ipl-logo

Should Huck Finn Be Banned

1195 Words5 Pages

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, is a book in which captures the adventures of a young boy named Huck Finn who runs away from home and makes his way down the Mississippi River in which he meets a runaway slave named Jim, together they undertake serious of adventures. This piece of literature has left many of its readers shocked and angry due to the extensive use of the n-word. In Huckleberry Finn, the n-word is used over 200 times which has led many schools to ban the teaching of this book or simply replace it with another classic American literature. There is always two sides of a story, in this one there is three. The argument continues with the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn whether it should be kept …show more content…

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn does a great way of capturing the reality of racism. Many believe that change of fiction is the worst form of censorship. Others argue the fact that replacing the “n-word” with “slave” is still as powerful as using the word and it creates a more respective tone. But is it really? The word is so controversial which many students have different feelings about. In 60 minutes, eleventh grades Ryan Farrell and Melvin Efesoa express different feelings about the usage of the word in the book, Farrell states, “I feel that that word is in there for a reason, Twain put the word in there to get out attention. And everytime we read it, it does exactly that. It gets our attention.” Farrell explains that by using this word, it captures the human eye, it builds that conversation for everyone to talk about, it’s our history. On the other hand, Efesoa says, “It reflects on African-American history back then. And like I said, it’s a history that nobody wants to relive.” For many students, leaving the word as it is, believe that the book is powerful and changing it, loses its meaning and vice versa. In a poll, the public was given a chance to give their opinion on having the word changed and it shows that 29% said yes and 71% said no. This literature captures moments in which many people suffered during the past time but it should not be changed, society must learn from their mistakes in which we do not let history repeat itself. The “n-word” is found offensive and so is using the word “gay” , for example, but that word is not being deleted from literature so why is the “n-word” any

Show More
Related

Misunderstood In Huck Finn

943 Words | 4 Pages

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

Read More

Why Should Huckleberry Finn Be Banned In Schools

163 Words | 1 Pages

For the reason that the n-word appears 219 times in the novel, many schools have decided to ban the book in their classrooms. Cautiously questioning students whether or not the novel arouses an “uncomfortable” (Coeyman) feeling, teachers debate on teaching The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Multiple teachers feel that their inter-racial classes may include students who feel offended by the n-word. Various schools have considered the novel to be “...too racially offensive…”(Coeyman). For instance, school districts in Virginia have banned the book after a mother complained about how her son was disturbed by the “‘...racial slurs in there and offensive wording that you can’t get past…’”(Balingit).

Read More

Should Huck Finn Be Allowed In Schools

1666 Words | 7 Pages

Why Would a Good Novel be Kicked out of the Classroom? A trashy and racist book wouldn 't be allowed in classrooms. The novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, is getting a lot of negative talk about. The dominant problem that students, parents, teachers, and even professors, face , is the usage of the n-word.

Read More

Why Huckleberry Finn Should Not Be Banned Essay

1255 Words | 6 Pages

Many books have been censored or banned in libraries and schools across the United States because of their suggestive or inappropriate content. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, a sequel to the popular The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, is one of the books that are being illuminated as “unfit to read”. It is the story a young boy, Huck, and a black man, Jim, in the 1800s, who ran away and their journey across the Mississippi River. It is a controversial piece in a majority of the classrooms across America. In this book, the N word shows up over two hundred times (Here's Why Banning 'Huck Finn' Over The N-Word Sends The Wrong Message).

Read More

Reasons Why Huckleberry Finn Should Be Banned

724 Words | 3 Pages

After reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn I could not understand people 's argument on banning this story that had gone way past it 's time showing the friendship between a black man and a white boy, which was almost unimaginable at the time in many people 's minds, and exposing the worst parts of humanity, showing that we don 't live in a picture-perfect world. While doing some research, however, I had found that most arguments against letting Huck Finn were because of the conspicuous and repetitive use of the n-word, as well as the extreme racial theme that is played out throughout the course of the novel. It all made sense to me then. As always America is again trying to cover up their insightful, but very real history, in hopes that it will be forgotten so that they can go on to be recognized as the

Read More

Why Huck Finn Should Not Be Banned Essay

828 Words | 4 Pages

American literature has always been a form of entertainment and education. When slaves were introduced as characters in books, they were always negative, stereotypical characters, but not until 1883 when Mark Twain wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was a change made. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a book about a southern white boy in the 1800’s that runs away with an escaped slave on the Mississippi River. For years, schools have been debating on if the book should be banned in schools or not, and it is already on a variety of banned lists. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should not be banned in schools because it is an anti-slavery novel that teaches students valuable lessons and informs students of the past culture.

