How would you feel if an author published a book that contained a word that was once used frequently but has now developed into one of the most derogatory and unfriendly things a person can say? Since 1884, when the book was first published, there has been much controversy regarding the use of the word “nigger” in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. Many people all over the world, predominantly the African-American population, feel that the word demoralizes the Blacks, and feel that the novel should be strongly censored from society. Some say that the constant use of the “n-word” forces the reader to conceive one of the main characters, Jim (Huck’s slave friend), as a buffoon, and it therefore embarrasses the …show more content…
Huck Finn seemed like a rebel without a cause right from the start. He seemed as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Huckleberry Finn was also greatly influenced by Tom Sawyer. Huck even joined a band of robbers called “Tom Sawyer’s Gang” in which a group of young boys pretend to capture, rob, and murder people. He saw Tom as a role model, someone who he could look up to. Huck’s decisions during the course of the novel are solely based on Tom and whether he would see fit to it. Huck appeared as a naïve troublemaker in the beginning of the novel.
Jim, Miss Watson’s slave, is introduced in the first few chapters as a nincompoop. While Tom and Huck were sneaking by Jim, Tom placed Jim’s hat on a tree limb that was right above Jim’s head. When Jim woke up he claimed that only the witches could have done such a thing. Jim was so proud that he told all the slaves about it. This may have been one of the reasons why there were tremendous amounts of people who disapproved of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The fact that Jim is portrayed as stupid and uneducated causes this group of “Huck Finn Haters” to deem this novel racist. As the story presses on, Huck and Jim’s lives become intertwined when they bump into each other on Jackson’s Island. They both escaped from society and were now spending their time smoking pipes and staring into the vast Mississippi River. Huck knew that Jim was a runaway and felt
Mark Twain the author of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn tells how these two people of two different races become really close. At that the time of this book, Mark Twain made it where the two main characters needed to be segregated from each other. The books tells everything that would have happened in that time in history. According to the background essay, “ Jim is first introduced in chapter two as “Miss Watson’s big n*****”, and the word “n****” appears in the book a staggering two hundred nineteen times.” To Huck, Jim was a slave, friend, and father figure because he never left Huck’s said no matter what got in the way.
Two chapters into the story and Twain has already placed Huck and his friend Tom found themselves sneaking past a man in the kitchen Huck referred to him as, “Miss Watson’s big nigger, named Jim” (11). This is when Jim and Huck’s view on Jim is first introduced. Huck made it very clear on how he viewed him, Jim was nothing but Miss Watson's unimportant property in his eyes. After the two boys got away without being spotted Tom decided to pull a prank on Jim, Huck did not make any effort to stop him. The way Huck allowed Tom to humiliate Jim shows that he does not see him as a person worthy of respect due to the color of his skin. Jim was just an average slave, and his feelings never crossed Huck’s mind.
Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, has sparked debates on the repeated usage of the n-word. While some argue that the n-word is offensive and a contribution to today’s existing racism, others argue that the use of the n-word in the story accurately portrays the time period of the novel. Twain uses the n-word purposely as a racial slur to accent the hatred towards African Americans in American society during the 1830s-1840s.
There are some that do believe the book is good but the use of the racial slurs are not to be taught in the school system. From the moment the book was published , Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" caused major controversy. The book challenged parental and adult authority, made fun of religion and was said to have influenced the attendance of children at school. From the time the book was written to now this is still makes headlines on the controversy the book causes. There have been districts in America that ban this classic book for the reason of the word “nigger”, a word so offensive it is usually called the N-word. Is a good thing to change the word from one thing to another? “that might be a trick question, any answer I give
Originally, Huck believes that he should turn in Jim, a slave running away from being sold by Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. He does not see it as following the law, he just believes that it would be immoral for him not to turn in Jim to the cops. Huck Finn was raised to accept the idea of slavery which has been shaped by a society who accepted slavery. The pranks that Huck Finn pulled on Jim reflects Huck Finns attitude towards Jim 's intelligence. In the scene after Huck Finn and Jim get separated in the fog, Huck thinks Jim is stupid enough to believe that none of it
In the beginning of the novel, Huck’s views on slavery had been skewed by society and by the civilized Miss Watson’s righteous and moral views. Huck finds it all fun and games when he and his comrade, Tom Sawyer, play a trick on Jim; Tom Sawyer and Huck remove Jim’s hat from his head and place it on the branch above him. When Jim wakes up, he believes he has been bewitched, adding to his dim-witted and brainless appearance. Only later on in the novel does Huck realize what Jim really means to him.
