Huck Finn made a conscious decision to be condemned to hell for his disobedience rather than turn in his friend.
Mark Twain published The Adventures of Huck Finn 119 years ago today on February 18, 1885. Many regard Huck Finn as THE classic American novel. Many literary scholars could go on with greater erudition than I on the unique voice Twain achieved and the nuance of his depiction of American society.…
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26 - randy Kirk
I don't know if you folks are all real young or what? When I grew up in St Louis in the 50's, we still used the "n" word and were only beginning to get the idea that it was offensive.
Negro's were still considered second class citizens, and it was rare that a white middle class person came in contact with anyone of color unless they were hired help.
How amazingly far we've come in 50 years . . and yet . . my neighbor, who is a junior college counselor and black says he truly believes there are people here in polyglot LA who would rather kiss their dog on the lips than shake his hand.
Thanks MTwain for the beginnings of civilizing this nation on that issue.
27 - Samantha M.
Slavery, although still present today, was a major part of life during the early 1880's, the set time for Mark Twain's novel. All throughout Twain's novel, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," the issue of slavery is always present. Characters like the "Duke" and the "King" see Jim as just a way to gain cash by setting up a fake "Wanted" notice and selling Jim for whiskey money. And before I go any further, I would like to say that slaves are people too, though it didn't occur to most people back then. Slaves were just thought of as property, to be bought, sold, or replaced. Huckleberry Finn was like that in the beginning, too.
However, as they embarked on their journey together, Huck and Jim grew closer and closer as friends. During chapter nine, Jim protects Huck from seeing his father's dead body saying that it was "too gashley" (though it remained unknown to Huck that it was is his father). Huck, then, turns around in chapter sixteen and defends Jim from being sold when he told some ferry boat men that Jim was his father and that he had the smallpox. Huck also helps Jim escape slavery once again at the end of the book when he and Tom Sawyer broke Jim out of the Phelp's small prison shack.
So as slavery goes, Huck learned that slaves are people with families and lives to live. That is why slavery is one of the major themes of Mark Twain's novel.
28 - Chris Duryea
I can easily understand how some people are offended by the topic of the novel and especially the repeated use of the word "nigger." People of African American descent probably don't want to be reminded of all the atrocious treatment their ancestors had to endure and considering how much things have changed in the past two hundred years, whites also probably don't want to be reminded of the horrible crimes against humanity their ancestors committed. But, the fact is, no matter how horrible these things were, they're in the past and the best we can hope for is to learn from the mistakes and never make them again. Regardless of how it might easily offend some people, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a relevant piece of literature that gives a very accurate description of what life was like in that time period.
This book is also vastly different because, while the racial issues and differences are still present, the story is mostly told from the point of view of an outsider. Huck never fit in with the upper class or was forced to be a slave, he ended up somewhere in the middle. Due to what was thought of as proper in society, he did treat blacks differently but never thought of them as property. The closest example I can think of to the relationship between Huck and Jim is that of a boy and his dog. I don't mean this to be at all degrading to blacks, but the circumstances are similar. While a dog is considered property, most people still care about their needs and feelings to the point where the pet is accepted and loved as a member of the family, even if it is not given the same treatment as a human. Jim is considered property, but is thought of by Huck as more of a companion and friend than property. Both are loyal to each other and if it weren't for one, the other wouldn't have gotten out of some pretty bad scrapes. For example, when the two finally manage to ditch the duke and king and Huck finds out Jim was sold, he goes after him instead of just leaving him to his captors. Jim also proves to be an exceptional friend by shielding Huck from his father's dead body and providing very good companionship. A boy and his dog can be very close without being equals. This is Jim and Huck's relationship not because Jim is inferior but because he is ignorant and has never been given a chance to learn and be an equal. I believe Twain's novel is necessary because it provides a narrative of the way things were and how regardless of society and institutionalism, people should rise above it and show compassion for their fellow man no matter what their religion, color, or nationality.
29 - Angel
why didn't Mark Twain give his own comments about his own book "The Adventures of Huck Finn"?
30 - Kitty
I am a Junior in High school and I am now reading "Huckleberry Finn" for my end of the year book, we have to do a research paper on the era of the book or something connected to Mississippi, 1800's, Mark Twain, or "Huck Finn". I am doing my paper on why is "Huckelberry Finn" the most contreversial(sp?) and Banned book in most public schools and i have came to a shocking result my school computer only found FIVE results...either they banned most results or thats all that is located on the net(I highly doubt this for its the internet i searched on and not on the bookshelves lacated behind me lol) going on I was wondering if you have any other web links or sites I can use as well as this one for my research paper I would really appreciate it. Also if you don't mind I hope I can use this article (cited and all) for my research I think people would appreciate your thoughts as well as mine. Thank You for reading my comment.
