The Controversy of "Huckleberry Finn"

Paper Summary:

The paper explores why, from its first publication in 1885 to today, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" has been scorned with immense disapproval by critics who demand the banishment of America's most evocative yet accurate narrative ever written. The paper discusses the disagreement about whether it was a suitable book for children based on concerns of immoral conduct and coarse dialect. The paper also discusses the racial slurs and stereotypes that offended students and scholars. The paper posits that the conflict whether to ban the narrative from public academies and institutions still exists, and will exist as long as social and racial inequality survives within America.

From the Paper:

"Novels have been banned throughout history because of the public's outcry for censorship. Generally caused by religious controversy, misinterpretations of the text and insularity, great novels are sometimes banned in academics and institutions. Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was condemned by critics who called Twain a racist and an advocate of immorality. Throughout this masterpiece, Twain created multi-dimensional characters that embodied the vernacular and belief system common to the early to mid-1800s. Because of this, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been banned in schools, libraries, and establishments due to the extensive misinterpretations of Twain's genius narrative depicting life in the Antebellum United States."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Andrew. "Huck and Jim." The Brothers Brick. 9/17/05. 5/1/08http://www.brothers-brick.com/2005/09/17/literary-characters/
• Arac, Jonathon. "Huckleberry Finn as Idol and Target: the Function of Criticism in OurTime." Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press, 1997. (http://books.google.com/books?id=twfLrDgYRlUC&printsec=frontcover#PPP1,M1).
• Champion, Laurie. "The Critical Response to Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn Book." Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1991. (http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=22876253).
• "Introduction to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." New York: Dover, 1885. 1996 Introduction copyright. Kaplan, Justin.
• "Roughing It." www.lib.virginia.edu/etext/index.html . 5/1/08http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/roughingit/rihp.html

More papers on The Controversy of "Huckleberry Finn":

• Analytical Essay # 57709 : "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"
• Analytical Essay # 53066 : "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"
• Book Review # 98305 : "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"

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