English 1a
L. Servais
October, 27, 2008
The Label of Huck Finn
In our third essay, I interpreted Justin Kaplans main points about the racial issue with "Huckleberry Finn". After dissecting and understanding Kaplans main points, Kaplan defended the point that the novel, " Huckleberry Finn", is not racist. With knowledge on both sides of the racial controversy, i was convinced that "Huckleberry Finn" is not a racist text. Mark Twain was historically correct in his context. Also, Twain was realistically accurate as far as the use of the n word. I cant express this point more than it is. As for the other side of the controversy, I engaged in it. I studied both sides and thought about the novel. After my research and own personally experience reading the book, i found it incorrect saying the novel was racist. How ever, I do understand why there's racial issues with the book. In my opinion, I find it hard to believe that if you actually read "Huckleberry Finn" and thought it was racist, that your not looking beyond the text. Agreeing with Kaplan, I believe that Huckleberry is correct for its time and is not racist.
For a start, the biggest issue with "Huckleberry Finn" is the racial controversy over the novel. I say this because there is a few other controversies, but not as controversial as the racial issue over the text. Addressing this main controversy to me is important. The issue I have is that he text has to labels. One, the great American novel, and the other is that its racist. The racist label is what gets me. To get right to it, the novel "Huckleberry Finn" use the n word over 200 times throughout the book. This did and still stirs up controversy. The book is to degrade African Americans and create stereotypes. Some people get offended and feel the book should be banned. This book has proved it can shake things up just about everywhere it goes. This book is actually one of the most banned books in America. Now for some historical background on the book. This is important to know if you already do not. The book was published in December 10, 1884. The books time frame took place from early to mid 1800's in the deep south on the Mississippi river. This time period was a couple decades before the Emancipation. Slavery then was very active and enforced throughout the southern states. When the use of the n word was considered nothing less than normal. It was not uncommon to hear the use of the n word. It was not uncommon for people of all ages to use the n word. In this case, its mostly Huck, a thirteen year old boy from the south. Understanding these details is a part of realism some background.
Mark Twain illustrated the south 30 years before the Emancipation. So the use of the n word was historically correct for the time being. Twain was not being racist when doing so. For one not to open your eyes and realize is merely blind. You just cant point fingers at Twain for the use of the n word. Im sure your wondering about, well what about the 200 times it was used throughout the novel. Again, I here too see how people are offended. People say it was used to much. Me personally when reading the book, I did not feel the word was over abused. But yet, just enough to emphasize the true southern eye. I feel its safe to say if he didn't use the n word, the book would be a false portrait of the south.
For you to realize the historical context is one part to understanding the use of the n word. provided is a quote from Huck Finn in Kaplan's essay: Here is Sally's response to a steam boat explosion as described by Huck: " 'Good gracious! any body hurt?' 'No'm. Killed a nigger.' 'Well its lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt' "(page 206). Kaplan's response to this was "One has to be deliberately dense to miss the point Mark Twain is making here and to construe such passages as evidences of his "racism." Now, i can see here how people get offended. But again, realizing the time setting of the book is self-explanitory. I myself understand how powerful the word is today. I also understand that using this word today is wrong and offensive. The second point is the points Twain make throughout the novel. Throughout the novel, Huck matures as him and Jim are friends. Huck did arise controversy on himself between normal society and his own thought and feelings. Further into the book, Huck overcomes societies eye; which was trying to stop slavery was considered a sin. Huck went from looking at Jim as just a nigger that was somebodies property to a friend. A normal human being like himself. This was huge for Huck. He does not think of Jim as Miss Watson's nigger, instead just Jim. No labels, no ownership, just a friend. For Huck accomplishing this, Twain wanted you to see the point hes making. My point here is the use of the n word is very minor in the book. As for the argument of the book being written after the Emancipation. The author shouldn't be hassled for when the book was written. Its the time setting where the book takes place is what counts. This would be true if the time setting was after the Emancipation but "Huckleberry Finn" was not. If your still stuck on the racial issue, you were missing the big picture.
