Argumentative Essay: The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Argumentative Essay “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” the classic well acknowledged novel by Mark Twain was first published in the United Kingdom in December 1884. The book is commonly named among the Great American Novels; uniquely, one of the few to be written in vernacular English, characterized by local color regionalism. The book is told in first person narrative, through the perspective of a thirteen year old boy named Huck Finn. The book is recognized for its distinctive characterization of people and places in the South. The classic novel is listed #7 on the American Library Association’s Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2002 out of 515 challenges due to its use of offensive language. …show more content…

“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” has been denounced upon release due to its choice of language and more controversial in the 20th century because of its portrayal of racial stereotypes and the constant display of the racial slur, the N-word. Mark Twain is also questioned for his portrayal of the stereotypical treatment of Blacks. However, the book is still popular among readers and is praised for its realism and honest portrayal of attitudes during that time period. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” examines the perception of race and identity. Surely, the novel is a masterpiece and displays an essential role of American identity. Conversely, the anti-racism in the book cannot be seen if the reader is not able to grasp the concept of the ironic narrator. Therefore, the book should be available for those who wish to read it by their choice. Nevertheless, due to the offensive language the text should not be presented as required classroom material. Twain’s diction and characterization by the display of the use of racial slurs and stereotypical treatment of black slaves in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” distracts from the positive impact on racial attitudes; therefore, this …show more content…

The language clearly accurately depicts America’s offensive past. Twain writes in the beginning that the language used does have a meaning as to why it is used.
“In this book a number of dialects are used, to wit: the Missouri negro dialect; the extremest form of the backwoods Southwestern dialect; the ordinary "Pike County" dialect; and four modified varieties of this last. The shadings have not been done in a haphazard fashion, or by guesswork; but painstakingly, and with the trustworthy guidance and support of personal familiarity with these several forms of speech.
I make this explanation for the reason that without it many readers would suppose that all these characters were trying to talk alike and not succeeding” (6).
In the hands of a good teacher, the novel can increase interracial understanding. The book allows the opportunity for readers to be able to identify and examine stereotypes and the impact; making them more aware of language, including racial epithets and its power. The book as a whole is seen as anti-slavery and criticizes society. The novel allows the readers to see the accurate representation of slavery without sugarcoating

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