Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Power of A Word
In class we have been talking a lot about the new version of Huckleberry Finn. The "n-word" used 219 in Mark Twain's classic has been replaced by the word "slave". This change has caused much uproar. Many people believe that it is a positive change and that it will allow more schools to be able to read the classic novel while others believe that the "n-word" is there to highlight the racism and spark an emotional response in the reader. I agree with the latter argument. The "n-word" even in today's culture holds a lot of weight. Many people, including myself, do not feel comfortable or appropriate using or hearing the word. The immediate emotional response to the word is used as a tool in Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn in order to highlight the racist society of the time and as irony. I believe that removing this word does not provide a simply cleaner version of the book but makes the book lose a stunning emotional reaction associated with the word.
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Anna,
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree with you more. Given the fact that the "n-word" doesn't apply to you, do you think that sways your opinion? Maybe you would have felt differently if the world insulted you personally. Just playing devils advocate here...haha.
Hey Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment and for challenging me. I understand that the word is very offensive if taken personally but as we talked about in class I believe that there is a major difference in the words and beliefs of the author and the words and beliefs of the characters. Mark Twain himself never uses the "n-word" in a cruel derogatory way, his characters use it. And I believe that by his characters using this word it illustrates them in this book more clearly by showing the intense racism towards african americans felt at that time.
I agree, Anna: switching a word makes the book more accessable but at the cost of decreasing evoking language. In all honesty, I don't think the updated version will be very popular. If people make a fuss about Huck Finn PURELY for the use of the "n-word" then maybe it will pick up steam. Fear of a word, and an attempt to escape from that word, won't work. The "n-word" is not unbeknownst to kids these days- one book won't change that. I don't mean to sound discouraging-- if the publisher chooses to change the book it is totally legal and in some people's interest. They have the right, as we consumers have the right not to buy it and read the normal version.
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