There is both good and bad in modern day society; there would be no good without the presence of the bad. Violence, racism, and poverty, have not loosened their grip on civilization since the dawn of man; however, these issues may be a product of society itself. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, author Mark Twain uses minor character Pap Finn to account for the flaws within society, and to explore the evils of human nature.…
In the present day, controversy over several key issues in the world runs rampant. Controversy over race, gender, and identity values plague the day to day happenings of everyone connected to the outside world. This is not unusual, however. Even in the 1800s, controversy was unrestrained over issues that are similar to the ones today. A prime example of such controversy is demonstrated in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. The controversy centered around the moral and religious values of the book was pressing back in the 19th century, and is as present today. It is claimed that such controversy could have been avoided, simply if the book did not contain the controversial moral and religious aspects it is centered on, like the…
From that quote, it can be seen that Webb strongly appreciates the fact that the story is…
Kurutz,, Steven. “A Twain Scholar Reacts to the New, Censored Version ‘Huckleberry Finn’.” National Post. 9 Jan 2011. Print.…
The controversy that continues to surround The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is largely due to the language used in the book. The book also has bad grammar, obscenity, atheism, low moral tone, and antisouthernism. Many people have objected to the book, including parents, fundamentalists, teachers, politicians, librarians, critics, and authors. Some communities still seek to ban the book from their schools cirriculum becuase they feel the content is inappropriate for the students.…
Huckleberry Finn has been and still is a book of much controversy. Many people believe that it should be banned, whilst others believe that it should not be banned. The people that argue that it should be banned state that the book has irrelevant and hurtful reference to the slang word for an African-American. With this argument, the importance of the literature itself is completely ignored. The most important reason that it should not be banned is that the students reading the book are taught by teachers the context and history of the word "nigger". Many people think the word is vulgar and puts much doubt in the book's message. If so, the parents can take action and have their student removed from discussion in the reading.…
In some versions of Huck Finn all instances of the "N" word have been taken out. In place of that word, which appears around 200 times in the book, they have put in the word, "slave." The word "Injun," which is a derogatory word for Native American had also been replaced with the word "Indian." One scholar says, "how can we expect children to learn real history if we sanitize it for them?" (Wired's Matt Bloom) Students are unable to get a full grasp on Twain's use of satire and his mocking of people's racism and ignorance during that time period if his book is censored. Another scholar says about the harsh terms in the book, "unpleasant though they may be...they are part and parcel of our country's blatantly racist past." He goes on to say, "because of the mistreatment of everyone who wasn't white, straight, and male, America is constantly defending itself instead of dealing head-on with the wrongs that it willingly played a role in." (Elon James White) White is saying that Americans want to censor the book because they want to forget about that ugly part of our past. However, students can't be expected to understand the depth of that time period if words in the book are censored.…
The book Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain has been argued over for years about why it should be banned from being taught in schools since it uses the terms “nigger” and “injun”, both of which are looked down on in today's society for regular use. The reality behind the use of these is that they are put in to satirize that culture.…
Mark Twain 's controversial novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, satirizes the true nature of people by contrasting people 's beliefs against what they say they believe is morally right. In events such as Sherburn 's murder of Boggs, the town drunk, and the open conflict of the Shepherdsons and the Grangerfords, in which both families believe they should attend church service, but continue to kill each other in their age old conflict. Twain shows that 19th century American society was corrupt by hypocritical ways of how people truly were, despite what their appearance leads to them to seem like. Throughout Huck 's adventure down the Mississippi river, this young…
A trashy and racist book wouldn't be allowed in classrooms. The novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, is receiving negative attention. The dominant problem that students, parents, teachers, and even professors, face , is the usage of the n-word. After reading this adventurous story, it is hard to find the problem that is upsetting many people. Therefore, this incredible novel should continue to be in the high school curriculum because it offers students a realistic historical background, it receives numerous positive reactions, and the meaning of the word nigger, (referred to as the n-word) is changing over time.…
Many critics believe that Huckleberry Finn should not be taught in school because of the racism, language, and the influence the book has on the younger audience. According to John H. Wallace: The Case against Huck Finn, “is the most grotesque example of racist trash written and is not good for our children” (Wallace 309). While others believe Huckleberry Finn should be taught in school and that it portrays a time in history of racism and speaks volumes of a friendship forged when the country was at odds. Huckleberry Finn is just that a part of American History and American Literature. Huckleberry Finn is one of the very first works of American Literature. Huckleberry Finn represents the effects…
Censorship is a heavily conversed topic no matter what the issue. To challenge for censorship, means there is a subject or work within the novel that a group of people wants changed. Any work has the possibility of censorship for profanity, sexuality or racism displayed in the work. The most forgotten idea is the one that tells readers that books can have a hidden teaching that shows them how bad repeating past mistakes can truly be. Censorship contradicts that idea. In Harper Lee’s novel, censorship challenges its existence on school shelves around the country. When the book published, it was favored across the board. So why does censorship have such a big impact on this book? To Kill a Mockingbird is a target for censorship because of the profanity, racism, rape, and violence demonstrated in the novel.…
Imagine the United States fully censored by the government. It would be a lot like the scenario in the novel, “Fahrenheit 451”. Censorship has only gotten, and is only getting worse in America. There are few reasons for censorship, especially taking into account the extent of censorship, and the fact that it is only getting worse. Everyone would benefit from less censorship in America in my opinion. Censorship and mass bannings of media and literature is wrong in most cases due to people not being informed the way they should be.…
The Catcher in the Rye. The Scarlet Letter. Huckleberry Finn. Harry Potter. The Diary of Anne Frank. Animal Farm. To Kill a Mockingbird. The Da Vinci Code. The Grapes of Wrath. These literary classics have been vital to the education of many, especially children and adolescents (Banned Books). These great novels both teach important values and educate children about world affairs and classic themes. Unfortunately, each of these novels has been banned at one point in time. In a country where freedom is so adamantly advocated, it is a wonder that an issue like censorship would even come up, that such a controversy would sink its claws into the minds of states’ boards of education across the nation. Censorship is a needless restriction placed on developing minds that need the morals and values that banned books can give.…
Kean’s rationale for the use of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the classroom rests in the historical aspects it illuminates about America, Mark Twain’s reputation, the novel’s relatability to youth, and the use of literary techniques. Kean believes that the novel is a central document for understanding American heritage. The novel, Kean claims, draws a picture of middle American the pre-civil war period. Kean believes that the stance of censorship only arises because the issues brought up are so painfully not resolved. He insists that readers are to sensitive and it causes them to misread, what he believes to be, a clear indictment of the old south as an approbation of the morality. Kean argues against the novels censorship saying it has…