Read More

Why Huckleberry Finn Shouldn T Be Banned

224 Words | 1 Pages

Even though the idea is mainly about replacing the “N” word not much would change if you add “slave.” The usage of the “N” word was not meant to bring disagreement and argument but for educational purpose just how Twain intended it to be. Since the book has has been read and analyzed for many years the idea of the “N” word is going to be in everyone's mind so when they are reading the “new” edition of the book the word “slave” is pretty much not going to change much. Both words themselves present a very intense and memorable moment to when African Americans were being used as slaves and were being mistreated. This then brings the concept of racism and people think The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is racist and should be banned for that reason.

Read More

Why Is Huckleberry Finn Put Up At Auction And Sold

1267 Words | 6 Pages

Mark Twain, author of Huckleberry Finn, uses the n-word a total of two-hundred nineteen times in his book. Before diving into the subject matter, the book called Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is a novel set before the Civil War following the journey of a young boy named Huck. Huck struggles to escape his abusive father and takes to the Mississippi river alongside a black man named Jim. Jim, himself, struggles to gain freedom and escape enslavement. This novel would be considered a serious offense to an individual who has a closed mind about the matter at hand and has not fully understood when this book took place.

Read More

Should Huckleberry Finn Remain In Schools

233 Words | 1 Pages

In conclusion, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should remain in schools, the book is useful because it serves as a way to introduce race into a class discussion, the book can bring up “teachable moments” as described by David Bradley in the short clip of 60 Minutes. (Schneider). Censoring books by banning them restrains readers from learning and talking about topics that may be labeled as “controversial” or “explicit”. The “n-word” has a negative connotation due to the usage of the word in the past, it is often correlated with a disrespectful attitude, however this is controversial since David Bradley describes the complexity by comparing and saying “Rednecks can make jokes about rednecks”, this in other words says that one is not “allowed

Read More

Should Huck Finn Be Taught In Schools

768 Words | 4 Pages

What they weren’t able to see, however, is the fact that Twain portrayed one of the main characters, Jim, as an upstanding and respectable man which demanded more dignity and admiration for the African American people than what might have been interpreted from the outside. Many believe that Jim “is the moral center of the book, a man of courage and nobility, who risks his freedom -- risks his life -- for the sake of his friend Huck” (Is Huck Finn a Racist Book?). Not only Jim risking his freedom, but Jim’s actions throughout the entire story made his morals and good nature prevalent. These actions created a sense of dignity and respect for the African American people, which was not originally displayed due to the historical setting. Even if these underlying concepts are not transparent to students and parents that feel violated, there are many modifications or alternatives available to preserve the experience of reading this novel

Read More

Should Huck Finn Be Taught In Schools

1823 Words | 8 Pages

Huckleberry Finn is great American literature and should be kept in classrooms because the book contains great satire and themes that can provide a great learning experience for students. Having The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn replaced with another American literature will have students left out from the positive aspects of the book such as its themes, symbols, and the unique ways Mark Twain has incorporated them in the book. Having the book not being taught and given to students to understand the true meaning of the book and not so much worrying about the n-word. The n-word is used in the book has a huge effect to why the book is written how it's written, having such a great American literature book be replaced may not open many student’s eyes or logic of slavery.

Read More

Should Huck Finn Be Taught In Schools

1272 Words | 6 Pages

Imagine being thirteen years old, and traveling down the Mississippi River with only a friend who is discriminated against because of his skin color. Most readers could not imagine this if it was taken out of a school’s curriculum. The book is controversial due to its use of the word “nigger” 219 times, and some educational systems want the book out. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an important novel of literature that should be included in high school curriculum because it is Twain’s specific diction, educates people on racism, and it reflects on the history of this time.

Read More

Why Should Huck Finn Not Be Banned In Schools

1046 Words | 5 Pages

The novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, should not be banned in schools. This novel, written by Mark Twain, is a very controversial novel. It contains many things that may be uncomfortable or that could possibly offend other people, like the way the “n” word is being used so frequently and the way the slaves, such as Jim, are being treated. But, Mark Twain wrote this novel for a reason. He wanted to show the readers how slavery was in general.

Read More

Discuss The Controversy Of Huckleberry Finn

599 Words | 3 Pages

To condemn Huckleberry Finn for its use of the n-word is like banning works by Anne Frank or The Boy in the Striped Pajamas for mentioning swastikas and nazis in their books. The n-word and swastikas will always be big parts of our history and because they are such delicate topics they need to be understood. Due to its language The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the best lense for understanding racism at the time which makes its use of the n-word serve an educational purpose. On another note, Huck Finn is often criticized for promoting the idea that telling lies is ok when your young. The main character Huck almost never tells the truth to the adults he meets thought out the story.

Read More

Racism In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

917 Words | 4 Pages

Students should learn about the value the novel provides from that time-period in which Mark Twain wrote, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain put the N word in the novel for a reason, to describe the time-period in which these events had occurred. Phillip Rawls writes, “‘It’s such a shame that one word should be a barrier between a marvelous reading experience and a lot of readers,’ Gribben said. Yet Twain was particular about his words.”

Read More

More about Should Huck Finn Be Banned

Related Topics

Open Document