What do you think has made this novel so compelling to readers, even while it has always attracted such controversy? What (if any) elements of the novel do you respond to as readers?
What do you think has made this novel so compelling to readers, even while it has always attracted such controversy? What (if any) elements of the novel do you respond to as readers?
January 23, 2008 at 11:16 pm
When I first began reading Huck Finn I was a little put off by the opening. I dont want an author to tell me that the book has no plot or point, etc..I did enjoy the beginning of the book but around the time Twain took his break so did I. I feel like the ending is just going nowhere and Twain is taking a long time to make things happen. However, I can see why this novel would be considered in the anthology though. Huck Finn deals with some vary interesting aspects and always makes the audience think regardless of the decade one read the book.
January 24, 2008 at 12:45 am
I think that the controversy element is actually what attracts a large majority of readers. It’s the same reason people watch shows like “South Park” I suppose. Also, the fact that it was written so long ago makes the controversies of the novel stand out even more. As was noted in class, the “n” word wasn’t actually as common back then as people stereotypically think. I really responded to the vividness of the imagery in the child-abuse sections. Readers can actually see the marks appearing on Huck’s skinny body.
January 24, 2008 at 3:06 am
Huck Finn tells us a story about the deep South where the word nigger and racism are accepted and practiced. Huck himself comes from an abusive drunken father. Most people may not have such problems in their life, but maybe know a cousin or close friend that went through those problems. By writing a novel based on the lower end of society, you can reach a much larger audience. The vernacular that Twain uses also adds an element of realism to the stories. While the reader knows these incidences are exaggerated, they had to have come from somewhere. Readers get an actual taste of what the South was like in the 1840’s. The vernacular, the racism, and the lack of morals all add up to an exciting story that could happen. I found the most amusing element to be Jim arguing with Huck about speaking French and the King Solomon story. It helps to explain how people with no education at all can get their opinions. I also find it amusing that Huck feels like a traitor not turning Jim in to the authorities. Even though he did the exact same thing. I don’t believe that Mark Twain expected to be some great author. He wrote stories as he saw them in real life and tried to make light of horrible problems like child abuse and racism.
January 24, 2008 at 6:12 am
I read Huck Finn for the first time when I was in Junior High; a time when I was much closer to what I perceive as Huck’s age. I did not read the book by choice, it was an assigned reading, but I do remember enjoying it. I believe that it is important for readers and young scholars to immerse themselves in historical events, and this book serves as a great example. Twain’s vernacular language combined with his “old fashioned style” creates a book that addresses serious social issues in a non-intimidating manner. Today, as I read the book for a second time, I have a better understanding of what is going on, but feel less connected to Huck.
January 24, 2008 at 7:47 am
I believe Huck Finn is considered a compelling novel because of its controversy. If it were truly Mark Twain’s goal to convey how things were at the time of slavery in the United States’, it would only be fitting for him to use dialogue that is similar to that of the people who were alive at the time, even if that dialogue is highly insulting and sickening. In addition, I personally find it a bit ridiculous to deny the reading of Huck Finn to students, as some schools have done (grade school and college), because of this language. In order for people to understand, at least as well as we can, how terrible racism and slavery really is, it is important we know what racism is. The attitudes and language used in Huck Finn, by the characters in Huck Finn, is racist. Therefore, the novel almost functions as a glimpse into a dark part of our history, a history that we must all learn from. As a sidenote, while I realize that it was Twain’s intent to use terrible grammer to make the dialogue and language in Huck Finn more genuine, I could not hate it more. At times, reading the dialogue is flat out obnoxious.
January 24, 2008 at 4:23 pm
One thing that I hadn’t really noticed when I read the book in high school a few years ago was the real struggle that Huck goes through in his relationship with Jim. Before he leaves the Widow’s home, he sees Jim mainly as a slave, although he appears to be much more respectful of him than Tom. After he has faked his dead/murder and finds Jim, he seems as excited to see him as he would have been to find a friend. Jim seems to rise on Huck’s “social order”, if you will, as they continue on their journey. The way that I’m reading it, it appears that the longer they are away from proper, civilized society and it’s rules and regulations, the more Huck is able to see Jim as his equal, and the easier it becomes. He realizes how much Jim can help him and what an asset he would be to him on this trip. He even realizes just how smart Jim actually is after hearing how he ran away from the Widow without being caught. After they start having contact with society again, things seem to change. After hearing talk of it, Huck begins to contemplate turning Jim in. To me, one of the major turning points in the book is when Huck decides against turning Jim in, after much contemplation and being presented the perfect opportunity. It seems that one of the major criticisms surrounding this book is the treatment of the slaves and the interaction between the two social groups. I think that this struggle that Huck overcomes and the relationship that he is able to foster with Jim is a redeeming quality. It gives an angle that a number of books about and around the time don’t portray.
