Controversy in Huck Finn and How this Relates
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain is one of the most notoriously controversial books. One of the reasons is the use of the N word. It is also controversial due to ideas of oppression and racism. It has heavy concepts of slavery, and non-equal rights between African Americans and the White Man.
- By reading Huckleberry Finn, we can realize that everyone is equal. Huck Finn's mind is still innocent. He doesn't see the monumental difference between the blacks and whites. As the story goes on, Huck sees that Jim is just like him, no matter of skin color and race. He sees that Jim has a family that he cares about, and wants the same things in a future as himself. The book shows the growth of Huck's acceptance. When Huck plays a trick no Jim, Jim calls him out. Huck says, "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger." Huck begins to care about Jim and feels the need to apologize. In the end of the book, Huck goes as far to say, "I know'd he was white inside." Huck says this because he finally is realizing that Jim is equal to him. By reading the book, we can see this understanding, and perhaps begin to connect with Huck, and realize that no matter the appearance, many people want the same things in life. Reading Huck Finn can open our eyes to view other races in the same way we view our own.
- African Americans were thought of as lower class. Many were not treated right by the white men. They were punished and taken advantage of for their labor. They were separated from their families. They didn't have equal rights the 1900's. In the book, Jim was sold away from his family. His goal is to steal them back. Jim is only used for his labor. In the beginning, Huck views Jim as stupid and ignorant, incapable to learn. The Native Americans were viewed the same way by the Europeans. The Europeans thought that because the Natives did not have as advanced technology, they were stupid and able to be tricked into many situations.
How Can This be Used to Create A Culture Of Acceptance? Legitimize the importance of reading Huck Finn by comparing lessons from book with experiences of other group
Jim was oppressed in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He was thought of as different because he was a minority. This relates to modern day differences with Native Americans. Both groups gained cultural acceptance and are similar. Jim started out as a slave in the story and was owned by a family. As the story went on, he became friends with Huck, who accepted him. He was then declared free when his owner died. He was accepted by a lot more people when they found out he was free. Native Americans were seen as a minority when Europeans came over and started to take land. The whites who came over did not want to deal with them and sent to the west of the U.S. They grew to be accepted in our culture and now today even have their own reservations.
- Throughout the novel, Jim was constantly used and enslaved because he was black. As a matter of fact, Huck and almost every character at some point in the novel was selfishly utilized too - by Tom Sawyer. In Tom’s “oh-so-genius” plan of getting Jim out and free as adventurously as possible, he put not only Jim but Huck, himself and others in danger too. For his own fun and exploit, Tom put others at risk - which is totally selfish! Although this is milder than the whites using the Natives for resources and taking their land, what Tom did was exploitation of innocent people all for himself - and it wasn’t even useful! Since we found out that Tom knew Jim was free all along, and yet he still made this plan - well, that is just inexcusable. Native Americans were being treated unfairly at the benefit of the whites. The whites stole their land and resources and threw the Natives onto the Trail of Tears.