Mark Twain 's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

Ever since its publication over a hundred years ago, controversy has swarmed around one of Mark Twain’s most popular novels, Huck Finn. Even then, many educators supported its dismissal from school libraries. For post Civil-War Americans, the argument stemmed from Twain’s use of spelling errors, poor grammar, and curse words. In the politically correct 1990’s however, the point of argument has now shifted to one of the major themes of the book: Racism. John Wallace once said of the book, “It’s the most grotesque version of racist trash” ever written. Were Twain’s archetypal characters and use of vernacular language an assertion of his own racist views, or a critique of the injustice of

On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was sworn into office as the 44th President of the United States of America. As the first African American president, Obama started a legacy of change in America, as well as a legacy of newly unveiled prejudice and racism that has plagued African Americans for centuries. Obama’s inauguration helped uncover racism in government that did not end with the abolishment of slavery. Discrimination against free African Americans has been a problem in this country since before the idea of unlawful enslavement was discussed. Mark Twain contributed to the discussion of post-Civil War racism with his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In this novel, Jim, an escaped slave, is freed via his owner’s death,

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

     The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the greatest, most daring novels in the world. Mark Twain’s style helps to realistically portray early America. Mark Twain tells the story through the voice of Huck, the very kindhearted main character. Everything that Huck says reflects the racism and black stereotypes typical of the era. This has lead to many conflicts from readers since the novel was first printed. However, the story has inspired some. James W. Tuttleton says in an article he wrote that “Huck Finn is regularly denounced as racist trash” (The San Francisco Chronicle [1885] 6) . Yet, again to oppose that is a quote by a reader, “Anyone who is

Bell, Bernard W. "Twain's "Nigger" Jim." Satire or Evasion? Black Perspectives on Huckleberry Finn. Ed. James S. Leonard, Thomas S. Tenney and Thadious M. Davis. Durham and London: Duke University Press, 1992. 124-140. Print.

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.

In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain juxtaposed events in American society to demonstrate to the reader contrasts between different levels of class and race in society.

     There is a major argument among literary critics whether the adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is or is not a racist novel. The question focus on the depiction of Jim, the black slave, and the way he is treat by Huck and other characters. The use of the word “nigger” is also a point raised by some critic, who feel that Twain uses the word too often and too loosely. Mark Twain never presents Jim in a negative light. He does not show Jim as a drunkard, as a mean person or as a cheat.

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"

“Huckleberry Finn” should be taught in schools for its powerful depictions of racism that it presents. Many believe Twain over uses the “N” word and argue that it is not politically correct to do so. These people focus on the use of this word to be so offensive, that it all together ruins the work. “Here was a free nigger there from Ohio—a mulatter, most as white as a white man. He had the whitest shirt on you ever see, too, and the shiniest hat; and there ain’t a man in town that’s got as

The Novel: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, makes a strong presence by its continued, if not redundant display of itself. Far too often in society people 's lack of knowledge on a given subject causes their opinions and actions to rely strictly on stereotypes created by the masses and often makes the people not willing to change how they view a certain people or situation. This is usually called ignorance, and it plaques societies everywhere and Mark Twain knows that and actively criticizes that. This is curable but people have to become open-minded and leave their reliance on society 's viewpoints behind them, which is unlikely to happen when people are

In many great novels, such as Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the author utilizes the great literary element of satire. Satire has many different purposes, such as poking fun at things, or pointing out fault in them. Mark Twain enjoys using satire in his classic novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, where he uses it in many ways. Twain satirizes the south, the upper class, society, and more, but one thing that he definitely felt strong about was racism. He often satirizes racists, and their use of the word “nigger”. In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain satirizes how people used the word “nigger” to classify Africans as not actual people, people offended Africans with the word “nigger”, and people used the word inappropriately in a casual or positive way.

Huck Finn is a heroic figure in the book Huckleberry Finn and is able to overcome societies judgments on racism, and prejudice. A Mark Twain’s classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is a mirror of the deep racist attitudes of the Deep South in the 1880’s. First, the most obvious, is the liberal use of the word “nigger” throughout the book. In temporary America the derogatory word is condemned to those who are racist, Twain’s use of “nigger” is simply a reflection of the times.

Huckleberry Finn should be taught in schools because the object of the satire is still relevant to today’s society. “It don’t make no difference how foolish it is, it’s the right way – and it’s the regular way… I’ve read all the books that gives any information about these things” (245), which relates to how today’s society will still believe anything they see or hear when the media is portraying the information, even if the information is clearly false. Twains use of the n-word is strategic and does not make him racist. Although the n-word is highly offensive today, it was used commonly during the 1800’s when the novel was first

　　John Wallace’s research indicates that the Adventure of Huckleberry Finn is humiliating and insulting to black students. It hurts their feeling of low-esteem and to the white students’ disrespect for black people. (John H.Wallace 309) The adventure of Huckleberry Finn is called “trash” because of the “n-word”. As far as I am concerned, Twain probably want to use this work to show the realism in his novel. In other words, Twain probably did not know that people are very sensitive of the ‘n-word”.