Mark Twain is considered one of the greatest writers of American history and his most talked about novel is surrounded by constant controversy and debate. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is considered by many to be a quintessential piece of American literature that gives insight into an important period in history. This book is also called one of the most degrading and poorly written books of all time. The reason for such differing opinions that surround this piece of historical text is because of the use of the word nigger 219 times throughout the book. Those that argue for the importance of the book say that it is a real representation of language used during that time period. Critics that oppose the book say that the use of the word nigger and how Twain portrays African-Americans through the character of Jim is offensive and gives reason to have the book removed from schools and public librarys. In two articles by Robert Fikes and Lisa Minnick who discusses the use of the word nigger and general racist themes of the book that come from various critics as to whether or not they support the book as one of the greatest of all time, or one of the worst. Fikes’ article gives the opinions of both sides of the argument and analyzes it while Minnick’s article looks at the issue from the side of racist themes of the book. The use of the word nigger and portrayal of characters in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn sparks controversy throughout the literary community because of acceptable language from the novel’s time period was vastly different from what it is today. 

Throughout history race relations have been a massive problem in the United States and still are today. For African-Americans specifically there has always been a constant uphill battle to reach equality with other members of society. The worst times of race relations in this country was during the time when Mark Twain wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, during the height of slavery. The story that Twain writes is about two boys, one white and one black, that are on raft together headed north to get freedom for Jim, a runaway slave. Many critics say that the use of the word nigger only emphasizes the time and acceptable language of that time period. The opinions of many critics can be seen through an article by Robert Fikes Jr. where he analyzes the opinions of various critics on this issue throughout history and how they have viewed the use of the word. This is how history is shaping this text by having clear influences on how Twain wrote. At the time when this book was written it was acceptable for Twain to use this language and as history continues to today the use of the word now causes for many to say that the book should not be taught in schools. Fikes shows how history has shaped this when he says,

History helped to shape the text as well as cause for critics today to think less of the book because of the history within it. an accurate rendition of nineteenth-century American linguistic conventions denies what every black person knows: far more than a synonym for slave, 'nigger' signifies a concept (and) conjures centuries of specifically black degradation and humiliation. (Fikes 3)

This quote from Fikes makes it very clear that he too believes that history shaped how Huck Finn was written and that while this may be true there are critics that believe this is not an excuse to make using such a sensitive word appropriate. At one point in history the use of this language was widely accepted, however, as history has changed so has the way race is viewed as either appropriate or inappropriate. This book was influenced by history when it was written and again as time went on and new history was made the book was again influenced by changing how critics view the book as our society changes.

While Fikes does a very good job at giving opinions of others on the topic of racism in Huck Finn, there are many reasons why the book is opposed other than the use of the word nigger. This sentiment is given in another article by Lisa Minnick where she discusses the language that Jim uses throughout the book and how Twain wrote this character as if he is a cartoon. The reason that this is important is because it shows that there is more depth to the argument that opposes the book beyond general racist themes. This view gives a deeper and more specific reason for why the book should not be considered one of the greatest of all time. Minnick’s main focus on Jim and the way he is depicted lies within his speech and how it causes him to come across as a buffoon and a caricature of what people thought of African-Americans at that time. Again, history is shaping this text with how Twain wrote the words of an African-American based off of his view which is influenced from his interactions with slaves in his early life. Because Twain was a white man he would not know the life of an African-American in great detail, which caused him to write Jim as a stereotypical and an offensive representation of what an African-American is. Everything from the way that Jim acts and talks to the way that he is depicted in images in the book is incredibly offensive to an entire race of people. However, while history influenced how Twain depicted Jim and the language used in the book it is important to recognize that with this set aside the underlying message of the book is about how a young white boy is able to see past the racist ways in which he was raised and he got to know this slave on a personal level and eventually consider him a friend. This book shows how a child can break down the barriers of race that have been built before him and see past race during a time when race was a defining characteristic in people’s lives. While Minnick may argue that this book is racist and should not be taught to students what is important is that Twain wrote this book in a time when a white boy and black boy being friends or interacting at all would be considered a great atrocity. However, this did not stop Twain from giving his opinions on how society should act rather than how it had been. Unfortunately, the language in this novel causes many people to not see this underlying message and as a result one of the greatest books in American literature is overlooked.  

Mark Twain’s acclaimed novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is a great example of how a text can be shaped by history and still today is talked about as history has changed. The use of the word nigger has caused a great deal of controversy over the book and whether or not it should be considered and American classic. Also the depiction of Jim in the book brings into question how history shaped the text because of how Twain would have known how to write as if he was an African-American at this time which would be near impossible for a white man to experience. Regardless of what position any critic or reader of this book has one thing that is irrefutable about this book is that the text has been shaped from historical context greatly and still today the argument over the book inevitably stems off of how history shaped the text. Also today the argument around the book has been changed as history has changed and new history impacts the way that critics think about what today is such a sensitive topic. What a writer is surrounded by is very important in how they write and this causes history to be able to shape a text in a very influential way as seen in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.   
