The Banning of Huckleberry Finn

Introduction

Huckleberry Finn is a familiar name when most hear it, however even though it was enjoyed by many, it was banned immediately for some. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was written by Samuel Clemens and was published in 1885, which was 20 years after the Civil War had ended. In addition to the amusing story, this book also gives a deeper underlying message about prejudice, freedom, racism, and societal norms to which people get accustomed to without question. Even though some found this book offensive or racist, Huckleberry Finn is still largely relevant in today’s society because it gives students a look into what life was like before the Civil War, in the early 19th century. This book should not be banned because students will become more well-rounded and knowledgeable about past diversity and now that they have seen what daily life could be like with injustice for many, although we aren’t perfect today.

About the Author

Mark Twain was a pen name for Samuel Langhorne Clemens who was Born in 1835 in Florida, Missouri. When he was four years old, his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, near the Mississippi River. Twain was a brilliant writer who often used satirical tones in his writing, which made for a story with a message for everyone to enjoy. He has inspired many major writers and has influenced literature everywhere. According to a scholarly article regarding Samuel Clemens, writer Ernest Hemingway once stated that “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn…it’s the best book we’ve had. All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since” (1999). Clemens changed his name to “Mark Twain” around 1865 and his books began to gain traction. At 74 years old, Twain died in his sleep due to a heart condition.

The Book

Most people today can easily recognize the name “Huckleberry Finn” and remember the general plot of the story. Many people referred to this book as Twain’s masterpiece and it’s easy to see why. In the story, a boy named Huck decides to run away from his abusive father by faking his death using smeared pigs’ blood to portray as his own. He runs into a runaway slave named Jim, who wants to get away from the possibility of being sent to a merciless plantation. They team up and begin their journey down the Mississippi River. After a while, Huck realizes the importance of helping Jim get his freedom, as Huck has only been concerned with his own thus far. After a long journey together with lots of learning for Huck, Jim ends up free to go back to his family.

Getting Banned

From the day it was released until even recently, this book has been banned in many places and has been a controversial issue regarding whether to let this book be part of the curriculum or not. According to an article regarding the decisions to ban this book, they state that “While it is understandable that a novel that repeatedly uses a highly offensive racial slur would generate discomfort among some parents and students, the problems of living in a society where racial tensions persist will not be resolved by banishing literary classics from the classroom… On the contrary, the classroom is where the history, use and destructiveness of this language should be examined and discussed” (Phillips). Another important piece of information to remember is the importance of classroom discussion where the book can be analyzed by all the students so they can understand others’ thoughts towards the book. An article regarding the banning of this book states that “The books are still available in libraries, and students can read them on their own time, but school officials will look at other novels on the same topic to add to its curriculum” (Phillips). Although it is helpful for the students who do want to read it on their own time, they are losing out on the importance of analyzing it along with other students because some young students won’t understand the underlying messages or themes without talking about it.

Opinion

Although many would disagree, I think that it is important to include this book in school curricula because of the diverse knowledge students will obtain by discussing this book in class. Originally, this book was not meant to be read by children, however “It wasn’t until his friend William Dean Howells suggested that it was a story most appropriate for children that Twain “cleaned up” the manuscript” (1999). There still might be some harsh language and ideas in the book, but this was all done on purpose by the writer to give a real feel towards the characters and how they would have really acted during that time period.

Conclusion

This masterpiece by Mark Twain has been enjoyed by so many and inspired some other well-known writers as well. The messages and themes of this story are important to learn at a young age, where people acted so differently it’s shocking to read today. It’s crucial to have the youth read these books so they can become more well-rounded individuals who are aware of the prejudice which occurred back then, this way we can make sure that part of history will never be repeated.

Works Cited

Phillips, Kristine. “A school district drops ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and ‘Huckleberry Finn’ over use of the n-word.” Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2017 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2018/02/07/a-school-district-drops-to-kill-a-mockingbird-and-huckleberry-finn-over-use-of-the-n-word/. Accessed 9 Mar. 2022.

“Mark Twain.” St. James Guide to Young Adult Writers, Gale, 1999. Gale In Context: Biography, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1663000430/BIC?u=lincclin_ecc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=b361ee62. Accessed 4 Apr. 2022.