Message Behind Huck Finn Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a great part of American literature. In the book, the n word is used more than 200 times, but Twain did not merely do that to just use the word; he had a strategy. The n word has had the same meaning over time; it still has the racist and horrible connotation. Twain’s purpose for using the word is to bring about change within his society. In the time when this book was being written, racism was a popular aspect of the white people so they only thought of the black people as slaves. Twain wanted to change the white people’s perspective and wanted to change how they treated the black people. In the book, Twain showed how the lives of a slaves were and how terribly they were treated by …show more content…
It is an excellent strategy to know our history so we will learn from our mistakes. Leaving the n-word in Huckleberry Finn and teaching it in its original form is the best solution for this argument because people need to know the truth. If a parent does not want their child associating with that word, then maybe they are too young to be reading Huck Finn. The students of today need to know what happened to black people and the suffering they went through because of the racist white people. They need to be open to reality because protecting them from every harmful idea that comes their way will be detrimental to them in the future. In the future, they will not be able to think for themselves because others always told them what they can and cannot do. We can not have bosses and doctors and lawyers and business people and firefighters who can not problem solve and make decisions for themselves. If we protect them from a past that we may still see some of today, then they will never know what reality is and that will be hard for them to processes when they have no one to protect them and tell them what to do. Students of today need to be exposed to these kinds of events to know how to treat others of different racial backgrounds so they know how to get along and be just good people to one another. Students need to know how terrible slavery was and discrimination in order to get them to have their own thoughts and believe that they will change this world for the better and they will know that they do not want to go back to a past where you were lucky if you were born white and you hated your skin and hair and beautiful eyes because you were
The chapters begin with Huck Finn on the porch of the Grangerford’s, where he introduces himself as George Jaxon, and they question him and invite him in cautiously with guns ready to fire in case he is a Sheperdson. Huck meets Buck who tells him a riddle, though Huck does not understand the concept of riddles, and that he must stay with Buck and they will have great fun. Meanwhile, Huck conceives a detailed story to tell how he was orphaned. The Grangerford's offer Huck to stay there as long as he likes at the comfortable and kind home. Buck admires the warmhearted Colonel Grangerford and his beautiful children; Bob, Tom, Charlotte, Sophia, and Buck.
Pitts utilizes anaphora, “...any work of art represents a series of conscious choices on the part of the artist — what color to paint, what note to play, what word to use — in that artist's attempt to share what is in his or her soul.” (Pitts 7) to emphasis the critical importance of why an author decides the precise diction towards their novels to portray events. Publishers may take note that altering the initial diction originally published, alters the historical background influencing the diction and phrase choice used in context. The audience may also sense a hasty generalization Pitt exhibits when judgmentally addressing how individuals find the racial slur used in context to be obscene; although many popular artists lyricize the same word exposing a number of individuals to become accustomed to the slur, absentmindedly ignoring the original degrading meaning as not everyone is comfortable hearing the slur. Although I do agree with not alternating original contents of novels, the way Pitts dictates his argument is too biter; it would be much more effective to explain how Huck Finn was written in 1884, a time in which there was a surplus of slave plantation workers and free individuals would coin the term to emphasize the downgrading nature of being a person of color compared
When treated wrongly, he is called the n-word, an even more offensive calling than slave. With this in mind, one can assume that the negative consequences of changing the book and removing the n-word will not only cease the realization of various emotions that the reader is supposed to feel, but will also lead the overall message not being as impactful as Twain anticipated it when writing the book with the n-word. As stated by Larry Wilmore, “Slave is just a job description”. Slave is just a job description, being called a slave means that you are owned by someone and have to work for them, being called the n-word is a sign of disrespect not only towards you but to every colored person in the premise. David Bradley quoted a powerful statement made by Huck in the book which stated, when talking to Jim, “They’re after us”.
When the King and Duke steal the fatherless sisters’ money and are deciding where to temporarily store it, the king says, “First you know the nigger that does up the rooms will get an order to box these duds up and put ‘em away; and do you reckon a nigger can run across money and not borrow it? “ (Twain 181). Twain exemplifies people’s stereotyping and discriminatory treatment of African Americans that comes with the “n word” throughout the novel, as well as the shocking nature of the word’s use. The “n word” is similarly used to dehumanize African Americans and make them seen as subhuman, shown by Huckleberry speaking to Tom’s aunt about why his ferry was delayed:“‘It warn’t the grounding—that didn’t keep us back but a little. We blowed out a cylinder-head.’