January 24, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I think what has made this novel so compelling is the fact that there are situations in the novel which appeal to both younger and more mature audiences. There is a definite sense of adventure which may appeal to younger audiences, yet this does not begin to describe the novel in its entirety. I remember reading this novel in high school and viewing it in an entirely different manner than I do at the present moment. As you age, you start to become more aware of what Twain is getting at, in regards to race, literature, etc. This is why the novel is so compelling, to me at least, and at the same time why it is so controversial. This book deals with adult issues (abuse, murder, death) but chooses to convey this information through a child’s voice. This is what caught my attention, the fact that the novel was in Huck’s voice and that it was written consistently in his voice: You don’t get the feeling that the author interrupts the story to moralize to his audience.
January 24, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I enjoyed the Notice at the beginning of Huck Finn. Just like real life there is no predetermined plot. Just like real life one makes things up as one moves along the river of life, we have little rough spots now and again and other times it’s smooth and calm. Also, how many kids haven’t thought about running away from home at some time or another because of some reason, I think Huck gives the reader their chance live that out through him. I don’t think we should keep children from reading Huck Finn because of the N word, they learn it eventually, and it would be beneficial to learn it in an educational setting were it can be discussed. And as Jordan said it deals is social issues in a less in your face manor and if it were read in schools these topics can also be discussed and teach kids how to deal with these issues.
January 24, 2008 at 11:39 pm
This is the third time that I have read Huck Finn. Once in middle school and once when I was a freshman in high school. I don’t know if it is the fact that I am more mature the third time around, but I am noticing more in-depth things than I did before. When I first read Huck Finn, I never picked up on the controversy with Jim and Huck being friends, nor was it taught to me. I also never picked up on the part where Huck admits that he realizes the King and Duke aren’t really what they say, Huck just doesn’t say anything because he doesn’t want to create conflict. I am seeing a much more complex side of Huck as I am reading than I ever did before. As for what I think compels people to read the book is the fact that the book is an American classic that that they just have to read it. Also, since it’s an adventurous type of book, people might want to read it in order to escape their mundane everyday lifestyles.
January 24, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I believe that although “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” has been criticized for its weak plot and conclusion and also its consistent grammatical imperfections, I believe that these qualities in itself allow the book to be more unique and stand above other literary works. My reasoning for this is that although the plot content is weak (i.e. Huck and Jim have no real explanation for what they are going to do when they get to Cairo, etc.), I believe that Mark Twain utilized this to help illustrate that the book does not focus on plot, but on character development. I believe that anyone that criticizes this book simply because of its weak plot is almost ignorant of the other qualities of the book. As for the grammatical imperfections of the book, the southern accent is literally put into the text. For instance, there are many times that I have been reading and that little voice in my head has that southern diction to it. As for when Jim is speaking, although it is difficult to read at times, I believe that Mark Twain successfully put African American diction into the text. Twain’s decision to do this should not be criticized, but praised since it would obviously be more difficult to achieve than simply writing the words grammatically correct.
January 25, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I think people are naturally compelled to do things that go against the grain. Why do people drink in high school? One, its because you think you are going to look cool, and two, because you aren’t supposed to do it. The same with speeding or any other law that people like to break. The same goes for this book. There are so many people bitch and moan about how this book is racist, the grammar is horrible, the word nigger is in the book 400 some times etc. etc. etc. So people are naturally drawn to this book. We ask what the controversy is all about, why so much fuss. It’s like seeing something grotesque on T.V.; although you might want to look away for someone tells you to look away, you can’t and even sometimes you won’t. People like to defy other people that tell them they can’t doing something. It’s something we’ve all been doing since our parents told us we couldn’t have that extra cookie, or we couldn’t cuss. In short, a lot of people still like this book, even though there is so much controversy over it, just for that simple fact: there is so much controversy over it.
