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Racism In Huckleberry Finn

Decent Essays

The Controversy Over Race
Long after his death, American novelist Mark Twain continues to be accused of being a racist writer as a result of his literary masterpiece Huckleberry Finn. Many critics argue his book is offensive, prolongs slave-era stereotypes, and has no place being taught in today’s classrooms. However, what many critics fail to realize is that Twain wanted to write a historically accurate book in order to convey to readers how strong the racial clashes between whites and blacks were throughout the hearts and minds of Missourians during this pre-Civil War era. The audience of the novel must remove themselves from modern day perspectives regarding race and view this book through the eyes of a nineteenth century reader if they wish to perceive Huckleberry Finn as not a racist book, but rather for what Twain actually intended— a novel reflecting on the gruesome truths of racial intolerance in our nation.
One of the main flashpoints for opponents of Huckleberry Finn is the excessive use of the n-word— 219 times to be precise. Critics argue the use of the word is offensive, so much so that it makes the book impossible to appreciate. However, these critics are failing to acknowledge that the novel takes place in the South nearly twenty years before the Civil War. In order for Twain to create a book that is to be historically accurate, the inclusion of this word is absolutely necessary in this setting. With the application of the term, Twain is providing realistic

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