The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn… Classic or not?
Yes! It is a classic!
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn isa classic and a must read because of its longevity and its widely acknowledged “greatness”. Huck Finn was originally published in 1884 and has been in the spotlight as both “trash” and a “must read” ever since. Huck Finn is considered “great” because it embodies what life was like in the antebellum South while still having messages relevant to people today. Twain’s social commentary on topics such as education, religion, and morality are especially pertinent to high school students, who are learning and forming their views on these topics.
Huck Finn embodies what life was like in the antebellum south with its diction of various dialects (and curse words) and plot of Jim trying to escape slavery. Figurative language and themes such as the use of the Mississippi River as a motif further adds to the novel’s depth and greatness. While Huck Finn takes place in the antebellum South, the book itself was published after the war, right around when Jim Crow laws were coming into effect. The symbolism of Jim and Huck traveling further into slavery when they think they are going towards the North/freedom displays Twain’s social commentary that while America thought it was going farther away from slavery/inequality for African Americans, the South was actually becoming more unequal because of Jim Crow laws, “separate but equal”, etc.
It could be argued that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is not a classic/must read because it is not interesting and is vulgar. However the ample use of vulgar and racist terms (like the N word) is actually part of Twain’s use of diction to form his social commentary against the racism and injustice done to African Americans. The hard to understand and seemingly “uneducated” diction shows how small minded and stupid whites are being and how they need to open their minds and see that African Americans are people just like them. Huck’s realization that Jim is a human with a family and not just a black man further illustrates Twain’s message that even the youngest, most uneducated of whites can come to realize this.
No- Huck Finn is not a classic
Throughout one’s life it’s hard to go far without hearing of Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn. These books have made an impact on American Literature since they were first written. However, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn isn’t a classic or “must read’ for high schoolers due to lacking longevity, not resonating with modern day society, and encouraging trouble.
This book lacks longevity in the sense that the topics it covers, slavery and child abuse, aren’t problems we face today that are legal. Both slavery and child abuse are illegal and punishable with prison. These two problems are archaic in the United States because the general public already views them as immoral. Therefore, while The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn might have had significance in relation to these topics when it was written, it’s now outdated or negative sentiment towards slavery and child abuse takes away from its relevance.
The current generation faces every day problems with racism. Some might say that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a must read due to how it touches upon this topic. However, they are incorrect because in today’s society there are so many examples of racism and how to confront it. Adding Huck Finn to this would only make the “anti-racism” media seem over saturated, especially with newer entertainment that resonates with today’s society already addressing the evil of racism.
Lastly, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is about a teenage boy who at times likes to cause trouble. For example, he went and decided to place a dead snake near Jim, trying to scare him. It turned out that the mate was nearby and went and bit Jim, causing more trouble than Huck intended. Having this book in high schools is like inviting an accident to happen, with someone playing a joke on others that ends up having deadly effects. This takes away from the idea that Huck Finn is a “must read” for high school students.
While The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn might have made an impact on America during the 1800s, it’s not as significant now. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn isn’t a classic and shouldn’t be a must read due to it lacking longevity, not resonating with today’s society, and encouraging mischief.