There will always be controversies in life, whether big or small, whether it affects individuals or groups, or whether it will make any difference to one’s life; this argument affects millions of adolescent lives. Where saying yes obliterates comfort zones and advocates racism, and while saying no promotes a conformist, mass mentality mindset and erases history. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is the name to put on the face of this problem. The controversy of this book has been fought over since it’s been published but the inspiration and individualistic philosophy this book teaches is far too great to dispose of. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” should be required reading for students because first, the moral of the book preaches …show more content…
The philosophy of realism is the quality or fact of representing a person, thing, or situation accurately or in a way that is true to life and Mark Twain, being a leader in the realist movement in the 1880s, integrated this outlook into his books. The bluntness of every character and word in Twain’s book transforms into the topic of how this can be beneficial to students today. James, another caller on the N.P.R. radio talk having to do with the censorship of the word “nigger” and Injun” in Mark Twain’s books, stated that “The N-word is in the book because it is a powerful, explosive word. It is used intentionally and ironically… that that’s exactly as Twain intended… and the language in the book is essential to the meaning of the book.” The racial slurs such as these do pose a moral dilemma to the audience reading the novels. Twain’s realist influence on these books is one of the main reasons so many teachers and parents complain about the value of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”. Besides the obviously racial influence within the pages, there are also influences never smiled upon such as a drunken, abusive father, a Coronal that kills in cold blood and a duo who robs from a dead man and mourning family. With these crude, realist behaviors being integrated into the book, one parent might think that this book is too immoral …show more content…
This would have a detrimental impact on student learning about the history of slavery and other historical events. On the opposing side of Clark’s view in ““Huck Finn”, a masterpiece or an insult”, Anderson, the teacher in this argument, expresses her love for the book and says, “We could ignore the book, but then we are ignoring history. We are ignoring that that language exists. I don’t think in the long run, that’s helpful to our kids.” To get rid of this history is to get rid of our identity as a country. The blasphemy of this action is outstanding because it is not demonstrating who we are because of our country and how we, as a whole have made mistakes. For example, if the school board bans “The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn” because of its explicit language then it could lead to the deduction of the teaching of slavery in public schools. Slavery was undoubtedly wrong but it still makes the United States what it is today because of its economic and political factors during the 1800s. Furthermore, the censorship of this book might prove the quote “history repeats itself” in a sense that without the proper education of racism and slavery, students might be at a place where, in their thoughts, slavery is a good thing because of parental persuasion, its beneficial economic impacts, and not being taught properly about the
Huck Finn should be taught in high schools. The current state of the book draws controversy because of the use of the N-Word. The current debate is about whether or not we should remove the book from high school curriculums and required reading. We have a few options for what to do with the book. One, we get rid of the book from reading lists and from high school libraries. Two, we wait until college and require young adults to read it. Three, we continue to teach it to high school students, remembering to always be conscious of the connotation and effects of the racial slurs used in the book.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is, perhaps, the most famous novel in American literature. Chances are that you made a poster about it in middle school, read it in high school, and wrote several reports on it in college. However, as famous as the novel is, it is also notoriously controversial for its language and portrayal of African Americans (which I will term “narrative realism”). After eventually capturing a coveted spot in the American literary canon, concerned calls from the American public for its ban only grew. Today, the great controversy over whether the novel belongs in the American literary canon in the first place continues. However, there is a clear answer: the novel deserves its coveted spot in the American literary canon
The decision to ban the novel Huckleberry Finn from classrooms and libraries has been an ongoing controversy. The presence of the 'n word' and the treatment towards Jim, and other blacks in general, has made many readers uncomfortable. Despite this fact, Huckleberry Finn has been and remains a classic read. I do not believe the novel should be banned or sanitized because it is a part of American history whether it is good or bad, also we have no right to change someone's writing simply because we do not like how it is written, Mark Twain's writing should not be penalized because of the ideals of today.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a significant book in the history of American literature that presents readers with the truth of our past American society in aspects such as speech, mannerisms, and tradition that we must embrace rather than dismiss by censorship. It is a novel that has been praised and proclaimed America’s “first indigenous literary masterpiece” (Walter Dean Howells) as well as one that has been criticized and declared obscene. It has undergone much scorn and condemnation as a novel and many feel that it should be censored. This, however, is not the way it should be. Huckleberry Finn is a masterpiece and, as a matter of fact, it is one on many levels. The story itself, though
Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic that has caused a large amount of controversy over strong language and the portrayal of Jim, a slave. A large number of parents and schools argue that the language displayed and portrayal of African Americans in the classic is uncalled for and should be censored or not taught within the school systems. However, other schools and educators argue that the book should be taught as it is and be used as an educational tool to teach about the past and to incorporate morals learned by Huck throughout the novel. Huck Finn should not be banned in education systems because it teaches about slavery’s history and several morals that were displayed by Jim. Since it was first published, The Adventures
Ever since 1884, when “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was published, there has been lots of controversy on whether or not the book should be banned. Due to the foul language, uneducated Huck Finn and racial slurs, people believe this book should not be taught in high school and some people think it should be banned altogether. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” should stay taught in high schools. In the classroom I believe that the book should be read.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a fictional story that has caused a lot of controversy in American Schools for over 100 years (Fielder). However, the novel has brought to light many important facts such as racism, social class, morals, and society’s rules. The book shows that following the crowd or conforming to society’s rules without examining the effects can be a dangerous thing. People should be encouraged to question things and think for themselves rather than following the
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.
