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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn This paper was written to show that banning the American classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn would be a dire mistake because it would deprive today’s students of a wealth of knowledge and an opportunity to explore a time of turmoil, and use the knowledge to prevent those times from reoccurring. Critics of Huck Finn believe that the youth who read this book will suffer emotional and moral damage due to the controversial content. The opinions of these critics can be easily refuted for hidden within the realistic issues are morals and beliefs that can positively influence today’s youth. Even though discrimination is apparent throughout the book, it was written to portray the social and racial climate of the times. The admirable thing is that Huck did not treat Jim any worse than what he was brought up to do, and more importantly, Huck’s treatment of Jim improves as his respect level for him grows. Huck, a typical poor, white Southern boy who was reared in the late nineteenth century, still relates being moral to being “white inside” ( Ch. 40, p. 207) but in this, he is able to understand that Jim is not all that different from himself. Huck’s sayings show just that: “He had an uncommon level head, for a nigger.” (Ch. 14, p. 42), and, “ I do believe that he cared just as much for his people as white folds does for their’n. It don’t seem natural, but I reckon it’s so.” (Ch. 23, p.117). Additionally, this book teaches awareness of serious issues. “He catched up with me and thrashed me, but I went to school just the same, and mostly to dodge him or outrun him, to keep from getting a cowhiding.” (Ch. 5, p. 23) When Huck’s father became increasingly dependent upon alcohol and unbearably abusive, he got out of that potentially dangerous situation as best as he could.
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