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Should Huckleberry Finn Be Taught In Schools

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Starting from a young age, everyone loves to go on adventures and have fun, just like Huck Finn. Growing up in St. Petersburg, Missouri, he is a white 12 year old boy and the son of a drunken father. In the beginning of the book, Huck is seen as a little innocent boy. Until he enters the world with his friend, Tom Sawyer, as they go on adventures, which creates problems and controversy through the history of the North and South, civilization, and racism and slavery. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck has many controversial experiences that are still a problem in today’s society, which is why we should keep teaching the book in school. Some may argue that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should not be taught in school because some of the characters are undeveloped. Jim is an African American slave who belongs to Miss. Watson. He is known to lack education and his dialogue is difficult to …show more content…

The Shepherdsons and Grangerford’s demonstrate a representation of history through the Civil War. Both families has a hatred towards the other with bringing their guns into the church, which shows the readers how complicated and unnecessary the family feud was. Huck is always coming and going through civilization. Widow Douglas tries to take him in, but Huck feels uncomfortable in a civilized society, as he ends up leaving. Civilization is important because it teaches people to grow and survive in the world. Jim being an African American slave, people give him racist remarks and treat him horrible. Slavery and racism was a big deal back then, even though we have omitted slavery today, racism still continues to be an issue in society. These controversial topics are good examples and can be beneficial for discussion in a school classroom, along with the basis for American history which is why people need to keep teaching The Adventures of Huckleberry

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746 Words | 3 Pages

Should Huck Finn be read and taught in schools? This question has been constantly debated since the book was published 132 years ago. According to the American Library Association, it was number 14 on the Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books list for over a decade. Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, contains language that may be considered offensive to some, but this should be overlooked because the lessons the reader learns are more important than the language it contains. By Jim’s kindness and love towards Huck, and the different characters that have impacted Huck’s life, readers can gain a deeper understanding of how racism can lead people to judge character too soon.

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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

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821 Words | 4 Pages

The appropriateness of Huck Finn being used in a High School curriculum has been a widely debated topic since the time that it was published. Many believe that the book promotes racism and stereotypes and provides no value to students in the classroom. Being a High School student that has read this book, I strongly disagree with these negative views. Some might say that Huck Finn celebrates racist stereotypes because of the way that many of the characters in the book talk about and treat black people. For example, minstrel episodes, which served the purpose of making the audience laugh at minorities’ expense, and the frequent use of the ‘N’ word, are very offensive to many people today.

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879 Words | 4 Pages

“ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is an interesting and well written novel by Mark Twain. The fact that he develops his characters chapter by chapter makes one to read it with a great curiosity. Throughout the novel, one can notice how he develops his characters’ personality and makes them even interesting. From the beginning to the end, the characters are being changed in different ways which makes the readers to fall even deeper into the novel. One of the characters that is being changed throughout the novel is his main character Huck.

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417 Words | 2 Pages

The novel Huckleberry Finn has been a classic but controversial piece of history. Huck is a young racist boy. The society as a whole was racist. The lack of consequence for treating Jim badly because of his color is all about the time period. The limited knowledge can lead an individual into being a racist, but a strong minded young adult like Huck should be able to know the humanity of black people.

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1059 Words | 5 Pages

In Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jim teaches Huck about civilization, family, and racial inequality. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jim teaches Huck about civilization. He shows how the world around them is not as civilized as it should be. Twain shows an example of an uncivilized society through

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458 Words | 2 Pages

It should be taught so people understand the horrible things black people experienced and that it should never happen again. In conclusion this is a very beautiful story of a strong bond between Huck, a young white boy, and Jim, an older black slave. There are many other characters that tie into their adventures but it’s special to read and see how their friendship strengthens through the hardships and trials they face. Huck and Jim both have kind hearts and a concern for other people as well as loyalty to each other. With that said, this is why I believe The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a true

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566 Words | 3 Pages

“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” is about a young boy who rejects civilization for various reasons. He has been raised to believe and conform to social ideals, but Huck’s experiences with the world have led him to reject social values and seek a different path. The main issue with his rejection is the corruption in the society he has grown up in. Huck has seen firsthand the injustice of slavery and racism, which is accepted in a normal part of the civil war.