~*<3*~
Kitty
31 - Nancy
Like it or not, it's history. Those who would ban or "retire" it would also like to revise history - which itself is seldom pretty or nice or clean. Furthermore, the book & the abusive societal picture it paints of how people were perceived & treated 150+ years ago (or even just 50 years ago) because of the color of their skin, and the ruses & hoops they had to jump through just to survive, are valuable just BECAUSE they serve as a warning & a reminder of how bad things were, and a guideline to where we do want to go. Banning the book isn't going to wipe out the bad old days; by that standard you're also going to have to ban a slew of other works as well, including Fred Douglass' autobio, William Wells Brown's autobio, Lydia Child's novel, Harriet Stowe's novel, all the archived old newspapers & magazines still dating from old days, and on and on, because they all contain the same "offensive" historical context & terms.
Rendering all this even more hypocritical & ridiculous is that, as pointed out by an earlier poster, current rap artists use the N-word prolifically & constantly, no one raises hell about it, they just shrug & say it's part of the gangsta/ghetto/black culture - and the worst part is, that kind of abuse is going on here & now. If black people continue to call each other trash names like that, then how can they credibly insist that historical records ought to be expunged?
Other than that, my additional comment is surprise that people are not getting to Huckleberry Finn until high school. High school? I read it in grade school. Is this part of the dumbing down of current US education, or does it have to do with the 'offensive' nature of the book which was not as hot an issue back in the stone ages when I was in school (sex was the touchy topic back then more than anything else).
32 - Kitty
Angel, I do not know if this has the information you want but if you look in the Second Edition a case study in Critical Cotroversey 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' by Mark Twain edited by Gerald Graff and James Phelan, there is alot of information that you and anyone else may find itresting. I hope you look for it I learened alot from it and i hope everyone else does to. :)
<3
Kitty
33 - Kitty
I feel like such a goofball I mispelled "Controversay" and "learned" so sleepy can't tink must go finish the essay almost done! :D
~*<3*~
Kitty
34 - Double K
How can u have a novel set in the south during the time of slavery without using the word nigger. Jim is not even depicted in a bad way, its the white characters that are portrayed as thieves and selfih unintelligent beings
35 - Aaron JV
The thing is with Twain's 'Huck Finn' is that for the time he was writing about, the racial method of thinking is somewhat irrelevant, becuase this is something everybody knew back then, it was common knowledge. So the consistent use of the word "nigger" shouldn't be surprising. An example: During the part where Jim is trapped at the Phelps' and Tom and Huck are trying to help Jim escape 'the right way', Jim agrees to invlove himself in the mess that Huck and Tom have started for him, becuase "he allowed we [Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn] was white folks and knowed better than him; so he was satisfied."
Towards the end of the novel, the differences in race didn't seem to matter to Huck Finn as much as before, at least this started out in what great characteristics he had seen in Jim. It might be a stretch, but this is Huck's thought process towards African-Americans and equality of race: "I knowed he [Jim] was white inside..." and later on, "because I thought he had a good heart in him and was a good man the first time I see him." What these thoughts allow is the possibility that other African-Americans can 'be like Jim' or be intelligent - just as supposedly the "whites" were, if one gave them the chance; which, for back then, would be controversial thought.
36 - Lisa Vernon
Mark Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn' is first and foremost a satire. The word 'nigger' seems harsh and degradeing now but, was used in everyday vocabulary a hundred years ago. Those who want to ban 'Huck Finn' saying it is too controversal have missed the entire point of the book. Sure some examples are extreme and are degrading in today's culture. For example, when Huck is explaining to Aunt Sally about the Steamboat accident:
Aunt Sally: Good gracious, was anybody hurt?
Huck: No'm. Killed a nigger.
Aunt Sally: Well, its Lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt.
AS if black slaves were not people at all. Then, when Aunt Sally learns what the 'runaway nigger' did for Tom and that he was really free she "made a heap of fuss over him," and even put him up in the sick room. Though Jim is the character with the most hardships in life, due to his color of skin, he is also the character with the most joy in life through the little things.
Thoughout the book Huck struggles with the conflict of slavery. His upbring through Miss Watson and the Widow teaches him that black people are under him in social standings but, his friendship with Jim a runaway slave teaches him the values of friendship. Each time Huck and Jim are seprated Jim is overjoyed with seeing Huck agian and praises him. When it comes time to make the choice to turn Jim in or to continue to help him excape Huck chose to be condemed to Hell and Help Jim. Just as Huck had to decide we all Have to. Twain's 'Huck Finn' has taught me to make the choice and to watch what I say for our words are very powerful to others not just the word "nigger."
