...so my English teacher friend posted on FB that "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" had been revised. First off, this always happened to me. I can't tell you the last time I thought of Huck Finn then last night I was surfing the net for "Must Read" lists and came across the title then today, it's controversy!
Apparently, a Mark Twain scholar decided it was time to update the book. The new edition replaced the N-word, it was used 219 times, with the word "slave." I think the jury is out on whether this is the "right" or "wrong" thing to do. Some say go for it if it'll get this classic back in schools, others say its "censorship in a good way" while others argue that when the author, Twain wrote this story, that the N-word had a whole different meaning and it was a different period of time.
So what do you think? Should they let it be and truly represent that time period? Is it a good choice so that more kids can read the classic? Please share your opinions!
10 comments :
I think it is insane that a classic has to be revised so that children are allowed to read it in school. What the hell is wrong with out country?? Rappers are allowed to use the "N" word on the radio but our kids can't read a classic book because it uses the "N" word when it was written in a time that that the word was completely acceptable and common place? Oh hey, we don't like our history, let's erase it and pretend it never happened!
Sorry, but censorship and banned books get me really riled up. I hate to think that our society has evolved to such that we have to hid our sins and own history and only expose our children to things that make us feel better about ourselves. That is, quite frankly, not reality.
I agree with the above. Let it be. It is a classic and should be left alone. The interviewed historical representatives from the Mark Twain site in Hannible and they said they would NOT be selling the new version of the book.
I agree with the above comments and that the book should be left as it was written.
I'm in the same position as everyone else. I think it is absurd that the book has been banned in so many schools to begin with. You're not going to tell me that kids haven't heard words that bad and worse in their daily lives and even watching prime time TV are you?
I would agree, a classic is a classic and it shouldn't be changed. Don't know if you have heard but being politically correct has even moved to the Girl Scout cookie line - every cookie has been renamed to be appropriate. Its insane!!
I think it's crap. How many people do you know really get offended by Mark Twain? That's like revising the Bible to take "ass" out because it can be a curse word...
I agree with all of the above. You can't re-write history and frankley this is literary history.
From my very limited perspective, I would want books to be left as is. Trying to revise makes us at risk to forgetting history--the good and bad.
Totally 100% agree with everything said above. It's a classic, it's a part of history.
UGH. I have no words. All I can say is American is whack! if they want to change something, change our political system!
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