Mark Twain a Racist? Absolutely not! Essays -- Literary Analysis

Celebrating its 135th anniversary this year, Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic of American literature and is call for by millions across the nation every year. However, many assume that the book promotes and endorses the heinous act of racism. In their attacks on the classic, many of the books critics usage evidence such as the use of the n-word 211 times (Powers, 2010) and the novels repeated inferior depiction of African-Americans. Many supporters of the novel, though, hail it for being so controversial. They claim that the dialogue started when discussing the book is a great chance for students to broaden their views on many controversial topics. As Harris puts it (2000), If it isnt a dangerous book, there really is no reason for anybody to read it or teach it. Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn unquestionably does not promote racism, and genuinely serves to question the very idea of racism itself, as betokenn by Twains use of realism, the use of a child narrator, and the authors deliberate intention to criticize the act of slavery and racism.Throughout Huck Finn, Mark Twain employs realism to accurately portray life along the antebellum Mississippi River. Merriam-Webster defines realism as the theory or practice of fidelity in art and literature to nature or to real life and to accurate representation without idealization. Throughout the novel, Twain uses realism to show readers how life was and how blacks were treated. Many critics of the book criticize the language used in the book. As Powers puts it (2010), The controversy exploded in 1957, when the National Association for the Advancement of biased People condemned its 211 uses of the n-word, the infamous epithet for African ... ...-old boy show them the true path of equality and fairness. Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn clearly does not promote racism, and actually defames it, and the universal lessons taught in the book can still be applied t oday. Works CitedCamfield, G. (2005). Race. Retrieved from http//dig.lib.niu.edu/ twosome/race.htmlHarris, E. (2000, September 26). huck finn still pushes buttons, professor says. Retrieved from http//www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=3637Powers, M. (2010, May 05). Mark twains adventures of huckleberry finn. Retrieved from http//www.america.gov/st/peopleplace-english/2010/May/20100505151725naneerg0.2608759.htmlSalwen, P. (Unknown). The quotable mark twain . Retrieved from http//salwen.com/mtquotes.htmlTwain, M. (1986). The adventues of huckleberry finn. New York, NY Penguin Books Ltd.