Pryor's 'The Etymology Of Nigger'

In 1885, Mark Twain, renowned travel writer, lecturer, humorist and novelist, published The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a young adult novel following the events in the life of an all American-rebel boy and a runaway slave. Although Twain has written many successful novels with little negative feedback, Huckleberry Finn pulls in numerous controversial debates relating to almost every aspect about the novel. The language in the novel spikes attention in readers, whether it is the profanity or the specific way that Huck speaks. Huckleberry is known for his deceit throughout the book, which also troubles readers and how it can potentially negatively affect younger readers. Religious issues in the novel and how the characters criticize faith

She states that the use of this word in those times by white people was to say that “blacks were deficient, but also to show how their own racial status was precarious” (Pryor 204). The use of the “N” word at that time could also be used as punishment or a scare tactic towards white children as well as a racial slur towards blacks. “They disciplined white children with stories of nigger boogeymen” Pryor states, doing this as a method to make disobedient children behave. Its continuous use in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn serves as not only a time stamp to indicate the period in history that the story takes place, but also because Twain lived in that same period. Cassander Smith, author of “Nigger or Slave: Why Labels Matter for Jim (and Twain) in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” indicated that the “N” word was used over 200 times in the novel alone as a racial epithet. Smith also reviews the issue of Twain’s use of the “N” word along with “slave”. She mentions and argues that the contexts of the words are used differently. “The character Jim, to whom racial epithets are most often attached, remains a ‘nigger’ at the end of the novel but not a ‘slave’” (Smith 183). This indicates that Smith believes that the two words are not connected, resulting in the novel containing no language

The vulgarity within it makes readers question Mark Twain’s stand on race and slavery. The vernaculars of the novel also play a part in whether or not the book is accepted. Huck’s actions and deceitfulness in the novel is also a problem for readers because he cannot be seen as a role model when acting like a felonious and defiant boy. The religious aspect of the book creates issues with readers due to the fact that it is argued that the book criticizes religion. Mark Twain’s real feelings concerning these issues in his novel are unclear because evidence supporting both racism and abolitionism and also not supporting it can be deliberated about Twain. What is certain is that Twain felt it essential to represent his own childhood and the people he recalled, which fairly explains his