The history of racial bigotry in the United States presents a challenge in the teaching English literature. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn uses degrading terminology to portray the paternalistic nature of the South in the 19th century. The novel challenged African American inferiority in an era of unquestioned racial inequality, while simultaneously presenting an uncensored account of the treatment of African Americans. While Mark Twain commonly uses offensive Southern vernacular in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, removing the novel from school curricula negates the educational and satirical value of the book, which presents an unabridged illustration of racial discrimination in American history.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is arguably one of the best novels of all time. It’s also one of the most controversial. The book was published in 1884, nineteen years after slavery was abolished in the United States. Slavery was still very common practice in the setting of the book, and the plot of the book is a kid trying to help a black slave escape and find his family. The first controversy of the book occurred when it first came out. People did not think the book should’ve been sold because it included a white kid socializing with a black man, which was not proper at the time. The next controversy still goes on today. Many schools do not teach the book because Twain used racial words that weren’t frowned upon then, but are now. Despite all of that, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be taught in schools because it teaches American history, it helps kids learn valuable literary techniques, it is a great example of writing from a legendary author, and it forces kids to explore and develop their own morality.
It is odd to think that a high school student would pick up the word “nigger” and use it against another student because high school students have already been exposed to topics such as slavery and racism. Therefore, it would be unlikely for a student to use “nigger” against another student given the fact that race is still a “volatile and divisive subject” in this country and high school students is not ignorant infants that can’t distinguish the rights and wrongs about the word “nigger.” (Williams, Randle). At this point in time teenagers are exposed to excessive profanity through the media, music lyrics on TV and many times it is not censored. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be kept in library shelves and schools in its original form because students can receive moral lessons and therefore, mature as human beings. A big part about how a student can react to the novel is how the book is being taught. Teachers should acknowledge the intention and purpose of Mark Twain, which was to appeal to the reader 's emotions through the use of specific diction. Along with teaching the literary elements of the novel the teachers should also imply the ideas and controversies that are being presented in the novel. Twain’s purpose was also to capture the moments that defined the 1800s such as slavery and racism. After all, the novel should be taught in its original
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
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.
Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain has been a troublesome, yet successful novel ever since it was originally published in 1885. However, in that same year the Concord Library Committee banned this book from the shelves due to its setting in the past where slave owning was still legal in the United States. Twenty years after the Civil War and the south is still unhappy with the federal government’s decision to illegalize slavery. Slave ownership was a touchy subject at the time Huckleberry Finn was published, but that is the reason why this book is so successful. This novel about a young boy escaping civilization with an escaped slave tackles the tough topic about the chemistry between Americans and African Americans after the Civil War. No other author dared to write about this do to many authors being romanticists, but Mark Twain who only writes with a realistic fashion did what no other man would. This publicity stunt is the reason Huckleberry Finn is still read to this day. The controversy with this novel during the 1880s traveled throughout the years and is still as strong and present. The only difference between the topic of discussion in the late 1800s and now is the content of the book. The first few years after Huckleberry Finn was published, Americans argued whether this book should still be sold due to the fact that it deals with slavery even after the United States attacked itself to end the slave business. Many teachers feel
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.