ipl-logo

Analysis Of In Defense Of Huckleberry Fin By Mark Twain

841 Words4 Pages

The mere idea about removing this word from “Huckleberry Fin” is preposterous. By removing the word nigger, we are removing the whole meaning of the book. We are removing the reason and the effect Mark Twain was trying to laminate. He was trying to teach people the history behind this offensive word and how powerful a single word can be. As stated in the article, “In Defense of a Loaded Word,” the author said, “’Nigger is border, the signpost that reminds us that the old crimes don’t disappear.” The reason Mark Twain wrote “Huckleberry Finn” using this word was because he wanted to demonstrate that racial prejudice and slavery was still prevalent during their time. In my opinion, I agree with those who say it is “censorship” and that the words of a literary icon should not be altered. When this word is altered into the word slave, the entire meaning of the novel alters, as well. It goes against …show more content…

For this reason, I do not mind the word nigger. Although I do not favor this word, I know it is used for a certain purpose. It is not used so it can offend others. Unlike Riley Cooper, a Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver who called his black security guard ‘nigger,’ Twain used nigger as a way not to be violent or offensive. Instead, it was to bring awareness regarding the way the African Americans were being called. In “From Chapter 6 of ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Fin’ by Mark Twain,” Pap told Huck, “It was ‘lection day, and I was just about to go and vote myself if I warn’t too drunk to get there; but when they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out.” During Mark Twain’s time, the whites used the word nigger so loosely. It was so common that it had been a part of life and a social norm. The author, Twain, was showing to the world the names the African Americans were really being

Show More
Related

The Banning Mark Twain's Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

138 Words | 1 Pages

Ever since Mark Twain published Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1885, it has been one of the most banned books in America. Not only one, but many different people/groups have banned Mark Twain’s classic due to the consistent theme of race. The book is considered inappropriate because of how Mark Twain regards African Americans and Indigenous people. Historically, it is off of many school bookshelves because many may argue that the book even promotes racism. One month after the book’s debut in 1885, a library in Concord, MA stated that Twain’s novel was "trash and suitable only for the slums".

Read More

Morality In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

783 Words | 4 Pages

Thought out a person's childhood, they experience events that transform them to become who they are later in the life. People have to deal with the decision of what right and what's wrong. At a young age, Huck chooses to run away from his home because he was raised by a father who was an alcoholic and means towards Huck. He really did not care for him. Huck knows this is wrong, but does it anyway, he decides to help a slave name Jim escape and try to help him reunite with his family again, by doing this he knows he is going to get in trouble if he gets caught.

Read More

Reasons Why Huckleberry Finn Should Be Banned

724 Words | 3 Pages

After reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn I could not understand people 's argument on banning this story that had gone way past it 's time showing the friendship between a black man and a white boy, which was almost unimaginable at the time in many people 's minds, and exposing the worst parts of humanity, showing that we don 't live in a picture-perfect world. While doing some research, however, I had found that most arguments against letting Huck Finn were because of the conspicuous and repetitive use of the n-word, as well as the extreme racial theme that is played out throughout the course of the novel. It all made sense to me then. As always America is again trying to cover up their insightful, but very real history, in hopes that it will be forgotten so that they can go on to be recognized as the

Read More

Huckleberry Finn Pros And Cons

944 Words | 4 Pages

When presented in Huck Finn, the presence of it allows students to be educated about the its negative connotation, both historically and in the present. One typical complaint by students and teachers is that the use of the word ‘nigger’ causes discomfort. Francine Prose of the New York Times claims this discomfort by learners can be transformed into a constructive lesson about tolerance through conversation. She writes, “The understandable discomfort the word ‘nigger’ causes students and teachers is part of a conversation; part of the point of reading that book in school is to have that conversation.” The original version of Huck Finn forces readers to encounter attitudes and behavior that would not be acceptable today, which could lead to a more constructive learning environment

Read More

Should Huckleberry Finn Be Taught In High Schools Essay

641 Words | 3 Pages

The n-word might be offensive to some people, but if that word is changed with other words or the book is banned because of that word, the issue of censorship raises. Any type of art is about expressing ideas without boundaries, and censorship might take away the opportunity of reading a great piece of literature in schools. If an author wants to reveal racism in society, “[he has to] show racists as they are, speaking as they would speak” (Fishkin). Mark Twain had to use the n-word and show the conditions as they are to reveal the true racism. As Fishkin says, “the difference between the almost right word a[n]d the right word is really a large matter”, and changing the word still creates censorship.

