Misunderstood In Huck Finn

In the song “Message Man” by Twenty One Pilots, the lyrics say, “Please use discretion When you're messing with the message man. These lyrics aren't for everyone. Only few understand.” Similar to the chart-topping musical duo’s profound lyrics, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is misunderstood in a similar way. Some school districts have banned the book due to the use of the “n word”, the negative portrayal of African Americans throughout the book, and Huckleberry’s distasteful character, which offers a poor role model for youth. However, these misguided administrators misunderstand Twain’s literature because Twain uses the “n word” to spotlight its offensive and dehumanizing nature, the portrayal of African Americans is

When the King and Duke steal the fatherless sisters’ money and are deciding where to temporarily store it, the king says, “First you know the nigger that does up the rooms will get an order to box these duds up and put ‘em away; and do you reckon a nigger can run across money and not borrow it? “(Twain 181). Twain exemplifies people’s stereotyping and discriminatory treatment of African Americans that comes with the “n word” throughout the novel, as well as the shocking nature of the word’s use. The “n word” is similarly used to dehumanize African Americans and make them seen as subhuman, shown by Huckleberry speaking to Tom’s aunt about why his ferry was delayed:“‘It warn’t the grounding—that didn’t keep us back but a little. We blowed out a cylinder-head.’ ‘Good gracious! anybody hurt?’ ‘No’m. Killed a nigger.’ ‘Well, it’s lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt.’ ” (Twain 223). Here the “n word” is used to show that African Americans weren’t considered people at all, but property, and the loss of an African American life was viewed as insignificant. The book appropriately uses the “n word” to spotlight the inequitable treatment of African

Often the reason for his misdeeds is virtuous. Huckleberry often risks his life and is loyal to his friends. Huckleberry Finn’s lie about his identity as a girl is transparent when he went back to his hometown after being proclaimed dead. Mrs. Judith Loftus catches Huckleberry forgetting his alias and advises, ”Well, try to remember it, George. Don’t forget and tell me it’s Elexander before you go, and then get out by saying it’s George Elexander when I catch you. And don’t go about women in that old calico. You do a girl tolerable poor, but you might fool men, maybe.” (Twain 63). Huckleberry Finn uses his skill at lying to save Jim from men that were searching for slaves. When two men approach their raft the following exchange takes place:” ’Boy, that’s a lie. What IS the matter with your pap?’ ‘I will, sir, I will, honest—but don’t leave us, please. It’s the—the— Gentlemen, if you’ll only pull ahead, and let me heave you the headline, you won’t have to come a-near the raft—please do.’ ‘Set her back, John, set her back!’ says one. They backed water.“ (Twain 93). Huckleberry lies to save his friend’s life. Twain shows Huckleberry getting caught in his lies and as a loyal companion who saves his friend. Huck is actually a good role model in many