Julius Lester argues in his essay ' Morality and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,' that Twain's novel is demeaning and insulting to black history. He claims that there are serious, and obvious flaws in the novel that have been overlooked, and if taken into consideration, obviously show that Mark Twain was a racist. Julius Lester argues many valid points, but I believe that calling Mark Twain a racist for writing a book taking place in the slave times is a stretch. I argue the point of historical realism. That's how it was in those times, and choosing to write about it does not make twain a racist. If I were to write a book about the fifteenth century, and in it women were considered lower in society, would you call me prejudice against women? Twain is not a racist, he did not sugar coat the fact the society was prejudice, and for including the truth in his novel, I applaude him.
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5 comments:
I agree with your view point. Some other topics that would be great to address are the things like the use of the n-word, and the representation of Jim.
You have a great start to your essay good luck!
Kendall
That's a good argument. So the book might have racist tones, but due to the time period, Twain isn't a racist. Context is everything when you read a book like that.
You made really good points and I love your example 'if I were to write a book...' it just clears up your statement even further. I agree with the time period thing as well, you really can't expect him to make everyone be unexpectedly nice to the slaves, that'd be totally abnormal of the characters for that time period.
i think that its so stupid to say that they had a gay relationship. and im so done with talkint about this book lol. i lov eyour first opening sentence it is a catch!!i like how it is easy to read and i like your analogy of the sugar coated society
I am also done with talking about this book! Not that I would, but some readers might call you sexist for a realist approach in a book on women in the fifteenth century, so maybe finding an example to back up your argument would be good. I don't know how much work you want to put into it, but it would probably be pretty easy to find. Sorry, that might be a little confusing. Let me know if you want me to explain it a little more.
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