So my question to you is why is "Huckleberry Finn" labeled as a racist text? Why should we ban a book for the use of the n word. For this time period, Mark Twain was probably one of the least racist writers. The adventures of "Huckleberry Finn" had more than just use of the n word. If you actually read this, and thought it was racist, your in a shell. I found labeling the novel racist was difficult to overcome. As for the authors saying the text is racist is really going out of their way to do so. If the text was racist, the author wouldn't have to try because the text would explain it self. Since there is more to the text, authors are grabbing what ever they can hold on to and its the use of the n word as which i discussed this point. Instead, Huck Finn provides a portrait of the south in the 1800's. So why punish Huck Finn for illustrating an accurate portrait of the old south? In all, I did not believe the use of the n word was targeting or overboard or racist. In conclusion, to address the ongoing controversy, I still agree with Kaplan now finished with the book, and do not think "Huckleberry Finn" is a racist novel.
For a start, the biggest issue with "Huckleberry Finn" is the racial controversy over the novel. I say this because there is a few other controversies, but not as controversial as the racial issue over the text. Addressing this main controversy to me is important. The issue I have is that he text has to labels. One, the great American novel, and the other is that its racist. The racist label is what gets me. To get right to it, the novel "Huckleberry Finn" use the n word over 200 times throughout the book. This did and still stirs up controversy. The book is to degrade African Americans and create stereotypes. Some people get offended and feel the book should be banned. This book has proved it can shake things up just about everywhere it goes. This book is actually one of the most banned books in America. Now for some historical background on the book. This is important to know if you already do not. The book was published in December 10, 1884. The books time frame took place from early to mid 1800's in the deep south on the Mississippi river. This time period was a couple decades before the Emancipation. Slavery then was very active and enforced throughout the southern states. When the use of the n word was considered nothing less than normal. It was not uncommon to hear the use of the n word. It was not uncommon for people of all ages to use the n word. In this case, its mostly Huck, a thirteen year old boy from the south. Understanding these details is a part of realism some background.
Mark Twain illustrated the south 30 years before the Emancipation. So the use of the n word was historically correct for the time being. Twain was not being racist when doing so. For one not to open your eyes and realize is merely blind. You just cant point fingers at Twain for the use of the n word. Im sure your wondering about, well what about the 200 times it was used throughout the novel. Again, I here too see how people are offended. People say it was used to much. Me personally when reading the book, I did not feel the word was over abused. But yet, just enough to emphasize the true southern eye. I feel its safe to say if he didn't use the n word, the book would be a false portrait of the south.
For you to realize the historical context is one part to understanding the use of the n word. provided is a quote from Huck Finn in Kaplan's essay: Here is Sally's response to a steam boat explosion as described by Huck: " 'Good gracious! any body hurt?' 'No'm. Killed a nigger.' 'Well its lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt' "(page 206). Kaplan's response to this was "One has to be deliberately dense to miss the point Mark Twain is making here and to construe such passages as evidences of his "racism." Now, i can see here how people get offended. But again, realizing the time setting of the book is self-explanitory. I myself understand how powerful the word is today. I also understand that using this word today is wrong and offensive. The second point is the points Twain make throughout the novel. Throughout the novel, Huck matures as him and Jim are friends. Huck did arise controversy on himself between normal society and his own thought and feelings. Further into the book, Huck overcomes societies eye; which was trying to stop slavery was considered a sin. Huck went from looking at Jim as just a nigger that was somebodies property to a friend. A normal human being like himself. This was huge for Huck. He does not think of Jim as Miss Watson's nigger, instead just Jim. No labels, no ownership, just a friend. For Huck accomplishing this, Twain wanted you to see the point hes making. My point here is the use of the n word is very minor in the book. As for the argument of the book being written after the Emancipation. The author shouldn't be hassled for when the book was written. Its the time setting where the book takes place is what counts. This would be true if the time setting was after the Emancipation but "Huckleberry Finn" was not. If your still stuck on the racial issue, you were missing the big picture.
So my question to you is why is "Huckleberry Finn" labeled as a racist text? Why should we ban a book for the use of the n word. For this time period, Mark Twain was probably one of the least racist writers. The adventures of "Huckleberry Finn" had more than just use of the n word. If you actually read this, and thought it was racist, your in a shell. I found labeling the novel racist was difficult to overcome. As for the authors saying the text is racist is really going out of their way to do so. If the text was racist, the author wouldn't have to try because the text would explain it self. Since there is more to the text, authors are grabbing what ever they can hold on to and its the use of the n word as which i discussed this point. Instead, Huck Finn provides a portrait of the south in the 1800's. So why punish Huck Finn for illustrating an accurate portrait of the old south? In all, I did not believe the use of the n word was targeting or overboard or racist. In conclusion, to address the ongoing controversy, I still agree with Kaplan now finished with the book, and do not think "Huckleberry Finn" is a racist novel.
