Should Huckleberry Finn Be Taught In Schools Essay

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.

Some parents want this book banned because they are afraid that the book could influence bullies against African American children in today’s society. However, in any history book or historical fiction about the pre-Civil War times in the United States, the same facts or even worse are shown.

 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.

Many books around the world have been banned because they are offensive. One example is Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a novel about the journey of a thirteen-year-old boy named Huck, who fabricates his own death to run away with an escaped slave named Jim. The two voyage in a raft along the Mississippi River to gain their individual freedom. In addition, Huck gains a new understanding about humanity. Huck Finn has been creating great controversy on both sides of the argument: to ban or to keep in the school curriculum. Currently “much debate has surrounded Mark Twain’s Huck Finn since its publication in 1885, but none has been more pervasive, explosive, and divisive than that surrounding the issue on race”

Alfred Jacoby stated, “A masterwork… a volume worth having.” All schools will have their own individual opinions about this book in its entirety. The people, who speak negatively about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, strongly need to reconsider their opinions and motives. People today and children today need to learn the reality of racism, they cannot just think it is okay, Huck' s example and willingness could totally prove them wrong! If the book offends a child, or makes them feel uncomfortable, maybe they could just sit this one out. No school should ever totally ban this book. It should remain in all libraries until it is forgotten, which might take

Should Huckleberry Finn be taught in schools? This question has been a topic of discussion over the past years and is still being talked about today. A lot of people say that the book should be banned from schools because of the racial comments in the book. People claim that it could offend the youth, and teach them unfit words. It is understandable for people to be concerned about the books language, but in reality all the book does is enlighten the youth on the history of slavery and many more. In Joan DelFattores article she states. “The elimination of "nigger" is presented not as censorship but as a rescue mission to save Huckleberry Finn from oblivion, because many secondary schools will not teach material that makes students

One of the reasons that Huckleberry Finn was banned in the past was because people found the dialect that Twain used unintelligible and shameful to the United States. These people thought that the manner of speech in which the novel was written would make Americans appear simple-minded. This may be the case with some, but the vernacular that the author used was the real dialect that majority of the population practiced in the time period that Huck existed. The novel is not meant to put America to shame, but rather to show the reality of how people spoke and acted in the mid nineteenth century. The vernacular is yet another aspect that makes the novel truthful because it gives readers a realistic view into the life of people from that time in American history.

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

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel based on the journey Huck, a young boy with an abusive father, and Jim, a runaway slave, have down the Mississippi River to Free states for an end goal of freedom. Freedom means different things to both of them, to Huck freedom means to be able to do what he wants and not be “sivilized”, while Jim’s definition of freedom is being able to live in peace with his wife and children. While on their journey to freedom they develop a caring unusual friendship. There is a great deal of controversy over whether or not The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be taught in

     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

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain he writes about a controversial time. He writes about what things were like for African Americans and he tells it how they truly were, he does not sugarcoat our past. There have been disputes since his novel came out in 1884 whether or not it should be continued to be taught in schools. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a valuable novel and should continue to be included in high school curriculum because it teaches students about Twain’s realism style of writing, the dialect used in this time period, and the treatment from society towards African Americans.

Racism is a major topic most feel uncomfortable talking about. For one individual he felt the need to talk about African American slavery, his pen name Mark Twain. Twain a Caucasian man born in 1835 grew up around slavery. Inspired by the movement Twain published Huckleberry Finn a book of a boy by the name of Huck with a runaway slave, Jim. Back in the eighties as Huckleberry Finn was published the novel gathered many critics as it was said to ¨challenged authority, confront religion, and was accused of leading children astray,¨(Schneider, David). In today's society the novel is still debated. Huckleberry Finn has gathered many controversies on whether or not schools should ban the teaching of Huckleberry Finn due to the word ¨nigger¨ used two hundred times. The ¨n¨ word is taken offensive as it was used by whites to bedevil African American slaves. Teaching the novel to students can cause a sense of agitation as the word ¨nigger was taught to not be used or said. The novel has great qualities to teach today's students but the ¨n¨ word is said to be overpowering.

Many Americans agree that Mark Twain is one of the greatest American authors. His novels steal the name of American classics and find their way into the homes of people throughout the country and around the world. Among all of his novels, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of his most popular, and individuals often refer to it as the great American novel. Many people find themselves disagreeing with this appraising title and declare the novel as being inappropriate for children. The countless racial slurs and racism consume a large part of this novel causing some schools to agree that banning The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the best decision for their students. Although the honest content of this novel stirs up controversy,

In order for Huck to challenge any of the values and assumptions of the time he must first be acquainted with them.  And he is not only intimately acquainted with the values of his society but he holds many of its beliefs himself.  But Huck longs for freedom away

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain has been called one of the greatest American Novels and considered a masterpiece of literature. The book is being taught by teachers across the country for years. Now, Huckleberry Finn, along with other remarkable novels such as Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird, is being pulled off the shelves of libraries, out of schools and banned from classrooms because it has been considered unsuitable and racist for today's youth. An classic American novel like this book should not be banned from schools; it shows history, growth and friendship.