Huck Finn Synthesis 
Nikki Vietz
Ms Bontekoe
Honors English 11
3 October 2013
Synthesis Essay By changing the word “nigger” to “slave” defeats the purpose of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn being a historical piece of literature. Such a change means ignoring the past and the word “nigger” is part of that past. “Nigger” is demeaning and insulting but is its replacement any less demeaning and insulting. Changing the word would not only destroy the message that Mark Twain was trying to convey, but also America’s history. There are vast differences between the words “slave” and “nigger”. They are not interchangeable. As Matthews stated “a slave… [is an] unlucky member… of [the] feudal system… [Nigger] is a word that denies humanity, and along with it justice and mercy”. “Slave” is a very board term describing an individual as property that can be bought or sold. A “slave” can be White, Native American, Asian or African American. But “nigger” is an offensive reference to any dark-skinned individual. It is race based. Books such as Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are part of history and Twain wrote the novel to convey the social changes that were occurring during that time. African Americans were moving away from the horrors of slavery and the Jim Crow laws, but there was still the belief in white supremacy and slavery. “Nigger” was a term of the times but Mark Twain was able to use the word “nigger” to show how wrong it was. Huck Finn was able to move past the word “nigger” and see Jim as a man, not his color. To remove “nigger” and replace it with “slave” would limit the lesson Huck Finn learned while with Jim, that all men are equal regardless of the color of their skin. By changing the word “isn’t merely adulterating Twain’s text. It is also adulterating social, economic, and linguistic history” (New York Times). Like it or not “hip-hop music uses the same word” (Moore). It is a contemporary word that is used frequently in the music industry. There is a vast difference between
Ms Bontekoe
Honors English 11
3 October 2013
Synthesis Essay By changing the word “nigger” to “slave” defeats the purpose of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn being a historical piece of literature. Such a change means ignoring the past and the word “nigger” is part of that past. “Nigger” is demeaning and insulting but is its replacement any less demeaning and insulting. Changing the word would not only destroy the message that Mark Twain was trying to convey, but also America’s history. There are vast differences between the words “slave” and “nigger”. They are not interchangeable. As Matthews stated “a slave… [is an] unlucky member… of [the] feudal system… [Nigger] is a word that denies humanity, and along with it justice and mercy”. “Slave” is a very board term describing an individual as property that can be bought or sold. A “slave” can be White, Native American, Asian or African American. But “nigger” is an offensive reference to any dark-skinned individual. It is race based. Books such as Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are part of history and Twain wrote the novel to convey the social changes that were occurring during that time. African Americans were moving away from the horrors of slavery and the Jim Crow laws, but there was still the belief in white supremacy and slavery. “Nigger” was a term of the times but Mark Twain was able to use the word “nigger” to show how wrong it was. Huck Finn was able to move past the word “nigger” and see Jim as a man, not his color. To remove “nigger” and replace it with “slave” would limit the lesson Huck Finn learned while with Jim, that all men are equal regardless of the color of their skin. By changing the word “isn’t merely adulterating Twain’s text. It is also adulterating social, economic, and linguistic history” (New York Times). Like it or not “hip-hop music uses the same word” (Moore). It is a contemporary word that is used frequently in the music industry. There is a vast difference between