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Danielle Lo

Hillesland

Integrated AP English - Silver

15 December 2017

Fostering Ideals Through the Social Dynamic

However controversial his policies, Joseph Stalin, one of the most iconic dictators of

Russia, defined his extraordinarily effective policies and power as rooted in a foundation that

“Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is

being aimed.” The manipulations of education emphasize the perils of careless instruction and

highlights the instilling of ideals through the exertions of authority, rather than an individual

development. Running the risks of teaching ​The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn​ against the

striking values that its lines express, the difficulties posed in the delivering of Huck Finn

contradict the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s assertion that the

novel should be freely taught, because of the level of understanding of literature it requires and a

personal development of ideals that it demands.

Twain’s extensive use of satire challenges the ability to pinpoint a direct meaning among

the various layers of complexity. In Huck Finn’s dialogue with Aunt Sally, the emphasis placed

upon Huck Finn’s and her perception for the African Americans as “[not] worth their notice”

overshadows Twain’s earlier depiction of an otherwise objectively well-intentioned, “perfectly

‘nice’” and kind character (Salwen). With the subtleties of the conversation easily missed, this

controversial excerpt permits a plethora of dangerous interpretations. Without proper context of

Twain’s satirical depth, a surface perusing of the book circumvents Twain’s purpose in
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explaining the fallacies of the antebellum South mentality. The NAACP’s position on ​Huck Finn

cements itself in the basis of explaining the novel rather than banning it. However, the layers that

comprise of this American masterpiece require an extensive awareness of the factors, which all

complicate its teaching and the comprehension of students studying the novel. Rather than

viewing the overemphasis on the jarring aspects of explicit racism as mocking the ironic

mentality of the South, desensitization and acceptance of the very ideals that Twain aims to

counter overwhelms the teaching of ​Huck Finn​. The viability for ​Huck Finn​’s satirical elements

to be interpreted in a manner that imparts racist sentiment poses a danger to the supposed safe

environment of a classroom. A lack of life experience and personal relationship with the material

as high schoolers poses a great barrier in the teaching of ​Huck Finn.​ Despite its adventurous,

coming-of-age plot, the issues it reaches possess a requirement for a serious analysis of the

novel. As stated by Judge Stephen Reinhardt on the rulings of the removals of ​Huck Finn​ in Nat

Hentoff’s Washington Post article covering this issue, he asserts that the quintessential aspect to

learning offensive and uncomfortable ideas becomes “[the understanding of] the context in

which it is used.” A study by Katherine Schulten of the impacts of ​Huck Finn​ in the classroom

exemplifies the difficulty of the novel, added in with the plethora of offensive language, creates

an isolation from the original context and purpose of the novel to be used in an unsuitable

fashion. A lack of personal empathy and connection with the book prevents students from fully

understanding or relating to the context. Abuse of the offensive terminology may result when the

students distance themselves from the event, as a result of their lack of experience with the pain

it may cause.
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Expansive and direct, Twain’s writing opens opportunity for breadth in perception—

constructive and detrimental. Often overlooked, Twain’s masterful usage of literal imagery

through Huck Finn’s naive narration exemplifies underscoring bigotry, creating potential turmoil

and tension with improper emphasis on the explicit racist aspects of the novel, including its

offensive language, rather than the irony of the racism. Such teachings can create an

endorsement of the idea, rather than a simple study. A teacher’s instruction and opinionated

teachings override the literal interpretations of Huck Finn’s adventure. As a result of the inability

to formulate an individual opinion, the notions of a teacher imprint upon the students. At a high

school level, the majority of students remained sheltered and inexperienced with the vices of the

world. Providing evidence, the focus on the banning based upon the language used in the novel

ignores the ingenious social commentary that Twain entwines within the novel and displays the

ignorance of misinterpretation of the message altogether, especially at the highschool level. An

apathetic and continuous focus of the offensive racial slurs slathered throughout the novel

influences the modern usage of its “embarrassing and derisive” connotations (Smith). But as the

language becomes isolated from Twain’s satiric intent and poses grievous impacts, it detracts

from the ability of students’ to form an individual interpretation of Twain’s satire beyond its

literal meanings of the racist ideologies from Huck Finn’s innocent and worldly perspective.

Rather, the teachers purport their perspectives onto those of the students’, perhaps forever

embedding their ideology onto the student. The unchallenged authority of teachers provides them

with the ability to mold the minds of students into their own mindset. Proving dangerous with the

variability in interpretation of Huck Finn’s journey, the ability for authority to play such a

significant role in the development of a person’s identity and their beliefs makes it detrimental to
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teach ​Huck Finn​ in the prime development of ideals. Molded by the ideal of their environment,

students become susceptible to the vices of society and those purported by their authoritative

figures— parents, teachers, and peers. The extreme reliance on teachers for an explanation of the

novel define its primary issue and why it remains as one of the most commonly read books in

highschool, but also one of the most commonly challenged. Agreeably, authoritative figures

dictate, even if subconsciously, the beliefs of their subordinates. In ​Huck Finn​, Huck Finn and

Jim travel through various social dynamics, as they experience the various statuses of society.

Huck’s ultimate change from equals striving to survive to a superior figure with Jim in a

vulnerable position demonstrate the position of power as valuable and dangerous.

The demands of ​Huck Finn​ create difficulty in teaching and a high risk of

misinterpretation of the context deems the NAACP’s position on its teaching as invalid due to

the risks it holds in the ability to create a safe learning environment. In addition, the teachers’

overtly influential role in the development of ideals create a detrimental grave for its teaching.