Essay About Time Mark Twain And Mark Twain

Huck Finn
Essay Preview: Huck Finn
Report this essay
Euphonisms are so common today that we dont even think twice about saying
them. One euphonism that sticks out in my mind is “the n word” a.k.a nigger. Whenever
I myself use it its most likely used when I hear it a bad way but in actuality today its
used as a term of almost endearment. 80% of rap songs use the word to describe friends;
but back during the time Mark Twain used it in the novel Huck Finn it was a derogative
term used to put down African Americans. Theres 287 pages in the novel and the word,
nigger is used 250 times. This means that about every 1 and half page you read you
encounter the word. Some people believe that the excessiveness of the word nigger
makes Mark Twain a racist, but you have to think deeper into his possible thought
process behind the novel.
When you hear nigger used derogatively, as its used in this novel, it sounds harsh
and leaves an impression. Thats exactly what Twain was trying to do. His book has left
such an impression on the world that over a thousand schools in America have banned the
novel because of the word and the racism it may suggest. What the people who ban the
books dont realize is that children and teenagers will encounter the word sometime in
their life anyways. By banning the book; sheltering children from the intensity of the
word it just creates a bigger problem.
Racism was and still is a huge part of America. Everywhere you go you can
plainly see it. No matter how badly parents; teachers or school administrators try to
ban the book; try to hide children and teenagers from the racism it entails, they will
still learn about racism. Theyll learn about it in their classrooms, in their everyday
lives. Twain wrote a book that actually preaches that racism is wrong. Huck Finn
is a complete satire. It overexaggerates the language used by Jim; it constantly uses
the word nigger and its way beyond its years. Its amazing how Twains writing was
so clever and satirical. Its also amazing that he could depict such a character as Jim;
how he made Jim the epitome of how people thought of African Americans.
“Thinks I, what is the country a-coming to? It was lection day, and I was just about to
go and vote myself if I warnt too