Disenchantment : Tom Sawyer In Huckleberry Finn

Since its publication in December of 1884, Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, has created a great deal of controversy in American society. This well-known story follows a troubled young boy and a run away slave as they adventure down the Mississippi in search of new lives. Huck Finn longs for freedom from both his father, and from the society he has been exposed to. Jim longs for freedom from slavery and racism. Readers have argued over the matter of whether or not this novel should be banned from schools due to the frequent use of the “n-word”. It has caused many to question Twain’s intensions throughout the book, and is often seen as offensive. Although slavery has remained a difficult and upsetting issue in our nations

Racism proves to be a sensitive subject that continues to affect the world today; however, Mark Twain’s novel was not racist and neither was he. Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, raised controversy over the derogatory language expressed by the main character, Huck Finn. However, by displaying the racist society through Twain’s firsthand experience, Jim and Huck’s characters, and the use of the n-word, he accurately reveals the characteristics of the time period. The Antebellum South was subject to slavery and poor treatment of blacks; however, Twain did not intend to offend, rather he intended to inform people about the society from a first-hand point of view. Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, displays the

People often hesitate to accept what they do not understand. In the absence of love and compassion, it is no question that fear, ignorance, and hatred, all contribute to a melting pot of negativity in the world. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is about the love and friendship cultivated by a young boy and a black slave on the Mississippi River. Despite the pair’s differences, they are able to endure the struggles and difficulties that the toilsome journey brings. Mark Twain, in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, emphasizes the shift in Huck’s view towards slavery by contrasting Huck’s initial tone of reflectiveness to his assertive tone, both collectively addressing the issue of racism in society.

I got to feeling so mean and so miserable I most wished I was dead.”

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.

Society has had problems with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn shortly after being published. Huckleberry Finn was first published in January of 1885 and only two months later in March of 1885 the book was banned. The problem first with the book was it was too friendly toward African Americans and believed to lead children astray from certain values. Now over 100 years later “Huckleberry Finn is still making news” (Pitts). Now in the 21th century we have a problem with Huckleberry Finn not because of kindness to African Americans or believing it would lead children astray from traditional values but because of “one reason - one word: nigger” (Pitts). This word has been seen as a problem in the classrooms and teachers and schools refuse

“All modern literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn,” this is what fellow writer had to say about this classic novel. Still, this novel has been the object of controversy since it was published more than 150 years ago. Some people argue that Huckleberry Finn is a racist work, and that the novel has no place in a highschool classroom. This feeling is generated because a main character in the story, Jim, and other slaves are referred to many times as “niggers.” When Mark Twain wrote this book, he was striving to show the general public that society was wrong in the past, that the way white people thought black people were less than human was a wrong viewpoint. The

“Huck Finn” story can be a debatable when it comes to history, and what the story is about. Some argue that Mark Twain’s abuse of using the “N” word triggers racism especially that this book was written when slavery became illegal. As one student said, "It is estimated that the word nigger is used 392 times which reinforces a negative stereotype of African Americans represented by the use of this derogatory word" (Jackson). Some can still argue that this book can be a bad influence to the youth as they might be using the “N” word as a racist rant. For some, it is very disturbing, upsetting, and bringing back the past.

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.

In the novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn is anything but a static character. Huck’s evolution through the story is the evolution of an archetypal hero. Huck’s evolution through the story can be see through not only many people, but through objects in the story as well. Huck’s battles throughout with society, Tom, and even his father are huge parts of how he evolves throughout. Huck’s evolution in the start of the story is a bit harder to see, and he is still in a sort of developing stage, and still trying to figure out his own ways, versus Tom’s ways, versus societies ways.

The inclusion of the N-word allows Mark Twain to reflect the dialect and historical aspect of the mid 1800s. It is unfortunate that many people give the N-word more power than it should. The United States has eminently advanced throughout the past century and our society has changed substantially. The N-word effect should have decreased since then, since most people in our nation are treated equally. A former NPR news analyst, Juan Williams, exclaims his opinion toward free expression and the N-word topic. He talks about the sanitized version of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and states that “the recent publication of ‘Huck Finn’ without the use of that word...That Strikes me as another way that people are trying to muzzle Americans in this era.” (Dunne, Susan). Many people feel as if teaching this novel with the N-word is politically incorrect; however, Williams claims that Mark Twain included this word so many times to reveal the racial attitude and life in the 1800s. Williams also states that replacing the N-word with “slave” “is to try to sanitize the historical burden of being an American.” (Dunne, Susan). The N-word was frequently spoken in America’s history, and is encompassed in Twain’s novel historically. Sanitizing this novel just makes it seem like the United States is trying to pretend like the previous common usage of this word never

Based on the offensive language, perceived racism, portrayal of Jim, negative racial stereotypes, and the word “nigger” used about 200 times, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been criticized and debated by several groups whether it should be banned. The novel sheds light on the issues of racism and slavery, importance of intellectual and moral education, value of freedom and Huck’s maturity. The language in Huck Finn is the natural dialect of the South. Even though there is racism and “niggers” are portrayed in a negative light, Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn depicts the reality of Southern life in American past. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should not be banned as it teaches important lessons and also portrays the reality

    Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn is perhaps one of the most controversial novels the North American Continent has ever produced.  Since its publication more than a hundred years ago controversy has surrounded the book.  The most basic debate surrounding Twain's masterpiece is whether the book's language and the character of Jim are presented in a racist manner.  Many have called for the book to be banned from our nation's schools and libraries.  Mark Twain's novel is about a young boy who was raised in the south before slavery was abolished, a place where racism and bigotry were the fabric of every day life.  The novel is the account of how Huck Finn, who is a product of these

One component of these chapters that I felt was extremely prevalent was the character development of Huck. There were multiple instances when Huck had to make certain decisions that would effect him in the long run, and with most of those decisions came a moral struggle. It seemed as if within these chapters, Huck is trying to find out who he truly is as a person. One example of these moments is in chapter 16 when he is having an internal battle, trying to convince himself that helping Jim gain his freedom is in fact the right thing to do. The quote reads, “I couldn't get that out of my conscience, no how nor no way. It got to troubling me so I couldn't rest; I couldn't stay still in one place…I tried to make out to myself that I warn't to blame, because I didn't run Jim off from his rightful owner” (Pg. 87). In the quote stated above you can clearly see the internal struggle that Huck goes through, trying to find himself along the way. He looks at the situation with 2 different perspectives, one of them being that taking Jim to gain his freedom is immoral and the wrong thing to do, the other being taking Jim to gain his freedom is the right thing to do. Although Jim knows that either way he will feel guilty but he ends up choosing to take Jim's side because of his loyalty. Jim shows his appreciation to Huck by saying things like, "Dah you goes, de ole true Huck; de on'y white genlman dat ever kep' his promise to ole Jim”(Pg. 92), causing Huck

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been labelled as a picaresque novel. A picaresque novel is an adventure story that involves an anti-hero or picaro who wanders around with no actual destination in mind. The picaresque novel has many key elements. It must contain an anti-hero who is usually described as an underling(subordinate) with no place in society, it is usually told in autobiographical form, and it is potentially endless, meaning that it has no tight plot, but could go on and on. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has moulded itself perfectly to all these essential elements of a picaresque novel. Huck Finn is undeniably the picaro, and the river is his method of travel, as well as the way in which he wanders around with no