The curriculum of schools across America is an interesting topic that’s often found under the spotlight of scathing parents who are heavily concerned with the education of their children. In regards to school curriculum, questions are constantly pondered, the most common being: Why is this book a required reading? This particular question has been permanently associated with Mark Twain’s American classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Many argue that the prevalence of dark themes such as racism and slavery in Mark Twain’s Huck Finn establishes the novel as controversial and sparks a debate over whether or not the novel is appropriate to teach in classrooms today. However, Twain’s seamless ability to denounce racism, accurately portray …show more content…
Through irony, Twain portrays the African American race as mentally inferior to whites. In one scene, Pap, Huck’s abusive and alcoholic father says, “[...] when they told me there was a state in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote ag’in […] I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?” (Twain 37-38). At this particular scene, Twain’s novel may certainly appear “inappropriate” and “racist” in the eyes of those who fail to recognize Twain’s satire. Pap’s abusive and alcoholic nature establishes him as unfit for raising a child, nonetheless serving as a father figure for Huck. On the contrary, Jim, the “inferior” black slave, fills the fatherly void in Huck’s life. While rafting down the river with the Duke and Dauphin, Jim and Huck take turns keeping watch. On one account, Huck recalls, “I went to sleep, and Jim didn't call me when it was my turn. He often done that” (Twain 165). Jim always treated Huck as if he was his own son by letting him sleep through his watch shift or shielding his eyes when they encountered the dead man at the cabin. Jim’s fatherly treatment of Huck never falters, even at the beginning of their relationship when Huck’s views were still moderately to