Race in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Example

Movies and books have had to face so much backlash about race slurs that may be used, racial slurs are a problem that has affected people's perceptions of certain authors and directors. The reputation of the novel “The adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain has been damaged by questions surrounding racism. It has generated such controversy that many teachers are still split on whether the book should be read with all the racial slurs in it, and whether it should be banned or revised, but it would be respectful to read the book how it was written because it places the reader in a point in time when all of these racial slurs and disrespectful things were allowed and that shouldn't be taken away because then it’s taking away a piece of US history. 

Originally, Mark Twain intended for the book to be read in this way because it was his only way of speaking and expressing himself, which is why most people think it should still be studied in high school classrooms. An NPR article was written about the adventures of huckleberry Finn” states that “One of the scholars, Alan Gribben of Auburn University, tells PW that “this is not an effort to render Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn colorblind. ... Race matters in these books. It's a matter of how you express that in the 21st century.” As stated in the quote above, when removing the n-word from a sentence, you wouldn't get the full effect Mark Twain intended for it to have, because it's what people in that era spoke and what was deemed as okay. In spite of the fact that people still attempted to ban Mark Twain's novel, there are still people in favor of not banning the novel due to how strong the n-word is to the book. 

However, even though many articles and other sources recommend banning the book, it may not be the most ethical thing to do. There is a perception that the book is just too powerful for certain people to comprehend, and so, in order for people to feel comfortable with this novel, they have to understand why the language is so gruesome. In a CBS article, it states “If you can have the discussion and you're comfortable having the discussion, have it. Have it with it in there. But if you're not comfortable with that, then here's an alternative for you to use. And I would argue to you that it's still powerful,” Williams said. The new edition drew powerful reactions from Twain scholars, the press, and ordinary readers — and it's worth noting most of the articles don't spell out the word, either. “What's it say that people have been so passionate about it?” Pitts asked.” II think it says that race continues to be a volatile and divisive subject,”. According to the quotation above, if the people who advocated banning the book couldn't have a discussion about a word in the book that's so powerful, then why read it or why make it such a problem when it comes to removing a word 

Additionally, many people seem to believe that the word has no significance whatsoever and that it is just an excuse to use a word. In the novel, it states that “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a n*****; but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn’t do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn’t done that one if I’d a knowed it would make him feel that way.” Mark twains' quote illustrates how Finn begins to realize that even though he used these kinds of words when he talks to himself, After some time, he realizes he is also like Jim and that using those terms isn't appropriate. It shows how race played a key role in the novel, as he realizes how they are the same despite their differences in skin color 

If students were taught the novel in high school, they would benefit from it. The students would get a better understanding of why these kinds of language were used and how they were expressed during this period. Furthermore, honoring one of America's greatest novels for how it is and the importance of race in the novel would be appropriate.