January 25, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Like many other classmates, I have also read Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn in high school. Until now, it has been one of those books which always left me questioning why it is considered a great American novel— if not the great American novel— in the American literary cannon. Although the name Huck Finn is plastered on all sorts of tourist venues, and there are numerous plays, movies, and musical adaptations of the story, it has nevertheless been perplexing to me. Perhaps the main element of my inquiring stems from Twain’s shift of emphasis from plot to character development. I attest that it takes a very patient reader to be able to not get discouraged from the book’s lack of plot; most of today’s readers have been conditioned to read for content.
Furthermore, I had never before considered the relationship between the raft (freedom and fantasy) and the shore (reality and social norms). Perhaps this latter theme is one of the reasons why the novel is still being studied so thoroughly even today; a curiosity or desire to flee the real world is intriguing, both in fantasy and real life. While racism is of course prevalent in Twain’s novel, I contend that it could be replaced by any kind of bigotry or hate (i.e. sexual discrimination) against others. In application to the current time period, is there still a need to resort to fantasy in order to avoid discrimination or prejudices? What about a need to escape one’s own past experience (i.e. Huck’s abuse) to become a better person?
One of the most telling signs of character development in any novel is the notice of some kind of change in the character. Is there a change in Huck? Furthermore, would that change have occurred if Huck were to have never left the shore? Can we, as readers, defy social norms and be true to ourselves? Or, do we (like Huck Finn) require a temporary hiatus from reality to define and defy our current selves? All of these questions may be left open to interpretation. However, I contend that perhaps Twain knew that writing Huck Finn would cause one to grapple with them and, consequently, Huckleberry Finn has earned its place in the American literary canon, even though it has no plot whatsoever.
January 25, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I think to understand what is so compelling about the story, one only needs to see why it attracks so much controversy. The book is banned because people feel that there are inappropriate scenes and uses of language. More then that, however, people who ban such books do so out of fear of what they do not want to confront. Even today books as old as Huck Finn–even older–and as new as the Harry Potter Series are banned because of fear of changing the status quo.
The book is compelling because it shows the world as it is and not as how people think it should be. The realist qualities of the book challenge stereotypes and assumptions–such as huck realizing that Jim can also miss his family–that many people after the Civil War and especially Reconstruction wanted to ignor. Today the book itself provides insight into life before the Civil War; it also brings understanding to the post-Reconstruction era.
January 25, 2008 at 5:28 pm
As a child I thought “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was just a fun story about a kid, like me, on a fun adventure and it was a story that could take a child’s imagination to far away places. As an adult, I notice and better understand the controversy and criticisms of the story. At the time the book was written, having compassion and feeling the want to free a slave were unheard of and unexceptable. At the same time, reading a tale that was beyond socials norms was probably what made it so compelling to read it. Even today it is a controversial story because of it’s use of the “N” word and the lack of actually having a well written plot line. It is a book that on the surface does not have much meaning, but by reading inbetween the lines you can see the unfairness of equal rights and the struggle one boy went through between what was socially right and what he thought was morally right. But basically I think people are just interested in reading the story because it IS so controversial. It tempts them and makes them want to see what all the hype is about. It is very well common that when someone is told not to do something, their curiousity is going to win in the end. It is very Adam and Eve-like. I agree with everyone else saying how Twain wrote the book is very clever, but I do not think it is what draws the most attention. I think it is just the temptation to go against what others say is wrong.
January 25, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Even though this specific novel has always attracted controversy, I think that many factors have made this novel compelling to readers. First of all, the fact that this novel is written by such a popular writer of his time and today makes this novel very compelling to readers. Secondly, I would have to agree with Amelia- the fact that this novel was banned and is banned once again for controversial reasons makes it very attractive to readers to this day. Additionally, it set the stage for a modern/unique way of writing, which is still studied and used as a model for other writers to this day. For instance, in the very beginning of his novel, Twain includes a “notice” “explanatory,” and an opening paragraph in which the main character uses vernacular language to set up the plot of the story and introduce the characters. This unique means of starting a novel is very appealing to me. Lastly, this novel is timeless since it focuses on the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, which is something that nearly everyone can relate to.
