Huckleberry Finn – Controversial
It seems like a never-ending question. When will we ever let it rest? You know the question I'm talking about; should the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn be banned from American Literature courses? It's been argued from so many different standpoints, but it has never been settled. Is Huckleberry Finn really a controversial book?
No, I do not agree with the banning of Huckleberry Finn. This book is considered to be a classic. It explores the depths of our past in many different ways. Those who think the book to be controversial probably have never ever read it before. Most likely, they're basing their judgments on the excessively used word, "nigger." For those who have read the book and still feel necessary to ban it are obviously missing the key points of this American classic. If you understand Huckleberry Finn, then you'll realize it's not about slavery or racism. It's about being unprejudiced. In the book, Huck admits that Jim "had an uncommon level head for a nigger." If you were to take out the black and white scenario, you would see that this quote is clearly nothing but acceptance. Huck is accepting Jim, regardless of his ethnic background. If you looked deeper, you would also see, the book is about nothing less than freedom and the quest for freedom. It's about a slave who breaks the law and risks his life to win his freedom and be reunited with his family. He was lucky enough to have a friend who made him his best friend and helped him to escape. Truly this isn't controversial; it's real life.
Another controversial aspect of the book would be the use of the word "nigger" and its being in the book over 200 times creates constant scrutiny. I feel the word was not used to be racist and its usage in the book gives great representation of the way life was during the pre-civil war era. People need to grasp the concept that that's how black were treated then. In today's society, we would find quotes such as, "Good gracious! Was anybody hurt?" "No'm. Just a nigger," APPALING! But in fact, it was written in an earlier time setting when quotes like that were okay to say.
Gordon S. Wood delves into Benjamin Franklin’s philosophical, political, and personal legacies in the biography, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin. The book travels through Franklin’s experiments, his travels in Europe, and his role in the American revolution. The book begins when Franklin retires from business and becomes a gentleman. It was when he became a gentleman, it allowed him to analyze the world around him. “Indeed, he could not drink a cup of tea without wondering why the tea leaves at the bottom gathered in way rather than another,” a quote from Edmund S. Morgan’s book, Benjamin Franklin. Franklin spent a great deal of time in Britain before returning to America. When he returned, he threw himself into the American revolution, which sent him to France. After he accomplished his duties in France, he returned back home to America where he ran for public office.
The reason that books should be banned are to protect the innocence of young readers and to keep them from reading something inappropriate for their age. The reasons that they (the committee) give for banning Huck Finn are unsatisfactory and are not valid reasons to ban a book. Now, it is true that for most younger readers the elaborate satire and criticisms of the American culture in Huck Finn are lost, but that is no reason to ban it, it is simply a statement that some will understand the deeper meaning of the book, while on others, it will be lost. The claim that Huck Finn is flippant and irrelevant is ludicrous, the committee that decides upon the banning of the book is looking at it from the wrong perspective. They do not see Huck Finn as the masterful work of literature it is, but instead are taking it at face value. If one does read the book and take it at face value, without pondering the deeper meanings and elaborate satire, then in doing so “much of the humor, as well as the pathos, would be lost” (San Francisco Chronicle Defends Huck, paragraph
The act of banning something is an aggressive measure. However, this being said whether to ban Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has long been debated. While some say that the book is offensive and disrespectful, others claim it to be a valuable learning lesson. Because of its beneficial lessons, its way of shocking the reader, its reputation as being one of the best novels in american history along with other controversial books being allowed in high schools, The Adventure’s of Huckleberry Finn should be read by every High School across the country.
To delve into a topic as serious as book censorship, one must first determine the purpose of reading, of literature in general. Blahblahblah (what Ms Buckingham said). Mark Twain’s novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, has sparked much controversy since its publication in 1884 due to countless racial slurs and stereotypes; in fact it is the most commonly banned book in American history (source). While many argue that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be banned, the literary merit, namely the realistic setting and characterization, outweighs the vulgarity and crude language. Twain’s satirical social commentary provides a moral exploration of racism and a vignette-style plot of contrast between the shore and the land and between Huck Finn and his partner-in-crime, Tom Sawyer.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was written by Mark Twain, published in 1884, and according to Alison Flood in the article US school stops teaching Huckleberry Finn because of 'use of the N-word', “one of the most-challenged [novels] of all time.” The story depicts the relationship between a young white boy who is running away from home and a grown slave who is running away to escape slavery. The novel focuses on Huck Finn growing up pre-civil war in deep and very racist south. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should stop being taught to high schoolers because it is too open to interpretation, and doesn't
Benjamin Franklin was a very significant figure during the American Revolution. His success as an inventor, scientist, printer, and politician made him a very famous and successful man during these times. His involvement in the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States always is an important part in US history. Simply put, we could not be here if Benjamin Franklin didn’t exist.
Benjamin Franklin’s inventions were as revolutionary as the century itself. Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts January 17, 1706. Franklin grew up to be a great man who would help greatly in the creation of our nation. Although Ben Franklin is greatly known, not much attention is put into his great inventions; the Franklin stove, bifocals, and the mapping of the Gulf Stream where some of his inventions. Franklin’s inventions all had different impacts on the lives of people.