37 - Al Barger
Miss Lisa- Thank you for your thoughtful comments on Huck Finn. I do get a bit frustrated with idiots seing the word "nigger" and losing their little minds with no regard for the context and meaning.
On top of which, I suspect that a lot of the people so objecting make no objection to the often truly hateful and derogatory use of the word in rap. Huck Finn volunteering to go to hell for his nigger friend is wrong, but Eazy E wanting to smoke a couple of niggers with his gat is just authentic street reporting, or some such nonsense.
38 - Cedric D.
The usage of the word nigger in the book does not in no shape or form bother me although I am an african american.In the olden days they referred to africans as niggers, so I don't think people should actually have deep depth about that. Although it use the "N" word a lot in our society and communities we hear that work more frequently now then back then. Like during the part when Huck and Jim were arguing over the way a person talk Huck says to himself as I may quote "I see it warn't no use wasting words - you can't learn a nigger to argue".
So this shows the controversal aspects of the book. I don't believe Mark Twain intended for people to think that he was races by using the "N" word.As I said before if society today would not focus on the usage of the word, and not get on the offensive side such as africans now a days would be pleasant.I understand what Twain is expressing in the book and I don't feel the readers should take offense.
39 - Al Barger
Thank you for your thoughtful comments Cedric.
40 - Jason B
In the first few chapters, and as I would soon figure out, there was alot of use of the "N"- word. Mainly when reffering to the Character Jim. But I guess this has to do with the time the story was written. Overall I am not offended by the "N" word in the novel, nor how it was used. I can say though it did make me think of how Black people (I am African American) were treated back then. And compared to how blacks use it today. I can say though at some points in the novel when the word was used, I somewhat did not want to here blacks use it anymore. But I got over that. All in all I enjoyed the book from the begining, with the so called gang of robbers and killers that did nothing to no one. To the interesting twists at the end.
41 - Megan C.
The overuse of the word 'nigger' is only a small part of the racist comments made in this novel. The way Huckleberry Finn always refers to african-americans as niggers is a way of showing how often it's used in this time and how disrespected they were back then. It's not right how people were treated as objects just because they weren't white. I'm extremely disgusted with the way african-americans were treated. The idea of slavery just terrible.
I agree with the author of this article, though. The language used in this novel MAY be degrading and wrong, but its the way people spoke in that time and Mark Twain was just writing as things were in that specific time period. This book shouldn't be banned from schools because of the fact that it educates about the past. It's a real depiction of what things were like. It's like people are hiding education from students who deserve to learn about our nation's history, even if it's not exactly the best thing to remember.
42 - I.B
I read through this whole page, and i could not believe the audacity of some of these people. as an african american student, reading Huckleberry Finn was bad enough, and then hearing my classmates say the N- word like it was nothing... insult to injury. I know this is history and all of that, but i didn't appreciate the book or the comments. Because many of you aren't black, and have never been black,and will never BE black you will never understand how much this word hurts. the history behind it is so deep, and many flip it around like it is nothing, and it has even become "a term of endearment" in some dictionaries. i thank the many people who stood up for african americans, because it is hard to have our viewpoint understood from someone who has never gone through this and cannot say that this has ever really hurt them personally.
i also wish that people would stop throwing this word around as though it is nothing.
and i dont like mark twain or any of his works.
sorry.
43 - student2006
#42- I am also african american, you need to understand that the "n" word you say is so hurtful was at this point in time, socially acceptable. Today hip hop and rap, african americans flagrently used the "n" word as a filler and they just shout it at random-- maybe we should focus on this and put it to end as it is allowing caucasians backup in saying it. I LOVED Huckleyberry Finn
44 - Al Barger
Student2006, I can appreciate your lack of appreciation for the common usage of the N word by rappers. I could sure do with hearing it a lot less. On the other hand, at this point, the word just doesn't really mean the same thing it used to. You could argue that it's being de-fanged.
45 - juli lishi
Twain with his revolting pen has revealled an important aspect of realism of America in the period of "civilisation towards racism" pointing out the importance of coming up against this ideology that used to share the world according the colour of the skin,the form of the nose,style of the hair...and so far producing living machines havig lost identity.
46 - meeya
i think that it is ridiculous because i have been seeing ang hearing that this book is banned i havent ever even read the book i think that poeple need to cosider the choices that they make and come to an agreement cause that is just dumb.