Argumentative Essay
Some of the most profound books over the last two centuries have led people to explore, dream, and discover. They discover parts of society that have never been seen before, and parts of themselves. “Words and Ideas can Change the world” is a quote revered by Robin Williams in the movie Dead Poet’s Society and the quote rings true. One of the most influential and controversial books of all time is the novel Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Ever since it was first publicized in 1884 it has been challenged and banned for its vulgar use of the word Nigger, exacerbating the derogatory use of racism within the text. However, even in the light of such racism, banning the book is an attack on personal and intellectual freedom. Banning the book, Huckleberry Finn, although an extreme source of racism, is an important historical piece of writing and should be taught within the public school system.
Racism was rampant in the 1800’s and it’s important that we do not forget the degree at which it had an effect. One such novel that includes all the racism is the book Huckleberry Finn and it is an important to see how society was in the mid nineteenth century so that we can learn to grow and become better. Although there is a quote that “History repeats itself” it is important that we know what society was like rather than deleting it from the history books and from our minds altogether. Censoring something because its hard to talk about is worse than never talking about it at all and having a repeat of bad things.
Another key point of this novel, that is important, is the idea of freedom. That “Huck and Jim, represent the two sides of the dilemma: Huck strikes out for an absolute freedom, while Jim requires, in order to gain his own freedom, that Huck qualify his freedom by entering into the pursuit of Jim’s” (Jehlen 1). In essence, Huck and Jim represents the two sides of freedom and I think the banning of the book is also a dilemma of freedom. Firstly, I can see why the book would be banned in the first place. It contains a great deal of racism and the word nigger in it (throughout the whole novel). However, it is important here to realize that banning the book can actually interfere with a writer’s intellectual and personal freedom.
A person has the freedom to write on any subject they want, about any subject they want and shouldn’t have to limit what they say. The first amendment protects that freedom (against any due harm) and banning the book infringes upon that right. If this book is censored, then a lot of books must be censored, and where is the line drawn at what can be written and said. There has been a certain movement to censor the book by changing the word ‘nigger’ to ‘slave’ but it doesn’t translate as well when the word is replaced, as well as does not have much of an impact when read to a bunch of kids who may or may not have experience that kind of racism. It is important to show these kids how society used to refer to people as and how it impacted race relations at the time. The growth of race relations over the last 100 to 150 years has been a great achievement and this historical piece of literature shows us how far we have come.
Although this book is important, it must be realized that it is a challenging book, to read in class or to read by oneself. The high degree of racism within the text makes it almost unbearable to have in class as well as read in class. It has been banned time and time again, challenged time and time again in an effort to reduce the amount of stress it puts on race relations. It is a stressful read and a controversial study, but it is an important piece of literature.
Overall, educators and librarians have a social responsibility to teach their students about writings since books have been a major influence on politics and society in general (Sameki). Yes, it is understood that it is rampant in the amount of racism and a controversial read but society does not grow and does not become greater until controversial subjects are talked about and dealt with. Racism cannot be just swept under the rug and this novel is a key factor in the race relations’ subject. Not only to see how far society has come but also to see how it still has parts of it in today’s society. History is important to be realized and books are a great marker on society.
Sources
Jehlen, Myra. "Banned in concord: Adventures of huckleberry Finn and classic American Literature." The Cambridge Companion to Mark Twain 97 (1995).
Samek, Toni. Intellectual freedom and social responsibility in American librarianship, 1967-1974. McFarland, 2000.