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1076 Words | 5 Pages

Themes of hypocrisy, greed and racism are present in our lives all too often. In the past year, we witnessed hypocrisy on the nationwide stage of our presidential election. We let the top ten percent of wealthiest families control 76 percent of the money in America while the lower half of families controlled one percent (Sahadi, CNN Money*). And finally, we tolerated unprecedented racism in the forms of racially targeted police brutality and the retaliation that followed. For 2016, it was easy to see the vile themes of hypocrisy, greed and racism present on the news and in social media.

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1585 Words | 7 Pages

Original or revised, Huck Finn will still remain a great character to follow along with, and to be involved with in his adventures, but if this story is to be taught in schools then the original read needs to be read and discussed. There is no point, then, reading this story about the culture of the nineteenth century, if the offensiveness cannot be addressed in an advanced classroom. So many other books-banned books-are read every year by students, and those books along with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn contains some complex topics; debatable topics. In order to create capable thinkers, they need to learn how to think about the deep, uncomfortable, nitty-gritty, subjects of life. Students learn about the loss of innocence, evil, corrupt politics, death, sex, racism and much more in books like Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Animal Farm by George Orwell, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and there are many other books which contain subjects close to these.

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1063 Words | 5 Pages

At no point, does Twain pretend like the tragedies of slavery did not exist, so neither should society today. Jim did not have an easy life as a slave, Twain made sure to point this out and pointed how some immoral people had it easy. Through the eyes of Huck Finn, Twain ensures that Huck and Jim understand inequality so that they prevent it – not embrace it. The literary masterpiece that is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn must be allowed as a symbol of the best humanity has to offer it. It is more than a matter of who is or is not offended.

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830 Words | 4 Pages

When Mark Twain was writing The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, he could still see the racism prevalent in the country. Jim, a runaway slave who accompanies Huck throughout the novel is a stereotyped as an African American in the 1900’s. Jim is stereotyped by Twain to be superstitious and seen as unequal to whites, but by becoming Huck’s mentor he sheds his stereotype. Twain adheres Jim to being overly superstitious from his lack of education, which is characteristic to most slaves during the time period.

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838 Words | 4 Pages

In the story, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is about a young boy and a runaway slave throughout the journey it has many obstacles which Huck has to make decisions with. The future students need to read this novel because it teaches the value of friendship and what it truly means. Another reason would be teaches you that you can’t always think about yourself throughout difficult decision. Lastly, it teaches you the journey that Jim and Huck had to make throughout the story. Huck has changed though the course of his journey by becoming kindhearted, selfless, and taking action to protect others especially Jim.

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1478 Words | 6 Pages

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn puts the reader in the perspective of a young boy growing up during the time of slavery. Written after the civil war had been fought, the novel was more of a reflective piece on the civil war and the time after than anything else. Throughout the novel the protagonist Huck goes through Southern America and meets various people who represent certain aspects of America. Through the meeting of these people Mark Twain uses responsibility or lack there of to illustrate that a society that’s unaccountable will also lose the ability to develop. This can be seen developing when contrasting the two Colonel’s in the book, Col. Grangerford and Col. Sherburn respectively.

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1346 Words | 6 Pages

Actions in each scene teach good and bad lessons to society. Through Mark Twain’s satirical content, readers become aware of their gullibility, cruel forms of entertainment, and the lack of morals of wealthy citizens. Twain reflects advanced views on slavery through Huck’s treatment of Jim throughout the novel, from happiness in finding a traveling partner, to shame in hurting his only friend, to compassion in doing what is right to help someone in need. Contrary to belief, Huck’s maturity does not deteriorate through submissiveness, yet grows stronger in his wholehearted determination to save Jim. Like popular Disney movies, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is completely purposeful because of each lesson taught to viewers who take the time to

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