A seventh grader asks his dad about the eighties. Unfortunately his dad can't remember anything about the eighties;and the older sister helps him remember the past. “Berlin Wall Piece,” by Sam Shepard is a story where a small piece of concrete helps a crazy father remember his modern history. A theme for the story would be: how a small piece of history can bring back so many old memories and controversies. When the story first opens up, a seventh grader is interviewing his father for his social studies class. The father is being questioned by his own son or daughter. The story does not reveal the sex of the youngest child. The father is unaware of the past; he can't remember absolutely nothing. The youngest child is confused, and cannot understand why his father can't help him. The father explains to the child that there was nothing important going in the eighties. The most important and significant thing for his father was the birth of his two children and his wife. The rest of it was lies, trash, and insignificant things the world had offered him. The truth was that nothing more matter to him than his children and wife. He had everything in the world he could ever wish for. The young child could not understand his fathers intentions to his answers. It was all a big mystery.
Benjamin Franklin is considered to be the most well-known Founding Father, as he helped in writing the Declaration of Independence and the very first Constitution of the United States. Who was he other than a man who fought for colonist’s rights however? He was a brilliant inventor who created many innovating and life changing mechanisms such as the world’s very first almanac, bifocals, and the lightning rod. Although he was never elected the role of President of the United States, he played several other parts, such as the first postmaster general for the colonies in addition to being an ambassador to France. As a young man working for his father’s candle shop, Benjamin Franklin soon made his way up to be one of history’s greatest figures.
He was one of our founding fathers of America. In 1751, Franklin was chosen to the Pennsylvania Assembly, causing the start of about 40 years as an open authority. At home from1762 to 1764, Franklin went all through the provinces, redesigning the American postal framework. He likewise constructed a new house on Market Street in Philadelphia, now remade and open to guests, which generally accommodated his family. From April 1775 to October 1776, Franklin served on the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety and in the Continental Congress. As a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Franklin ended up being a man of prudence and persistence, never rushing a choice. Franklin has earned his own respct for being an establishing father by making inexhaustible commitments to the genuine development of the United States of America. He was one of the primary people to propose a pioneer union. In 1776, he served on the five-man council to draft the Declaration of Independence and made numerous amendments in Thomas Jefferson's report. He was one of the first to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and pushed for the unification of the American colonies as one nation against England. “After voting for independence in 1776, Franklin was elected commissioner to France, making him essentially the first U.S. ambassador to France. He set sail to negotiate a treaty for the country’s military and financial support.”
Benjamin Franklin was self educated. Because of this, he earned honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, Oxford University, and University of St. Andrews. In 1749 he wrote a pamphlet concerning the education of youth in Pennsylvania. That is how the University of Pennsylvania was established.
Ben Franklin was born in Boston on a Sunday in January of 1706. His father was a candle maker and had many sons. Ben from a young age was a very adventurous boy, he was often getting in trouble. As a teen Ben Franklin went to work with his brother as a newspaper printer. Ben was in love with books and wanted to write a column in his brothers paper. He and his brother argued several times and Ben ran away to New York but soon ended up in Philadelphia running his own newspaper company. Ben Franklin was a scientist and inventor, we’ve all heard about Ben with electricity. Ben Franklin was also a major founding father of the constitution and was viewed as a very patriotic person.
In 1717, he began to regain some of the knowledge that he was deprived when he was pulled out of school to work for his father. Franklin began reading writings from such authors as: Plutarch, Defoe, and Mather ("The Electric Franklin"). This education obviously became very important later in his life to him and our country. It is like he said, "Genius without education is like silver in the mine (Glenn)."
Who was Benjamin Franklin and what accomplishments did he make that affects us today? Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts, January 17, 1790. Benjamin Franklin “was the tenth son of soap maker, Josiah Franklin. Benjamin’s mother was Abiah Folger, the second wife of Josiah” (Electric). He became a diplomat, scientist, author and also a philosopher. Benjamin Franklin developed into a great man and became known as one of the founders of the fathers of the Declaration of the Independence; thus known as one of the many accomplishments he made throughout his lifetime. Research, documentaries and an autobiography written by Benjamin Franklin himself detail all his accomplishments. An amazing man, Ben Franklin became to be so far ahead of his time to create the many inventions he developed within his life time. Many historians characterize him as a genius as well as a national icon. One of Benjamin Franklin’s successfully revolutionized the newspaper business and printing trade.
Benjamin Franklin was a multi-faceted man, due to his achievements that were unexpected of him, his advances through many areas of his life and his faith that many adapted. Born into a large family of ten children, Franklin was not expected to be the leading man he was. His father was a soap maker, and his family thought Franklin would be a part of the clergy. (Ben Franklin The Electric Franklin 1) Franklin’s expectations make his successes so much more impactful because of his ability to be a leader from a young age and represent America as a powerful nation. Through the printing press Franklin was able to support himself for the rest of his life, which lead him to tackle his curiosities through discovering and inventing. (Benjamin Franklin1) Benjamin Franklin affected America through his accomplishments as a blunt publisher and writer, an innovative scientist and inventor, and a superior political figurehead.