Disputation of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn “He was ignorant, unwashed, insufficiently fed; but he had as good a heart as ever any boy had,” (Twain). Mark Twain based the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn off of a boy whom he used to be friends with. Twain believed that this boy had a difficult life, and later created a novel about his story. However, Twain ended with a novel that was very controversial and questionable. Some readers felt the novel was racist and insulting. It has since then become a debate for schools, teachers, parents, and readers of all kind to discuss if it is appropriate for school. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a controversial novel and should not be included in the high school curriculum …show more content…
Jonathan Arac’s article says that some African American children have a difficult time going to school when reading this novel. They are scared and nervous because white children feel more empowered. “The fundamental issue in parents’ and children’s pain over the classroom prestige of Huckleberry Finn has been the 213 uses of the deeply offensive term “nigger,” (Arac). It also states, “...that is your sickness, not a matter of public concern.” If black children are taught that it is okay for them to be quiet about problems, that brings a whole new message to racism and why this book was controversial to begin with. It should not be ethically or morally right to allow that to happen again, especially since it is the same reason why this book has been questioned and it can determine how a child’s future can be effected, in certain scenarios. “ I can still recall the anger and pain I felt as my white classmates read aloud the word “nigger”...I wanted to sink into my seat. Some of the whites snickered, others giggled. I can recall nothing of the literary merits of this work that you term the “greatest of all American novels.” I only recall the sense of relief I felt when I would flip ahead a few pages and see the word “nigger” would not be read that hour,” (Arac). This is an example of a student being embarrassed and anxious to go to school because they are afraid of being teased. If people think that this is something to just let go, something is wrong. Paul Butler states, “I suffered through Huckleberry Finn in high school. The white kids kept repeating “Nigger Jim," while the teacher offered tortured explanations for its use.” Again, a student was affected in class because of the racial diction. Similarly, the author does not like the outcome of his book, so he does not like the controversy that comes along with