The Use of the Word - Nigger - in Twains Novel The...

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 â€Å"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 â€Å"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 â€Å"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 naà ¯ve 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 â€Å"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 feltShow MoreRelatedHuckleberry Finn Persuasive Essay1571 Words   |  7 Pagesdiffe rence between the almost-right word and the right word is really a large matter- ‘tis the difference between the lightning bug and lightning.†(Mark Twain). Mark Twain, the author of an extraordinary yet controversial novel; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn had a great way of capturing moments in time and bringing them to life through the use of meaningful and direct diction. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been a vexed novel for it s a use of the â€Å"N-word†. However, many scholars and associationsRead More The Importance of Friendship in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn829 Words   |  4 PagesThe Importance of Friendship in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Aristotle was once asked what he thought friendship was. His response was, One soul inhabiting two bodies. This was the kind of relationship that Huckleberry Finn and Jim shared in Mark Twains epic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This novel is a tool that Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemmons, was using to impress the great benefits of friendship upon society. However, others feelRead MoreThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Research Paper1649 Words   |  7 Pagesits first publication in 1884, Mark Twain’s masterpiece The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has proven to be one of history’s most controversial novels; especially recently, the novel has often been banned by schools and censored by libraries. Characters in the book are constantly using disparaging language toward slaves, and the repeated use of the word â€Å"nigger† makes many sensitive and offended. Critics denounce the novel and Mark Twain as racist for this word being i nsulting and politically incorrectRead MoreMark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1575 Words   |  6 Pages Mark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Controversy Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, is a highly recognizable figure in American literature. Born in Florida, Missouri Mark Twain and his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri where Twain discovered and fell in love with the mighty Mississippi River. The river and his life in Hannibal became his inspiration and guiding light in most of his writing. Although Twain loved the river and did a great deal of traveling, he eventuallyRead MoreHuckleberry Finn Should Be Banned Essay1603 Words   |  7 Pageshad problems with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn shortly after being published. Huckleberry Finn was first published in January of 1885 and only two months later in March of 1885 the book was banned. The problem first with the book was it was too friendly toward African Americans and believed to lead children astray from certain values. Now over 100 years later â€Å"Huckleberry Finn is still making news† (Pitts). Now in the 21th century we have a problem with Huckleberry Finn not because of kindnessRead MoreHuckleberry Finn and the use of Satire Essay1109 Words   |  5 Pages Huck Finn and the use of Satire Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been controversial ever since its release in 1884. It has been called everything from the root of modern American literature to a piece of racist trash. Many scholars have argued about Huck Finn being prejudiced. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses satire to mock many different aspects of the modern world. Despite the fact that many critics have accused Mark Twain’s novel of promoting racismRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1508 Words   |  7 PagesMany authors use satire to poke fun at certain issues to expose and call awareness to it. One author that has a history of using satire in his novels and other literary works to indulge the reader deeper into the meaning of his writing is Mark Twain. By using satire, he humorously draws attention to some issues faced in American culture and other places around the world. A perfect example of his use of satire is his novel Adventures of H uckleberry Finn. Twain’s widely read novel Adventures of HuckleberryRead MoreThe Adventures Of Tom Sawyer And The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Essay2196 Words   |  9 Pagesbeen an ongoing controversy in society debating on if it is acceptable to change an author’s intended diction in a text. While it is evident that in writing, texts are often censored for their explicit language in order to preserve the peace of the novel, regardless of its intended audience. Censorship is known as the act of suppressing or editing a part of a text to make it more acceptable towards a certain audience or part of society. When considering the education of minors, the ongoing controversyRead MoreShould the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Be Required in Shcool?983 Words   |  4 PagesShould The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn be required in school? Mark Twain’s â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† is said to be one of the greatest American novels to ever be written and is what all other pieces of American literature are based off of. The novel has been debated for over an entire century and will continue to be debated for much longer. Never the less, Huckleberry Finn teaches young students and adults the important life lessons. †The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† by Mark TwainRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Huckleberry Finn 1970 Words   |  8 PagesNigger. Throughout American history, no single word has been associated with such extensive torment, misery, and controversy as the word â€Å"nigger.† This word has been a deep concern in American history and culture, and the use of it two hundred nineteen times in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has caused a mass of debate. Despite critism on its complex and offensive subject matter, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn hold enduring academi c value among students and should be taught in American high