January 26, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I think this book has been such an icon because it causes controversy, not that this book has become popular in spite of its controversy. We want to read something that other people have told us is not fit for people to be viewing. Also it is a book about culture and history. Many people read just for the purpose of learning about those things and now we are entertained while doing it. It is a fictional novel that was meant for entertainment, but it also has sustenance within the book. We learn from it and it makes us think about ourselves, society, and history. That is also I think why this book has remained popular throughout history.
January 27, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I believe that, for a majority of readers, the appeal of Huck Finn is the controversy that surrounds the novel. However, I do feel that the book deals with a period in history in the United States that is often taboo to write about, especially in novel form. I read this book when I was younger with the intention of discovering why the book had been deemed too controversial for the school library. The vernacular takes a bit to overcome and I think that this is due to both the time period and the geographic location that most of grew up in. I did not grow up in the south in the late 1800’s and have no familiarity with how people spoke. I do, however, have historical references to inform me of how inhumanely certain ethnic groups were treated. One of the unfortunate aspects of this book is the way in which the dialect in the book surprises us while the treatment of Jim and other enslaved people does not. Readers are often more shocked by the vernacular than the description of the horrible events in the book. I have gotten far more out of this book after reading it as an adult. My adult thought processes allow for more critical thinking. They also allow me to get past the dialogue long enough to examine Twain’s depiction of a low point in history with regards to the treatment of individuals in the United States.
January 27, 2008 at 9:39 pm
This novel is so compelling to readers simply because it is straight forward. Mark Twain did not try to sugar coat the reality of how slaves were treated and how they were more like possessions than people to society. The language, the people, and the situation were all in a sense believable and because it was so controversial is what made it that much more compelling. No one wanted to see the harsh side of slavery, and people were offended that it was so blatantly pointed out in the novel. Society then wanted only to turn their heads to the fact that there ways of living were unacceptable.
January 27, 2008 at 11:06 pm
“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” remaines controversial in our society because as humans it is our innate desire to read something that has once been censored and banned in many schools and librarys. Another reason why I think it has remained so popular is because it shows us the past and the error of the ways people were thinking. It seems weird to us to be reading about a human that is looked at as property. I really enjoyed the complex nature of the relationship Huck shared with Jim and his growing understanding of what is inherently right and wrong.
January 28, 2008 at 9:48 pm
The controversial themes of the novel are a main point of attraction for readers, in my opinion. As we’ve discussed in class, it would be hard to find a modern book dealing with such violent issues as appeared in “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Lynchings, escaped slaves, family feuds, and numerous other colorful events take place in the novel; such events are deemed atrocious in today’s society, and are certainly not easy to find in modern literature. The novel is also a good example of literary realism; people and places appear in the novel in such a way as not to seem romantically or nostalgically characterized, rather, they all seem quite authentic. Finally, “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is simply an interesting story that allows readers an escape and an adventure, as seen through the eyes of the rather naive Huck, adding elements of humor and reality that make the book so memorable.
January 29, 2008 at 7:33 am
I think the story is plain and simply interesting. The adventures are incredibly interesting and humorous. A reader finds him or herself engaged in one strange array of events only to immediately have Huck and Jim move on immediately to the next one. This book could have been nine-hundred pages and ended with Jim and Huck in South America and could have kept my interest. Twain’s social commentary embedded in the ignorance of his characters and his satirical depiction of the antebellum South offers a read that can be enjoyable to adults as well as young readers. My only regret of reading Huckleberry Finn is that I fear the rest of the literature we read might seem boring.
January 31, 2008 at 1:07 am
Mark Twain has always been skilled at showing you one thing and still showing you that it can be another. Humor and pain are both wrapped up and served together which makes some situations hard to figure out. That is what I both like in this book. Huck’s escape from his father is a good example of this. One side of your mind is allowed to think, “Huck’s up to his usual hijinks, that Huck is so smart, what a good plan! hahaha.” but the logical side of your mind thinks “When exactly did they create the social service department? Isn’t anyone paying attention to this poor kid, this is horrible!”
Its that contrast over and over again that makes the book what it is. Constantly having to ask that question, “Is this really something I should laugh at?”
Twain says there is no plot and after reading the book a few times I might have to agree with him, but there is still a lot to think about after reading it. Alot of big issues are covered and to sum the book up as a boys book, or racist book or whatever does a disservice to anyone who might want to read the book.
