N-word had resulted in the novel falling off reading lists. He believes his sanitized edition will please more readers and teachers. Gribben has plowed over Twain's freedom of speech in the process. After all, Twain isn't around to comment(Dawkins 1). The responsibility of this book belongs to no one. Banning or sanitizing Huckleberry Finn should not be a topic of discussion because Twain had every right to write the book however he desired. Offensive terms and words are being invented right now. We should not pick on historical terms when others are being invented everyday.

 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered by many to be the greatest American novel ever written.  Despite this praise, Mark Twain’s masterpiece has never been without criticism.  Upon its inception it was blasted for being indecent literature for young readers because of its lack of morals and contempt for conformity.  Modern indignation toward Huck Finn arises from its racist undertones, most notably Twain’s treatment of the character Jim.  As is the case with many canonized yet controversial books, the biggest conflict revolves around the inclusion of Huck Finn on required reading lists of public schools throughout the country.

Since its first publication in 1884, Mark Twain’s masterpiece The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has proven to be one of history’s most controversial novels; especially recently, the novel has often been banned by schools and censored by libraries. Characters in the book are constantly using disparaging language toward slaves, and the repeated use of the word “nigger” makes many sensitive and offended. Critics denounce the novel and Mark Twain as racist for this word being insulting and politically incorrect and for its depiction of black people and how they are treated. However, Twain was not attempting to perpetuate racism; on the contrary, he used satire to expose the ignorance and paradoxical views held by many in America at that time.

“The difference between the almost-right word and the right word is really a large matter- ‘tis the difference between the lightning bug and lightning.”(Mark Twain). Mark Twain, the author of an extraordinary yet controversial novel; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn had a great way of capturing moments in time and bringing them to life through the use of meaningful and direct diction. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been a vexed novel for it 's a use of the “N-word”. However, many scholars and associations have devised a “solution” for this problem such as, completely banning the book, creating sanitized versions, or even replacing the book for another American literature novel. “What is so wrong

Apart from being one of the landmarks of American literature, Mark Twain’s classic tale,The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is a mirror of the deeply embedded racist attitudes of the Deep South in the 1880’s. First, not to mention the most controversial and obvious, is the liberal use of the “n” word throughout the book. Taken as a derogatory term by modern-day Americans, Twain’s use of the “n” word is simply a reflection of the times. Huck Finn was written when cruel and unjust treatment of colored people were commonplace and use of such a word didn’t get so much as a second thought.Huck Finn depicts a time when slaves were not treated as people but as things without emotions or personalities, mere property. For instance, Jim is initially known only in relation to whose property he is. He escapes from being continuously treated as property, even sold to a family that will most likely treat him even less humanely.

Oppression has been a problem in this country, dating all the way back to the Europeans traveling to the New World, and forcing themselves on the Native’s and famously the British oppression of the thirteen colonies. Oppression is still a serious problem today, with almost all minorities, such as women, African-Americans, and the LGBT community feeling it’s pressure. Although these groups have gained seen many changes in their freedom, they are still being oppressed. Oppression is a common theme throughout American Literature, weaving in and out of many that are seen as classic American novels and poetry. Some of these books include Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the poetry of Langston Hughes, Richard Wright’s Native Son and Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon. The form of oppression that is evident throughout all these works, is racial oppression, and narrowing it down even further, the oppression of African Americans.

Mark Twain went against endless amounts of criticism about his racist’s comments in his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The character of Jim is demeaning to African-Americans as he is portrayed as a foolish, uneducated, black slave. The “n” word is also used in the book describing him and many other African-American characters in the story. However, some see this book as anti-racist and believe that the use of racist’s comments is not racist at all. Those who think that are mistaken because Huck Finn in clearly a racist novel.

Mark Twain has always been one of the most controversial authors of all time. Though in recent years, there has been increasing controversy over the ideas expressed in his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In some extreme cases the novel has even been banned by public school systems and censored by public libraries. The basis for this censorship is the argument that Mark Twain's book is racist, but in reality Twain was against racism and used this book to make people aware of what was going on in the south. He did this by using the regional dialect of the south, showing the attitude of the other characters in the novel toward black people, and showing his depiction of black characters. If one were to "read between the lines"

The Controversy Over the Word that Shall not be Named Many great works of literature have been censored in one way or another because they went against the beliefs in their society during their time or because they were deemed too “radical” and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is no exception. The controversy over this book is the vocabulary that Twain used within it and the particular word that is controversial is “nigger” and whether or not this word should be replaced with the word slave or if the book should be removed and replaced with a new book or if the book should remain as it is with no changes. The best argument would be that the book should remain as it is and not be censored or switched out with a new book after looking at all

As one of the most accosted and banned books since the early 20th century, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has illustrated in fine detail the extents of racism in the 1900s. Scholars, librarians, teachers, and students alike have worked to discover the exact meaning of the book’s blatant use of racist qualities and slurs, contrary to Mark Twain’s forewarning against such debate. Although The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn may at first appear to support racism by making the “educated” pro-slavery, Mark Twain uses a combination of reverse psychology and influential role models to show the birth of abolitionist ideals within the youth towards the end of the 1900’s. Therefore, despite its potentially excessive use of the “n-word”, it should

“It was 15 minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger” (Twain 86). The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a story about a young boy and a runaway slave, and their adventures down the river. It is a story about racism and the developing of a young person’s mind with the influence of society and the influence of his heart. While this novel is a great story about issues that are still occurring today, many schools have decided to take this out of their curriculum. Many people believe that the N word which is featured in Twain’s novel 219 times should be taken out and replaced with slave. The N word should not be taken out because it is a real reflection of the way it was and this is changing Twain’s

Laurie Halse Anderson revealed, “Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.” Twain’s classic Huck Finn has been praised, criticized and debated since its publication in 1885. Most of the novel’s critique is based on its racially charged speech. Despite the repeated use of the N-word, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain should not be banned or censored, because it is a significant work from a famous American writer and it provokes debate on otherwise taboo matters. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a necessary piece of American literature.

Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain's classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, tells the story of a teenaged misfit who finds himself floating on a raft down the Mississippi River with an escaping slave, Jim. In the course of their perilous journey, Huck and Jim meet adventure, danger, and a cast of characters who are sometimes menacing and often hilarious.

Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” has been stirring controversy and emotion since its creation, and now we are being asked if we should edit/censor the work by replacing the oh so hurtful “n-word” with “slave.” USA TODAY writer, Martha T. Moore, shows different views on the edits, but M. Moore hints it as a form of censorship like Huck’s “sivilizing.” Mother, Lorrie Moore, expresses that the “n-word” is essential to the literary work, but too much for high school kids to handle. Leonard Pitts Jr. from the Miami Herald says that the book in its authentic form is justified to be taught to children and emphasizes the importance of maintaining the artistic choices of Twain.

Throughout the evolution of the world’s societies, the roles of women seem to act as a reflection of the time period since they set the tones for the next generation. Regardless of their own actions, women generally appear to take on a lower social standing and receive an altered treatment by men. In Mark Twain’s pre-civil war novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, lies a display of how society treats and views women, as well as how they function in their roles, specifically in regards to religion and molding the minds and futures of children. The novel’s showcase of women affords them a platform and opportunity to better see their own situation and break away with a new voice.