There’s one thing about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn people don't agree on and it's the use of the n-word. Should it, or shouldn’t be taught in schools, there are multiple reasons why Huckleberry Finn should be taught! One of the reasons is how it shows the times back then, it gave people a visual on what “normal” looked like in the past. This book could also teach what the n-word actually means. Kids should be taught what it means in a school environment, not in the “real world” where they might not grasp the words' full meaning.
Even though the idea is mainly about replacing the “N” word not much would change if you add “slave.” The usage of the “N” word was not meant to bring disagreement and argument but for educational purpose just how Twain intended it to be. Since the book has has been read and analyzed for many years the idea of the “N” word is going to be in everyone's mind so when they are reading the “new” edition of the book the word “slave” is pretty much not going to change much. Both words themselves present a very intense and memorable moment to when African Americans were being used as slaves and were being mistreated. This then brings the concept of racism and people think The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is racist and should be banned for that reason.
Mark Twain wanted to make a statement. He wanted his audience to get a visual into his audience who sadly but truly were racist. His message is not going to be able to be portrayed by replacing the words that make the book special to truly have a connection from the character there actions like a heroic nigger and a Caucasian boy who begins to see the real world by how it actually
While the word “slave” is presented in both versions of the novel, the word “nigger” is only present in the original version. It would be impossible to distinguish between when a character is intending to use a derogatory term or simply referring to their self imposed property. The quotation “I see it warn’t no use wasting words--you can’t learn a nigger to argue. So I quit” (Twain 86) allows the reader to more deeply understand Huck’s stereotypes and thoughts on others. The word “nigger” specifically indicates that Huck has a prejudice on the education of people of color.
It is true that racism and prejudice is neither morally or logically correct, but unless people are able to competently contest those views without resorting to the destruction of other opinions and thought, those issues will continue to prevail. The famous treatise against bigotry, To Kill a Mockingbird, has been criticized and banned for its use of racial slurs, despite accurately portraying the America of that time. Forgetting our past, no matter how shameful, only ensures that it will be repeated – books help us not to forget. How can we improve as a society if we do not even allow ourselves to remember the mistakes of previous generations? Harriet Beecher Stowe 's Uncle Tom 's Cabin created outrage in the South due to its "anti-slavery" ideas, resulting in it being banned.
I have to agree with David Bradley in the film because of the excellent points he makes. He talks about the idea that Twain, when writing the book was thinking about the times then. Back when this book was published the n-word was used to describe the African American slaves. During the time of this book, young children and even adults used this word because that was what they were taught to do when they saw a black person. So I think that we shouldn't take out this word just because in today's society it's not ok.
Students should learn about the value the novel provides from that time-period in which Mark Twain wrote, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain put the N word in the novel for a reason, to describe the time-period in which these events had occurred. Phillip Rawls writes, “‘It’s such a shame that one word should be a barrier between a marvelous reading experience and a lot of readers,’ Gribben said. Yet Twain was particular about his words.”
In Mark Twain's novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, Huck evolves from an improper, troubled kid, into a young adult throughout the course of the book. I’m sure that many of people could be against my view, but i believe that as the book progresses, Huck learns to grow up and become a young adult all by himself. Evidence that supports my opinion is as follows, “ I wish i’d never laid eyes on it. I wish i’d never seen that snake skin” (Twain 90).
The black man on the back porch is afraid of the rattle snake because it is bad luck, or the innocent little slave is quick to believe everything one tells them at the drop of the hat. These are just some of the many racist stereotypes of the 1840s. A character named Jim is the star African American whom Twain bestoys the mission of being the stereotypical black man to prove a point. He along with his much more pallor companion Huck go on exciting adventures that unfold the events which expose the racist conduct of the time. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain saturates his novel with potent images of acute racism severe enough as to create a satirical mien that exposes the absurdity of prejudice.
He is lucky to have made it out alive. Huckleberry “Huck” Finn, is a thirteen-year-old boy from the local town of St. Petersburg, Missouri. He was kidnapped, beaten, and held hostage by his long, lost father Pap Finn. According to investigators, the young boy was abducted into a desolate cabin on the Illinois shore and was locked inside for months.
Many authors use their childhood’s as well as experiences as inspiration for their novels. Their friends, family,pets, cities, and home-towns all provide substantial information for their books. Mark Twain is no exception, he uses his life as the main source for his book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The story occurs in the same place that he grew up in, and Huck Finn experiences many things that Twain experienced as child. The Mississippi river, the Judge, and many more parts of his novel are from Twain’s life.