January 31, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Huck Finn is a historical sensation for readers, regardless of its lacking plot and rather annoying diction. For me, Twain’s plot itself is very vague and unstimulating but regardless of that, its controversy is what makes the novel a hit; we learn about a child and his coping mechanisms regarding a slave, which was normal during his time. Better than that, we learn about a child who looks beyond Jim being a slave and moreso as a human being, which is the jackpot of the novel.
April 9, 2008 at 9:10 am
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a very historically accurate novel that interests readers by its point of view and plot. With Huck narrating the novel, readers become emotionally attached to him and are fascinated with his perceptions of everything that happens around him. It is further interesting to see the point of view that a child has on slavery. The diction that Twain wrote the novel in is quite accurate and interesting to decipher. It gives the reader a taste of the South and makes the story more realistic. Along with the narration and diction, the plot is just as engaging. All the happenings in the novel give the reader a sense of adventure and excitement, even stimulating the child inside them. I also believe that readers can connect with Huck and his struggles between right and wrong, especially with his dilemma to set Jim free.
April 15, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I think this book attracts so many readers because it is a classic story that everyone has heard something about. The book is humorous with many likeable characters that keep the readers attention. Huck Finn goes on adventures that every little boy dreams about so in a way, people can relate to the story. The book has things that you read about in “Boys Life” or things that you do when you’re in boy scouts so it automatically has an interest to the male population. As for the controversy part, I think everyone understands that that was how it was during those times. Black people were treated the way that Jim was treated so the reader has to accept it and laugh at parts that were intended to be funny.
As a reader, I respond mostly to the humor aspect of the story. Yes, it is crude what they do to Jim, but it is still humorous how they depicted him as “dumb” or “ignorant.” If Jim was white, there would be no controversy and everyone would feel no guilt when they laughed, but he’s not so that’s just something readers will have to accept.
April 25, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I don’t see what makes the novel so controverial especially for the time period. Sure in todays world some of the language and racial slurs would be considered racist but condsidering the time the novel was written there was no intent for this. This is how people thought at the time and if any one has ever spent any time down in the southern states some of these idea still are very prevelent today. You can’t blame people for the way they were raised if anything its the greater society that should be possibly blamed for allowing the ignorant way of thinking to go unnoticed and unchecked untel a gifted author brings it to light
April 29, 2008 at 2:59 pm
What really appealed to me about the novel is how straight forward it was about everything. It was so politically incorrect that it very much amusing. I also really enjoyed listening to Huck and seeing his views of the world because they were just so off as to how the world actually was. Huck is a really funny and fascinating character and although he can be a little outrageous at times his youth still shines through. Like how he was just convinced he was going to jail for helping Jim get freedom. I really liked this novel…i think it really reflected how stupid we were as a society for thinking that slavery was ok.
April 30, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I really, really think that Mark Twain has awesome socks. I can’t tell you what color they were, or if they went to his knee or only to his ankle, or even if he wore pantyhose instead of socks (a little transvestite-ism never hurt anyone). All I know is that they were awesome! I mean, how could a literary genius like Mark Twain have anything but awesome socks? White, brown, purple with pink polka-dots… whatever- they were the shit.
I bet his mom embroidered his initials into the toes so his brothers couldn’t steal them. A big ole SC in blue thread would separate them from everybody else’s socks. When he got older, he probably added an MT to the SC in blue at the toes. That way NOBODY could claim his socks were theirs’. Sorry South Carolina, you’re just going to have to get your own socks.
April 30, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I will admit, I was one of those children that had “The Adventures of tom Sawyer” read to me in class. I will also admit that I had never read, or even looked at, the following book of Huck Finn. So when I started reading it I thought it would have the same games and childish magic to it the first book in the collection had. Of course, I was sadly mistaken. The opening of the book informed me that there was no plot. A sad concept, that is, when I believe that, when reading a book, there should be some string or message to grab onto in order to understand the purpose and the message that the Author is trying to get at. Then there were the heavy accents. I will admit, for having a slight accent myself, I find them horribly irritating to read. With those points brought to light, I think I now know why people found it so controversial … it was supposed to be a classic like the first, so people who usual strayed from stories of this caliber where in for an awakening. Plus, then there came the point of structure. No other authors, of the time, played with the idea of no plot, and a book written in ‘spoken language/ accent’. It was the first of its kind. And if it’s one thing that has been easily observed in this world, people are afraid of the unfamiliar.
