I think using racist language or imagery in art is a whole other discussion. It is needed though. And not just to lampoon racism…it can be sexism or war or whatever. Each piece is judged on its own merits (or lack of them).
Twain was depicting racism, in part by using racist language. He does not intend it to be processed as acceptable—quite the opposite. Jim is the most decent man in the novel, heroic, compassionate, and loyal. The primary conflict in the book is Huck’s struggle in reconciling Jim’s humanity with the societal norms that say slaves are subhuman and those who aid in their escape are damned to hell.
And Twain resolves that conflict when Huck decides he’s going to free Jim, even if it means hell. Yes, he decides that he must save Jim, though he’ll go to hell for it. And it is crystal clear that Twain portrays this as the righteous choice. Jim is a man and a true-hearted friend and deserving of Huck’s loyalty.
Huckleberry Finn is the antithesis of a racist novel. It accomplishes that in part by depicting racist behavior.
Sure, I was specifically addressing the characters of Huck and Jim, but your overall point about the novel is spot on.
Oh, I got that. I was more addressing the question in the thread over whether or not the n-word in Huck Finn is racist. Well, yeah, but it’s more nuanced than that. It’s racist behavior depicted to condemn racism.
And I think that’s what DrDeth was trying to say as well, but as I said before maybe I’m being too generous in my assumptions.
Channeling my inner DrDeth;
So, you all agree that Huck Finn should be banned!
Ha!!
Don’t forget to also claim that you’ve met Mark Twain’s descendant and so you can quote an authority on the matter. And if anyone doubts you then they’re insulting Twain.
Spot on!
RESOLVED, even
Resolved: there’s no way he’s not trolling
Ideal attributes for a slave, really.
Or, to make my point more directly, just because a person from a socioeconomically disadvantaged racial group is portrayed positively, doesn’t mean the depiction isn’t racist. See also “Mammy.”
I encourage you to read the book.
Oh, for fuck’s sake, I read the book! In g-damn middle school. Asswipe.
I’m sorry I lost my temper.
No worries.
As an aside, a good article about Samuel Clemens’s evolving thoughts on slavery and other issues can be found here: https://stanfordmag.org/contents/mark-twain-s-inconvenient-truths#:~:text=In%20his%20“schoolboy%20days%2C”,which%20he%20had%20grown%20up.
Also, your father personally borrowed MacArthur’s stealth submarine to rescue Twain by flying him out of King Arthur’s court.
And if it didn’t happen, it could have!
Very good read, thanks for sharing.