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Why Is Huckleberry Finn Controversial

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Huckleberry Finn is a controversial book. It has been since it was originally written by Mark Twain during the mid 1800’s. This story follows a young boy named Huckleberry Finn in the Southern United States. Huck Finn is a juvenile delinquent and the narrator of the story. He goes on adventures with an escaped slave named Jim. This book is very satirical. During Mark Twain’s time this was something that was unheard of. Today, Huckleberry Finn is controversial for another reason. Huckleberry Finn is thought of by many as anti-black. It has many examples of racism throughout the book. There is different levels of racism throughout the book. Some chapters contain a lot of racism but there are some that don’t have any. I found that …show more content…

He wanted to expose two frauds who had joined him and Jim part way down the river in a town. He couldn’t expose them right away because it could mean discovery for Jim. Huck also lied to the men who were coming to check on their raft to keep Jim safe. Huck at one point says that he can go to hell instead of turn Jim in.
During the story Huck sees Jim crying over his family. Jim was homesick. Huck at first had a hard time believing this. He says, “I do believe that Jim cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their’n. It don’t seem natural, but I reckon it’s so.” Huck comes to realize that black people do have feelings and care for others. Huck’s views on blacks changed as the book went on.
The book portrays Jim as a good man and an exception to Huck’s ideas of black people. Huck mentions several times about how Jim was different than other blacks. Once Huck says that, “Well, he [Jim] was right; he was most always right; he had an uncommon level head, for a n*****.” This shows that Huck did think of Jim as being smart, but it also shows that Huck was biased.
I think that this book definitely has racism in it. I also think that it isn’t a racist

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