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Mark Twain's "flawed" masterpiece? yeah right

D

dont argue with this guy

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I think that Huckeberry Finn should be taught in schools all around America. I think some people fail to see the satiric and sarcastic elements in the novel because read past the "N" word. Despite its frequent use (over 200 times) it adequately articulates the dialect of that day and age. What do you guys think
 
Definitely a classic piece of literature that should be taught in every school in the country. I'm a bit biased because Mark Twain is my favorite author, but still. The satiric elements of the book need to be taught, plus the fact that it is an accurate portrayal of life in 19th century America.
 
Its a good book. Good books with good writing should be read by children. If not for books like "Lord of the Flies" and 'Moby ****" I would not be a writer myself. (Read those two back to back, they are basically the same book) These are writers that delve into the human condition. By reading thier work you better understand the nature of man, and thus better understand yourself, and thus, become a more well rounded level headed adult. Which is what I thought was the perpose of school. But with how many off balanced, childlike adults out there today you begin to wonder.
 
I'm not a huge Mark Twain fan, but I do agree that Huck Finn is a great satirical portrayal of America at that time.

I also don't like Lord of the Flies. I think you can just listen to that INXS song for 5 minutes, get the same message, and enjoy yourself a hell of a lot more.

Anyway, I wonder if they did a "N-word Free Edition" if it would make that big a difference...I don't know what they'd replace the word with, and it would no longer be accurate to the time, but it'd be an interesting social experiment to see if it got past the education board.
 
In my high-school we did read "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." People make such a big deal about the "n-word" (the horror) that they seem to miss the underlying anti-racist message. Here's the best example. I think I've included enough that even those who have not read the book can get an idea of what was going on, but note that it is also something of a spoiler (it also gives an example of the attention paid to the dialect).

So I was full of trouble, full as I could be; and
didn't know what to do. At last I had an idea; and I
says, I'll go and write the letter -- and then see if I can
pray. Why, it was astonishing, the way I felt as light
as a feather right straight off, and my troubles all
gone. So I got a piece of paper and a pencil, all
glad and excited, and set down and wrote:

Miss Watson, your runaway **** Jim is down
here two mile below Pikesville, and Mr. Phelps
has got him and he will give him up for the
reward if you send.

HUCK FINN.

I felt good and all washed clean of sin for the first
time I had ever felt so in my life, and I knowed I
could pray now. But I didn't do it straight off, but
laid the paper down and set there thinking -- thinking
how good it was all this happened so, and how near I
come to being lost and going to hell. And went on
thinking. And got to thinking over our trip down the
river; and I see Jim before me all the time: in the
day and in the night-time, sometimes moonlight, some-
times storms, and we a-floating along, talking and
singing and laughing. But somehow I couldn't seem
to strike no places to harden me against him, but only
the other kind. I'd see him standing my watch on top
of his'n, 'stead of calling me, so I could go on sleep-
ing; and see him how glad he was when I come back
out of the fog; and when I come to him again in the
swamp, up there where the feud was; and such-like
times; and would always call me honey, and pet me
and do everything he could think of for me, and how
good he always was; and at last I struck the time I
saved him by telling the men we had small-pox aboard,
and he was so grateful, and said I was the best friend
old Jim ever had in the world, and the ONLY one he's
got now; and then I happened to look around and see
that paper.

It was a close place. I took it up, and held it in
my hand. I was a-trembling, because I'd got to de-
cide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I
studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then
says to myself:

"All right, then, I'll GO to hell" -- and tore it up.
Click to expand...
 
Huckleberry Finn should be taught in a completely uncensored form as early as possible. The use of the "n" word should be openly discussed, its context examined, its meaning explained. The book itself is a masterpiece of storytelling that every American student should be required to read. And the fact that something uses language we now find offensive should never be a reason to keep it from our students. Racism and intolerance flourishe where they are not confronted: we can and should expose our children to our demon-haunted past so that they can learn, as we have, the errors of those ways. Huckleberry Finn teaches a pretty important lesson about the value of tolerance and the evils of racism that would only increase the educational value of the discussion of the words the author uses.
 
exactly! Those who think Huck Finn shouldn't be taught is soley because they have neglected to try and understand the sarcasm, and thus come up with a superficial opinion about it! And ESPECIALLY bash the people who tried to conjure up a "clean" version of it...if i was Mark Twain I would shoot them all for that...lets quit the political correct bullshit and let people explicate what they are trying to articulate! Mark Twain knew what he was doing the whole time
 
I think he was one of the greatest writers in this country. They should teach his writings in schools.
 
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