Huck Finn's relationship with slavery is very complex and often contradictory. He has been brought up to accept slavery. He can think of no worse crime than helping to free a slave. Despite this, he finds himself on the run with Jim, a runaway slave, and doing everything in his power to protect him. Huck Finn grew up around slavery. His father is a violent racist, who launches into tirades at the idea of free blacks roaming around the countryside. Miss Watson owns slaves, including Jim, so that no matter where he goes, the idea of blacks as slaves is reinforced. The story takes place during the 1840's, at a time when racial tensions were on the rise, as northern abolitionists tried to stir up trouble in the South. This prompted a
Twain also exposes the deplorable concept of slavery by allowing Huck to view Jim as an equal person. As the novel proceeds, Huck and Jim continue their voyage down the Mississippi River and become close friends. Huck eventually has to decide whether or not to turn Jim in to Miss Watson. " And I got to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim before me all the time: in the day and
This fictional, satirical follow-up to to Mark Twain’s 1876 novel is just as popular, although for most it’s for different reasons. The amount of times that the “n-word” is used is between 160 and 213 [2]. Since the 1950s, black parents and some white sympathizers have called this book out as being racist. As for my opinion on this, I never got why this was bad. Sure, it may seem racist to us, but in the context of it’s time, there’s really nothing wrong. That was the controversy of it, as for the story itself, it’s a classic in it’s own right.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a Mark Twain classic, wonderfully demonstrates pre-Civil War attitudes about blacks held by whites. Twain demonstrates these attitudes through the actions and the speech of Huckleberry Finn, the narrator, and Jim, Miss Watson's slave. These two main characters share a relationship that progresses from an acquaintance to a friendship throughout the novel. It is through this relationship that Mark Twain gives his readers the realization of just how different people's attitudes were before the Civil War. Twain also reveals the negative attitudes of whites toward blacks by the cruel manner in which Jim is treated with such inferiority.
A major theme in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is slavery and our evolvement towards the institution. “In fact, Twain’s novel is often taught as the text that epitomizes this tradition, with Huck held up as its exemplar: a boy courageous enough to stand against the moral conventions of his society. . .” (Bollinger, 32 – Say It Jim) In the beginning of Huckleberry Finn’s relationship with Jim, he has little respect for him and as their journey progresses he
In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a variety of people influence Huck’s ideology. From the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson’s religious rhetoric to Pap’s brutal, uncivilized manner, many contrasting ideas shape Huck’s belief system. However, among these people, Tom Sawyer holds the greatest impact over Huck’s actions and mentality because of Huck’s immense admiration for him. Huck’s initial encounters with Tom Sawyer establish Tom as a major component of the ideology Huck maintains throughout his journey. Despite Huck’s skepticism and confusion about Tom’s imaginative schemes, Huck regards Tom’s judgements as the truth and follows all of Tom’s plans.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain initially presents Huck as a naïve narrator, an unreliable character who raises himself on his own. With the help of Jim, a runaway slave, Huck matures in his morals. Throughout the novel, Huck develops into a more mature character. Huck does this through his courage to escape from his father, his ability to take care of himself, and his relationship with Jim. Huckleberry Finn grows into a strong, mature, young man as he develops his relationships and displays courage throughout the novel.
In pop culture, you will hear obnoxious music, with multiple edits, bleeping out unnecessary obscurities , but what if it is in literature, with an ultimate purpose for the readers? In Huckleberry Finn, it uses the cringeworthy word "Nigger" 219 times, yet it is not in a derogatory sense. In my opinion, the "n-word" is necessary in this type of literature, to really show how people acted back in the times of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain's purpose of using the word, was to draw attention, and be controversial. The word shows that they were not just "slaves", but a worse in their times a "nigger." I do not think they should be able to censor a work of literacy such as Huckleberry Finn, because using a white crayon, on white paper will not change anything.
Mark Twain wrote the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. At the beginning of the novel, Huck Finn is an immature thirteen year old boy. He goes south on a river with a runaway slave, Jim, trying to leave his old life behind. During the course of the novel, Huck meets many different people who teach him very valuable lessons. Throughout the novel, Huck has changed in several different ways. There are many things that he obtained from these people that will help Huck build the foundation of the person that he will become. He learns what true friendship is, how dependable, and how to be honest.