Controversy Of Huckleberry Finn

Literature has been the place for consuming knowledge, each piece of text with its unique ideas and purposes. Have you ever read a piece of literature that has made you ponder the author's intent? Mark Twain's novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has caused a debate about whether the novel critiques the race-based culture or if the author purposefully made it racist to make it appealing to white readers of the antebellum south. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn revolves around a boy named Huck who escapes his abusive father and journeys down the Mississippi River with Jim, a runaway slave. While The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn does effectively show the growth of Huck's morals, it mostly fails as an indictment of racism due to its excessive

Wallace mentions that “the black child[ren are] offended by the use of the word ‘n*****” anywhere, no matter what rationale the teacher may use to justify it”. (Wallace 18) The word nigger has supposedly been used a total of 213 times in the novel, the excessive use of the word n***** makes it so that when it is read in class for students it may cause embarrassment making them feel ashamed of their race and culture. Not only do the excessive racial slurs embarrass the African-American kind, but they subtly teach racism to young minds due to the context of the text. A word attains its meaning from the context of the text, and Twain seems to have purposely placed the racial slurs in certain spots to make it racist. During Huck's escape from his dad's abuse, he came across Jim whom he helped escape slavery but during their journey, Jim was turned in by King. To help Jim be with his family he writes to Mrs. Watson mentioning that “nigger Jim is down here two miles below Pikesville, and Mr. Phelps has got him and he will give him up” but then chooses not to send it fearing what Mrs. Watson will do to

Lester argues that the improper portrayal of African Americans is detrimental to education. Lester mentions that Jim, an African-American, is portrayed as a “childlike” character, “more like one of the boys in Tom Sawyer’s gang than a grown man with a wife and children” (Lester 202). The character built around Jim is most likely a stereotype meant for black individuals, Twain's use of characterization does not effectively challenge racism rather it creates a stereotype of what a person might act like because of their race. Lester also argues that Twain intentionally added racial stereotypes to make it appealing to white readers “because it permits their own ‘humanity’ to shine with more luster” (Lester 203). The improper portrayal can be seen in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn when Tom decides “There ain’t necessity enough in this case and, besides, Jim’s a n*****, and wouldn’t understand the reasons for it, and how its the custom in Europe” (Twain