Huck Finn
Mark Twain's, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is one of the best-known American novels. It is said to be one of the greatest novels ever written, "A national epic" (Janows). Almost everyone knows the story of Huck, either by reading the novel, or hearing about it. And why is it so popular? Huck Finn is a classic "children's" story of adventure and friendship, as well as being the cause of tremendous controversy. The novel has been banned from classrooms and libraries nationwide because of its "racist" views and offensive writing. Many believe Twain was a racist because of the repetitive use of the word "nigger", and the stereotyping of slaves. Did Twain do this purposely? Did he support the ideas of slavery, or was he using the language and ideas to describe the era realistically? Julius Lester states, "Twain did not take slavery, therefore black people seriously" (Lester, 343). Though I can understand why Huck Finn may offend some, I believe Twain was opposed to slavery, and wrote this novel to make fun of the ignorance of racism. When I first read the novel, I thought it reinforced slavery. The word "nigger" was used so repeatedly, I was offended, and it seemed Huck saw himself superior to Jim because of his skin c
He has a long way to go before he finally matures as a man who can think for himself before he can endure the pressures of society. This is what the stereotypical characteristics of a slave at that time were. Justin Kaplan said, "It seems unlikely that anyone, of any color, who actually read 'Huckleberry Finn', instead of merely reading or hearing about it, and who allowed himself or herseven the barest minimum of intelligent response to its underlying spirit and attention, could accuse it of being 'racist' because some of its characters use offensive racial epithets. Twain's description of Huck is also important to the understanding of the intent of this novel. One must be sure to pay attention to the fact that Huck's concept of Jim isn't necessarily racist, but the ideas of society implanted into his mind. Why wouldn't Jim be illiterate, ignorant, and childish? Yet, Twain discreetly portrays Jim as the only intelligent character of this novel. Huck is a young boy, around age twelve, who has lived a rough and therefore rebellious life. In chapter six, we see Pap's view on blacks. He isn't very mature, naive, and therefore very gullible. Twain is not expressing racism by describing Jim how he does, but is portraying a realistic slave. I don't think he would have freed other slaves if he had the chance, but not because he was a racist, but rather because that was something no one from that time in that place that grew up like Huck would ever think to do. Huck was growing up in the south during the mid-1800s, a time when slavery was an ordinary thing.
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Acceptance Essays