Yet, there is one other thing that I must mention, and that is the end. Now, that I think about it … maybe everyone was just peeved because they didn’t get Twain’s “punch line” at the end.
April 30, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Everything about this novel makes it interesting for an array of audiences. Whether the reader is young or old, there are elements in this book that is compelling to anyone. The suspense of two boys on an adventure create a story that can catch the reader in the moment. The style of writing is interesting because the use of the vernacular language. Even though using vernacular language is not common, it does not subtract from the meaning of the novel. The symbolism that Twain uses is also intriguing. He does a great job of using certain objects to illustrate a point that he is trying to make.
There is controvery over some of the content in the novel. However, I do not feel that it takes away from it. Is it appropriate how they address Jim in the novel. No, but that is how African Americans were called at that time. Today we know that that is not acceptable in society today, so I feel that it is not bad to read it today and to study the style of Twain’s writing. However, some of the content might not be appropriate for young readers, such as stealing and lying because it might teach young readers that it is okay to perform those tasks.
May 1, 2008 at 10:53 pm
“Huck Finn” is one of the more fast-moving stories we have read, in my opinion. No one has trouble reading it, and since mostly everyone had read it previously, we remember certain main events of the story. The fact that it kind of goes no where in the end makes it turn out kind of long. I liked how blunt Twain is about explaining each situation the characters are in; it’s nice to know exactly what’s going on instead of leaving much of the story open to interpretation. Overall, I think it’s a fun story to read, and expresses the overall feel of the time period.
May 1, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I think that the main pull factor for Huck Finn was its raw script. The dialect used in the novel is something that is basically obsolete. The story is such an easy read; it is difficult to complain about it. As far as content goes, even if Mark Twain was writing it for cash, I think that he still produced an excellent period piece. The character of Jim is not given much leeway, much like in real life. I find it fascinating that students are still reading this novel today, and I think that that fact alone proves the worthiness of “required reading.”
May 2, 2008 at 11:24 am
What I really draws me to this story is the vernacular used in the story. Its really not like you are reading a book but listening to someone talk about their experience. Even though as a reader I know the story is made up, I feel like these are real events and people just because reading Huck’s words like he was talking right to me brings the story to life. I like the discussions about Twain writing to make money. Well isn’t that the purpose of most people when they go to publish something. I also enjoy the conflict between Huck and Jim. Huck has a hard time wanting to like Jim because he feels like he is doing something wrong. I think that is true for most people when they are forced out of their comfort zone and have to deal with people they don’t like or feel uneasy around.
May 2, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Although there were parts of this book I really enjoyed, overall I had a very hard time getting through it. Some of things I liked were how Twain conveyed the time and place very well, especially during the beginning of the book. Another thing I liked was the dialect that each character used, it took a couple of chapters to get used to it but by the end it flowed really well. Some things that I didn’t really like were the ending, why does Tom need to be there, found it a little confusing? Another thing was the tone and language used. I know that this book was a product of time but I thought Professor Dudley had a good point is asking why even use some of the words? It kind of turned me off the book after a while.
May 2, 2008 at 4:28 pm
One thing that I believe made this story so compelling is the fact that each time you read it you get something new out of it. Younger people can read it and just be excited about the adventure. However the second and third time you read it you pick up on things that you missed the first time around. You notice the irony of the story much more once you reread it. Also, the fact that Huck doesn’t really change, especially when he’s around Tom, is more apparent the second time. In this day and age it is difficult to consider this novel as controversial, however it is easy to see why it was deemed so when it was written.
May 2, 2008 at 9:21 pm
On my end, this story is compelling somewhat as a result of being “forced” to look at it numerous times over the past few years in a couple different literary classes, and coming away with something different each time. I guess that’s really only a roundabout way of saying that the story has quite a bit to offer in the way of actual substance. The language used also plays a significant role: the way the characters speak helps in drawing one into the story, in my opinion. It seems as though you are being spoken to.
May 3, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I believe that the characters in the novel make it so controversial. Throughout the novel, you’re rooting for him to evolve and realize that the way in which he looks at Jim in the beginning is wrong. The reader desires for Huck to grow up. It is in this way that we are sucked into the novel and become invested in it, yet at the end, Huck doesn’t change. He remains the same person using the same negative vocabulary that seems to so enrage critics.