The novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been banned for a variety of reasons. Huck Finn has inspired many controversies since the day it was published. It has focused on racism since the 1960’s. Twain’s Huckleberry Finn tells the story of a young boy who becomes friends with a slave and ultimately decides he needs to free him from the bonds of slavery.The two go on a series of adventures and Huck starts viewing Jim as a father figure and a true friend rather than a slave. Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is not racist.
Twain’s novel is not racist because the narrator is not Twain but Huck himself. In Critical Companion to Mark Twain, Rasmussen states that “The first thing to keep in mind is that the narrative is told, …show more content…
However, the word nigger was used as daily language by the southerners during Twain’s time. As Rasmussen continues to elaborate he tells us that “However readers should understand that the word reflects to the usage of the time and place in which Huckleberry Finn is set. An ignorant mid 19th century boy such as Huck would not have used any other word to refer black people, especially slaves” (Rasmussen). During Huck’s time period, Southerners always used words like nigger. Huck Finn is from south, therefore, he is used to the word nigger because he has been raised using that word. While he was a boy, the word nigger was used as everyday language. Thus, considering the time period and the location of Huck, the word nigger would not be racist. As well as Huck being raised by southerners, Rasmussen goes to prove that, “Huck rarely fully understands what he describes, but by the end of his narrative, it is clear that he is sick to death of the southern white culture that he takes to be ‘civilization’ and it is no wonder that he is anxious to light out for the territory”(Rasmussen). As the book comes to an end, and Huck becomes more frustrated, the word nigger is used less and less by Huck. This is because, he has come to realization that the southerners use words that can offend slaves and since Huck is friends with Jim, he understands the importance of being fair. Hence, Twain’s Huck Finn is not …show more content…
Huckleberry Finn is not racist because of its historical context, the characters treatment of each other, the characters in general and the structural context.The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn teaches us about equality and treating everyone the way you want to be treated. Since the book is not racist, schools who have banned the novel should allow them to be read. Since the day Huck Finn was published it's been
Twain’s novel is not racist because the narrator is not Twain but Huck himself. In Critical Companion to Mark Twain, Rasmussen states that “The first thing to keep in mind is that the narrative is told, …show more content…
However, the word nigger was used as daily language by the southerners during Twain’s time. As Rasmussen continues to elaborate he tells us that “However readers should understand that the word reflects to the usage of the time and place in which Huckleberry Finn is set. An ignorant mid 19th century boy such as Huck would not have used any other word to refer black people, especially slaves” (Rasmussen). During Huck’s time period, Southerners always used words like nigger. Huck Finn is from south, therefore, he is used to the word nigger because he has been raised using that word. While he was a boy, the word nigger was used as everyday language. Thus, considering the time period and the location of Huck, the word nigger would not be racist. As well as Huck being raised by southerners, Rasmussen goes to prove that, “Huck rarely fully understands what he describes, but by the end of his narrative, it is clear that he is sick to death of the southern white culture that he takes to be ‘civilization’ and it is no wonder that he is anxious to light out for the territory”(Rasmussen). As the book comes to an end, and Huck becomes more frustrated, the word nigger is used less and less by Huck. This is because, he has come to realization that the southerners use words that can offend slaves and since Huck is friends with Jim, he understands the importance of being fair. Hence, Twain’s Huck Finn is not …show more content…
Huckleberry Finn is not racist because of its historical context, the characters treatment of each other, the characters in general and the structural context.The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn teaches us about equality and treating everyone the way you want to be treated. Since the book is not racist, schools who have banned the novel should allow them to be read. Since the day Huck Finn was published it's been