Huckleberry Finn: Trash or Treasure?
by Sophie Thompson
Op-Ed
I don't know how many schools have the book Tangerine as required reading, but I know for a fact that many middle schools did. Some found the book relatable and appreciated its lesson, but many others found the setting painfully drab and disliked the stark contrast between characters — some were generic suburban Americans, while others were literal murderers. It isn’t generally considered to be very good, but whether you enjoyed it or not, there are objectively better books for teens and pre-teens to read, many of which were required for older generations. These books had fun, relatable characters, and carefully illustrated lessons, hence why they were required in schools in the first place, yet they have been widely banned across the United States. Of course, it is understandable to change required reading as society evolves.
There are plenty of really great modern novels for schools to choose from when seeking to update their curriculums, and apparently, someone decided Tangerine fit the bill. Considering Tangerine isn't even that new anymore, there is little reason to require it in place of something with more substance. One book people remember fondly, particularly those of older generations, is The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. It's a wonderful story, but its sequel is just as meaningful and iconic as its predecessor. Despite their accredited brilliance, many students are not familiar with either novel, and not just because of changes in required reading. Kamiak tends to err on the side of free speech rather than censorship, but a multitude of school libraries have tossed Huckleberry Finn to the pile of classics our nation has deemed unfit for young readers. Either way, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the controversial sequel to Tom Sawyer, is worthy of examination.
For those who don't know, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an American novel that follows the antics of a mischievous boy in the 19th century Midwest. In 1884, Mark Twain wrote its sequel, following two social outcasts and their journey together down the Mississippi River. One of these characters is a frequent accomplice in Tom’s escapades: Huckleberry Finn. The second-most-significant character in this story, Jim, is where the controversy typically begins.
One of the common reasons people point to for having the book banned is the fact that Jim is a slave. Considering the time the book takes place, he isn’t exactly treated with the utmost respect. Rather than focus on what the book is trying to say about judgment towards others and the concept of right versus wrong, many people see the character of Jim and assume the author had malintent. The onset of racial slurs certainly doesn’t help, adding up to a whopping one hundred thirteen appearances in the text. All things considered, it wouldn’t seem outlandish to question the author’s intent here, except that this incessant questioning often negates the entire point of the story. Jim is absolutely met with hostility throughout the book, but that doesn’t mean the author condones that treatment. This was simply the norm of certain demographics in the 19th century, and it’s a norm Huck must learn to question throughout the novel. Good characters can be heavily flawed, and it’s possible to like one without condoning all of their actions.
Additionally, people seem to forget that Tom and Huck are met with constant scrutiny as well. It is accepted by many who read the tale that this harsh judgment is the entire point of the book, because this judgment is consistently shown to be irrational. Along their journey, Huck and Jim are caught in the middle of a violent battle between two feuding families, roped into cheating an entire town out of its money, and chased down by a band of angry farmers. Most of the people they meet are selfish and hostile, while the two main characters just want to escape their respective struggles of abuse and slavery.
More often than not, they’re the victims in these crazy situations rather than the perpetrators, and either way, neither character is actually portrayed as being a bad person. People, especially in the nineteenth century, tend to look down on things they don’t understand, and the characters in this book are no different. Huck is misguided at worst but is shown to have a good heart, and many people construe Jim as a father figure, considering the abuse inflicted on Huck by his actual father. Because he never had a sufficient role model growing up, Huck also frequently struggles with morality, yet another thing people seem to overlook. As previously mentioned, he is often Tom’s accomplice, partaking in a multitude of mischievous schemes. Both are also characteristically rebellious, with Huck considering himself to have an inherently broken moral compass.
One specific struggle he often goes back to is the decision to turn Jim in for having escaped slavery. Jim and Huck’s journey down the river was unbeknownst to the townspeople, and Jim had not yet been freed. Huck views Jim’s escape as wrong and often feels bad about himself for wanting to help him. In each moral conflict Huck faces, he always ends up doing the right thing, and ultimately he makes the decision to keep Jim’s escape a secret up until his official freedom. For most of the book, Huck convinces himself this was the wrong thing to do, but by the very end, he finally learns not to care so much what society thinks of him. He realizes that societal views of right or wrong do not always match up with his own views. I’m sure many people find themselves relating to this theme, and it would have probably been even more relevant considering the book’s time period. The 19th century was questionable in a lot of ways, and people back then were generally a lot more concerned with strict social norms. In that regard, Huck’s decision to break away from some of these norms throughout his story should encourage children to do the same. This idea is the basis of another common critique.
While some challenge the book due to perceived racism, others take issue with the surprisingly mature content (at least compared to Tom Sawyer) and its unconventional use of language. It isn’t inappropriate, but aside from commonly challenged characters like Jim, the book contains difficult themes like abuse. In addition, the book contains frequent deliberate mistakes in grammar, used to reflect American Southern dialects. And although Huck does grow throughout the story, he doesn’t come off as the best role model, at least from a surface level. Due to heavy topics, poor grammar, and questionable characters, many parents understand this book to have a potentially bad influence on their children. This reasoning isn’t even new. It has, in fact, faced challenges since the 1880’s, when libraries in Concord claimed the book was unsophisticated and contained poor role models. According to an article by PBS, “By March, librarians in Concord, Massachusetts deemed it ‘trash’ and suitable for only the slums” (PBS).
Potential negative influence has been the motive for many book bannings. Beloved, by Toni Morrison, also follows the story of a former slave, but has not been challenged due to racist content. Rather, because of the heavy topics it presented, plenty of people insisted on shielding their children from its potentially harmful influence.
Instead of teaching kids how to deal with difficult subject material, parents often respond by ripping it off the shelves. Children are impressionable, but they will be far less affected by mature themes if parents focus more attention on guiding kids themselves. Being open about difficult subjects can be very beneficial for kids, often leaving them more informed of (and better prepared for) all the various obstacles life might throw their way. Reading books, no matter how unsophisticated or indecent they may seem to parents, can let kids see the world through a different lens. Letting kids grow up blind to concepts of abuse or racism and shielding them from cultures that might differ from their own will leave us ignorant and closed-minded. Plus, middle and high school students aren’t even that young. Many are already aware of topics like abuse and racism.
Books like Tangerine that have been used in place of past required reading not only require less critical thinking, but also deal with plenty of dark situations themselves. Two children die in Tangerine, and one child had his vision permanently impaired by his creepy older brother. As long as these things serve to convey some kind of central message, I see no reason to shield kids from their existence. We can’t stay young and naive forever, and if we’re to properly grow up, we need to learn how to handle dark themes maturely, and think about the world from our own unique point of view.
DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of Kamiak High School or The Gauntlet.