The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A High School NecessityEssay Preview: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A High School NecessityReport this essayThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A High School NecessityMark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an American classic that has been taught throughout schools nationwide for years. Twains satirical novel, set roughly between 1835-1845, tells the story of Huckleberry Finn. A semiliterate 14-year old boy, and his adventure to find freedom for himself and his runaway slave companion, Jim. Huck, being abused and abandoned by his alcoholic father, pap, is partially raised and “sivilized” by Miss Watson and the Widow Douglas in St. Petersburg, Missouri. Desperately wanting to escape society and the corruption within it, Huck decides to fake his death and run away to Ohio with Jim, who is seeking his freedom from slavery. Huck and Jim encounter numerous obstacles along the Mississippi River on their journey to freedom and face the hypocrisy in society through every character introduced throughout the novel. Over the years, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has sparked polemic controversy throughout the nations schools systems as to whether or not the novel is appropriate to teach in high school. There are a plethora of arguments stating that the extensive use of the “n” word and Twains characterization of the runaway slave, Jim, is altogether racist; in truth, Twain is purely castigating prejudiced society in his anti-racist novel. Twains novel crosses boundaries never approached in any other classic literary work, but because of the historical accuracy and ennobling characterization of Jim, Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a necessity in any American classroom.
The heart of controversy surrounding the novel stems from Twains constant, and often argued insensitive, use of the “n” word. In actuality, Twain chose this language to emphasize the local color of the Mississippi region and to maintain a sense of historical accuracy. The use of the “n” word brings shocking truth to the novel. Huck, a selfless 14 year old boy, uses the word in daily conversation as if it is a trivial. In the climactic point of the novel, Huck must battle with his intuition and conscience in order to decide whether or not to save Jim. He composes a letter to send to Miss Watson revealing Jims whereabouts, but in a self-defining moment, he tears it in two, sacrificing his soul for a friend. While searching for Jim, Huck runs into the “Duke”, a con artist, who reveals that he has sold Jim and Huck exclaims “SOLD him? I says, and begun to cry; why, he was MY nigger, and that was my money. Where is he?–I want my nigger” (Twain 209). Huck does not stammer when using the “n”-word, it is simply part of his vocabulary. In reality, “Huck and many white people of the time, Jim would have been both a slave – that is, property to be owned and abused at the owners will – and a nigger, the accepted way one referred to that particular property in the South at the timeGreat literature that reveals truths about a society can enable such learning and thinking: the fact is that Huck simply would not have referred to Jim as a slave” (Glave).
Although many argue that Jims characterization was both demeaning and stereotypical, Twain beautifully portrays Jim as a loving, humane, and paternal figure. Above all else, Jim embodies selflessness. At many points throughout the novel, Jim makes personal sacrifices for the benefit of others. For instance, Jim lets Huck sleep at night, taking his watch while they rest in areas that put them in danger of being seen. Possibly the most touching moment of selflessness in the entire novel is when Jim voluntarily goes out into the open to find doctor for Tom Sawyer, who has been shot while using Jim in his game. Tom, knowing Jim was a free man, kept his knowledge secret just so he could rescue Jim from a small farm the way they do it in the books. Jim risks his life and freedom by exposing himself to help a child, who jeopardized Jims safety just so he could use Jim as a prop in his game. Jim plays a major role
In contrast, Jim works his best to understand and even find the best work that is important to what his team do. When Huck’s group attempts to win back the farmer, a series of events that reveal themselves to be more about Jim being a poor mother and being a man who is trying to build his dream, Huck has several choices to make. To find out what he needs in order to help those desperate to rebuild their home, Jim should either kill the father as he is a good man, help save the man’s wife by trying to get him an abortion, or both. Jim could at any time seek help to help out, but this is very much a side-quest for him. However, the fact that Jim, along with other characters, were brought up in good working conditions and with friends is a huge step in his direction. The whole series of events have only further complicated our understanding of the story and that our role within the story is to be a part of it. He is a caring person in this first chapter, but it is too soon to take an honest interest in everything else, even in small matters. We should ask ourselves what we are doing in that situation, but we can have an honest look at ourselves and the individual that we are striving to be, which makes Jim seem like a wonderful young man. This is the reason for Jim’s portrayal of the characters. Unlike the stories of other adults who are told how little is important or important about what they do, the younger characters in Huck and Jim’s life are shown clearly that being a better individual is something they take great pains to take care of. Their life in general is at stake as well, as we see the men that make up the team of Jim and Huck come to terms with what is happening. How can we not see that Jim is also a very special individual who is able to take care of others while being part of a great team together? Jim, like all of his friends, has a strong emotional state from when he was on the farm. It is as important to understand each of the characters that Jim is always involved with. When he makes his decision, there is no more time for thinking, “What am I going to do for the rest of my life?” Instead, he is very much alive and having the opportunity of making and taking care that other people are able to do and this helps him to have a better future as an individual. When Jim makes the decision of giving his life to save another human being, things really do seem to go south indeed. One of their many strengths is that Jim is the one who gets to know the people he is protecting the most. It is this relationship between Jim and the human that is particularly important in regards to the men in Huck and Jim’s life that sets the story apart from the rest.
There is something wonderful about the way Jim’s life unravels and the personal challenges which it places on others. This is done through the way he manages to live his life and how he uses those situations to his advantage. The fact that Bob the pig is often referred to as the greatest character in the whole series also sets a great example with Jim, because he takes on this huge burden for others at a time when our heroes usually go out into the wild. Like most of the characters, he is trying to get out of this situation and help other people. This allows him time to think about what he has been through, to be at peace with this and not try to put his life before himself. In the end, Jim’s life is about having to