Read More

Definition Of The Word Nigger

109 Words | 1 Pages

The oxford dictionary had much to say about the word “nigger.” The oxford dictionary said, slave masters got the name “nigger” from the Latin word “Niger” meaning black. They also got the word “Negro” from the meaning of the Spanish diction meaning “black” also. They used the word “black” to describe African American’s instead of letting them have their names or giving them an actual name. It wouldn’t be so bad

Read More

Gloria Naylor's Nigger: The Meaning Of A Word

1589 Words | 7 Pages

Throughout the history of the United States, many derogatory and hurtful terms have been created to refer to individuals or a collective group of minority people with the goal of undermining them. Some examples of these words are ‘Nigger’, ‘Faggot’, ‘Beaner’ among countless other harmful labels. These terms are problematic, as they dehumanize the race in which they target, as reminders of the oppression experienced by these groups, giving the terms power. Among these hateful words, ‘nigger’ remains the oldest term and is the most racially charged and hurtful to the minority group that it intends to harm which are blacks. Only blacks should be able to use the word ‘nigger’ in America, because it was created with the intentions to dehumanize blacks, carrying all of the racist and discriminatory history experienced by blacks in the

Read More

What Does Jim Teach Huck Finn

1059 Words | 5 Pages

Jim teaches Huck that others will judge solely based on skin color. Twain shows this by saying, "The ni***r run off the very night Huck Finn was killed. So there's a reward out for him - three hundred dollars" (Twain 67). This quotation is showing how the people are quick to assume that just because they both coincidentally went missing around the same time that Jim was the one to "kill" Huck. Throughout the novel, Twain includes the word “ni***r.”

Read More

Dont Censor To Kill A Mockingbird

882 Words | 4 Pages

Don’t censor To Kill a Mockingbird Rosa Parks once said, “Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.” In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird the author Harper Lee uses the n-word 48 times and negro 54 times. This alone could cause readers to feel uncomfortable, along with the vulgar language and references to sexual activities. Some people may think that the best solution to these problems are to take out these words and censor the whole book.

Read More

Huck Finn Racism Analysis

1403 Words | 6 Pages

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.

Read More

The Importance Of Nigger

897 Words | 4 Pages

In the early 1780’s, the phrase “nigger” has created criticism and disrespect which whites have an unwelcome rejection of blacks. The term has spread widely over many decades; the meaning of nigger is extended to “an ignorant person” (Nigger, 2018). In English-speaking land, this word in some cases can be misunderstood as an insult without people consent especially in today’s society. Nigger is commonly used in young generations because there are many jokes into the word. It depends on how people use the term in a positive or negative in black culture (Nigger, 2004).

Read More

Mark Twain's Use Of Satire In Huckleberry Finn

939 Words | 4 Pages

Mark Twain's Use of Satire in Huckleberry Finn Throughout his pieces of literature, the famous American author Mark Twain portrays his personal views of society using satire and irony in his stories. He makes fun of broken parts in the American society relentlessly and makes sure the readers understand how outrageous some acts were during the early-to-mid 1800s. Twain seems to target specific aspects in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn such as how young people could be conflicted between morality and legality, the loss of self-respect for money, and the effects of herd mentality. He has an interesting approach at giving the reader insight, but his main ideas for the theme shine through and are clearly depicted.

Read More

Examples Of Racism In Huckleberry Finn

142 Words | 1 Pages

In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the racist attitudes of the Deep South in the late 1800's are shown. Mark Twain portrays a runaway slave, Jim, as a racist caricature who does whatever is asked of him and exhibits little intelligence. The reader can initially see this through the use of the word "nigger" that is all throughout the book. In the modern 21st century this term is taken offensively, but in the 19th century this term was commonly used and Twain took advantage of it.

Read More

Racism In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

917 Words | 4 Pages

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.”

Read More

What It Means To Say N Word Essay

572 Words | 3 Pages

To discuss the N-word its needs to be said. The word nigger is a when word, not a who word. Meaning that anyone can say it, the most important thing about the n-word is the context it is used in. It can be used in an extremely positive context or a highly racist or oppressive context.

Read More

More about Analysis Of In Defense Of Huckleberry Fin By Mark Twain

Related Topics

Open Document