To be Censored, or Not to be Censored

     There are many theories and ideas behind Mark Twain's work in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and what the original intent of the piece was. Truly, it depends upon the individuals personal perception and how closely they decide to look into it. An ongoing and popular conspiracy is whether or not Twain censored (or should have censored) his writing and the effect that decision had on the plot of the novel.
     As mentioned in "Love and Judgment in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Timothy Peltason, this criticism piece examines how reliable the novel is as it focuses in what may have been the reason for Twain's "censorship". It argues that he is in denial due to "a guilty cultural past" therefore it reflects on his writing as he attempts to avoid the darkness behind slavery. Although a valid point, it seems as if Twain does the opposite as he does portray both the hardships as well as the idea that African-Americans are people are just like anyone else. I don't believe the writing is censored but more focusing on the topic that was lesser known during the time period, every knew and saw African-Americans as property opposed to actual human beings. Twain sheds light on this concept through Huck as he reveals how kind and considerate Jim is as a character which soon causes him to create a relationship with him and no longer calling him things like "slave" and "N****r". Jim and Huck seem to even create a father-son relationship in the sense that both of them care for and protect each other.
     It would be very unbeneficial for the author to exclude such things in order to deprive students from hearing or being knowing of the subject. This is history and telling as is expands knowledge and promotes change so that history as evil as this one doesn't repeat itself. As Huck evolves as a character, Twain may be promoting a similar change in societal views towards African-Americans.

Ask Yourself This...

      What determines if one has a good or bad self conscience? There are many factors that contribute to one's ideals about themselves and determining what will satisfy there own definition of what it means to be a "good person".  The words "self conscience" can also be described as one who is aware of themselves as an individual as well as being aware of one's acts and belonging to themselves. In other words, it means knowing who you are and owning up to the things or actions that you're responsible for as well as what it makes you feel when you carry out these particular actions.
      I believe the only person who can really decided whether an individual possesses an acceptable self conscious is oneself. Within one's own mind, personal expectations on how one should so be and act is established early on and as one matures, they will learn from mistakes and therefore enhancing their skills to determine what is right and wrong. There are, however, other factors that contribute to the making one's skill in detecting when something is good or bad such as the way there were raised or the environment they grew up in as well as what society has demonstrated as being acceptable or frowned upon.
      This concept is prevalent within Mark Twain's Piece, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, when main character, and narrator, Huck Finn helps Jim, a runaway slave, escape to freedom. He attempts to convince himself that he is not responsible for helping him leave his actual owner in the first place but continues to inform the readers that, "I [Huck] couldn't get that out of my conscience"(98). Huck feels bad because he knows it's not right to promote a slave, who is defined as property by society, from their rightful owner. On the other hand, Huck knows he would feel just as terrible as turning in Jim, someone who he now considers his friend that cares for him just as much as he does. Huck's conscience does not feel content with the choices he's mad but knows that there is not much else he can do because both outcomes will dissatisfy him.

Ch.16 Huckleberry Finn