Literature is a clear lens from which to view history in its entirety. From repulsive and despairing times to eras of honor and glory, writing tells all.It gives insight into the emotional strengths and weaknesses of people living in different time periods. It tells tales of these people’s sorrows, suffers, and successes. The American classic, Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is not an exception; it illustrates the lives of those living in the Mississippi River region through the eyes of a young runaway who embodies juvenile innocence. Despite severe criticism over its offensive vernacular, Huck Finn should remain in school curriculums because it offers a candid portrayal of American values and social issues in the late 1800’s.
Through Miss Watson’s example, Twain encapsulates the popular idea about what the idea of being civilized included. Morality was strongly related to religion during this time …show more content…
Twain uses the common tongue to relate to his audience, the nineteenth century archetypical American, on a more personal level. It adds to the realism of the text. Completely removing racial epithets from such an influential book would not erase race or racism. While we all should reject racism or any form of discrimination for that matter, the desire to be less racist does not make it okay to rewrite history, which we essentially are doing when we ban a historical term from literature. Is it fair to deprive children of knowledge out of pure disappointment of our past? Moreover, censorship eliminates many teaching moments. Children must be exposed to these social issues so they know how to talk about them and ultimately reverse them. When we learn about racism and its origin, we begin to understand that being different is not synonymous with being bad. We stop being afraid, and we begin to nurture
Through Miss Watson’s example, Twain encapsulates the popular idea about what the idea of being civilized included. Morality was strongly related to religion during this time …show more content…
Twain uses the common tongue to relate to his audience, the nineteenth century archetypical American, on a more personal level. It adds to the realism of the text. Completely removing racial epithets from such an influential book would not erase race or racism. While we all should reject racism or any form of discrimination for that matter, the desire to be less racist does not make it okay to rewrite history, which we essentially are doing when we ban a historical term from literature. Is it fair to deprive children of knowledge out of pure disappointment of our past? Moreover, censorship eliminates many teaching moments. Children must be exposed to these social issues so they know how to talk about them and ultimately reverse them. When we learn about racism and its origin, we begin to understand that being different is not synonymous with being bad. We stop being afraid, and we begin to nurture