The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A High School Necessity

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A High School Necessity

Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an American classic that has been taught throughout schools nationwide for years. Twain's satirical novel, set roughly between 1835-1845, tells the story of Huckleberry Finn. A semiliterate 14-year old boy, and his adventure to find freedom for himself and his runaway slave companion, Jim. Huck, being abused and abandoned by his alcoholic father, pap, is partially raised and "sivilized" by Miss Watson and the Widow Douglas in St. Petersburg, Missouri. Desperately wanting to escape society and the corruption within it, Huck decides to fake his death and run away to Ohio with Jim, who is seeking his freedom from slavery. Huck and Jim encounter numerous obstacles along the Mississippi River on their journey to freedom and face the hypocrisy in society through every character introduced throughout the novel. Over the years, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has sparked polemic controversy throughout the nation's schools systems as to whether or not the novel is appropriate to teach in high school. There are a plethora of arguments stating that the extensive use of the "n" word and Twain's characterization of the runaway slave, Jim, is altogether racist; in truth, Twain is purely castigating prejudiced society in his anti-racist novel. Twain's novel crosses boundaries never approached in any other classic literary work, but because of the historical accuracy and ennobling characterization of Jim, Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a necessity in any American classroom.

The heart of controversy surrounding the novel stems from Twains constant, and often argued insensitive, use of the "n" word. In actuality, Twain chose this language to emphasize the local color of the Mississippi region and to maintain a sense of historical accuracy. The use of the "n" word brings shocking truth to the novel. Huck, a selfless 14 year old boy, uses the word in daily conversation as if it is a trivial. In the climactic point of the novel, Huck must battle with his intuition and conscience in order to decide whether or not to save Jim. He composes a letter to send to Miss Watson revealing Jim's whereabouts, but in a self-defining moment, he tears it in two, sacrificing his soul for a friend. While searching for Jim, Huck runs into the "Duke", a con artist, who reveals that he has sold Jim and Huck exclaims "'SOLD him?' I says, and begun to cry; 'why, he was MY nigger, and that was my money. Where is he?--I want my nigger" (Twain 209). Huck does not stammer when using the "n"-word, it is simply part of his vocabulary. In reality, "Huck and many white people of the time, Jim would have been both a slave - that is, property to be owned and abused at the owner's will - and a 'nigger,' the accepted way one referred to that particular property in the South at the time...Great literature that reveals truths about a society can enable such learning and thinking: the fact is that Huck simply would not have referred to Jim as a 'slave'" (Glave).

Although many argue that Jim's characterization was both demeaning and stereotypical, Twain beautifully portrays Jim as a loving, humane, and paternal figure. Above all else, Jim embodies selflessness. At many points throughout the novel, Jim makes personal sacrifices for the benefit of others. For instance, Jim lets Huck sleep at night, taking his watch while they rest in areas that put them in danger of being seen. Possibly the most touching moment of selflessness in the entire novel is when Jim voluntarily goes out into the open to find doctor for Tom Sawyer, who has been shot while using Jim in his game. Tom, knowing Jim was a free man, kept his knowledge secret just so he could rescue Jim from a small farm the way they do it in the books. Jim risks his life and freedom by exposing himself to help a child, who jeopardized Jim's safety just so he could use Jim as a prop in his game. Jim plays a major role