Examples Of Huckleberry Finn Be Taught In Schools

Boyz in the Hood: A persuasive essay on why Huck Finn should be taught in school

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is a beautiful narrative that has been regarded as a Great American Novel. Although the novel is regarded as a classic, there has been a lot of controversy over whether the book should, or should not be taught in the high school curriculum. After its publication in 1885, a school in Concord, Massachusetts, banned the book, describing it as “trash and suitable only for the slums” (Flood 1). Over one-hundred years later, school systems still debate over whether the novel is instructive enough to stock the shelves of classrooms. Modern educators have labeled the novel as “racist”, and therefor unfit to pass on to

The central character, Huck, runs away from a white society of expectations and befriends a runaway slave named Jim. Huck is very glad to see Jim and is relieved that he “warn’t loneson now” (Twain 36). He did not judge the color of his skin, just the fact like he was human, like Huck. Later, after Huck plays a trick on Jim, Twain presents an inner struggle with Huck. Huck realizes that he has “offended” Jim, and ultimately decides to apologize (Twain 15.49). Twain writes, Huck “humbled” himself to a “nigger” and “warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards” (Twain 15.49). Later, Huck writes a letter to Jim’s owner and states that he has her slave. After contemplating his friendship with Jim the man, Huck decides he would rather receive eternal punishment and go to “hell, than turn him in (Twain 31.3) . The narrative has shown that the morals of one’s inner self should outweigh society. Huck eventually makes a clear determination that he wants to live by his own beliefs, not those set by society, especially in regards to racism. He has chosen to free Jim based on personal experience, not what religion or white southern culture has taught him. This is the message Twain attempts to pass on to the