Do you believe that authors should be censored? While we are at it, should we throw out the first amendment altogether? A publisher has come out with a censored version of Mark Twain’s classic American novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In this version, the publisher has switched the “n-word” with the word slave. The reason for this is to make schools feel more at ease with having the book in their schools. I do not believe anyone’s words should be tampered with, especially those of an American treasure like Mark Twain’s timeless classic, because it changes the power of the novel, it does not erase the “n-word” from America’s past, and it is unconstitutional.
Mark Twain’s novel has grittiness to its language that gives the book its lower class American feel. Twain wanted the reader to feel like they were in the shoes of a poor child in the American south. So instead of writing everything in proper English, he wrote using slang words and phrases that were part of the common vernacular of the time. This was not something often done at the time Mark Twain wrote this novel. However, after reading it many believe that it gave the book more power and feeling then if he had written using only accepted vocabulary. The reason we want children to read this novel is for its powerful moving story.
Changing a word does not erase that word or its meaning from life. Taking the “n-word” out of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn does not mean the word no longer exists. The word still has the past in American life that made it offensive to begin with. Keeping the “n-word” in the novel can teach a lesson to a student that is never easy to learn. That lesson is why and how a word like the “n-word” can become so hated. Also, why someone should never use such a word like that while referring to others. It is an emotional and sometimes painful lesson to learn, but it is one that should not be forgotten or over looked.
Taking an author’s words and changing them to not offend other people is censorship, and censorship is unlawful according to the Constitution of the United States. The change being made is one to make others feel more comfortable. That is not a reason to change anyone’s words. The first amendment is to the freedom of speech. This is exactly the kind of protection that amendment is for. If anyone objects lawfully to this change in the school, then I believe that they could take it to the Supreme Court to have it changed back.
Finally, author’s words are like a painters brush stroke, or a note in a musical piece. You would not want to take out the notes in a Mozart’s sonata, nor censor parts of a painting from Rembrandt. Mark Twain is not here to defend his words, nor his he able to give permission to change them. Without his presence it falls to us to protect his legacy.
Honestly, though, who cares if a few words are changed in something like Huck Finn? Don't you think that Mark Twain would be more thrilled that his novel has surpassed the shelf life of so many other books written in that time period? Don't you think he would be honored that his book has evolved to fit the parameters of our society to still be available in our schools today and not sent to die in a burn pile or eternally shelved? People know it's not the original version. It's not the words that make the book, it's the content. The ideas of Twain are still in the revised version. I don't feel cheated because it says slave rather than nigger. Big deal. It's still a good book and youth are still reading and relating. So chill out. My comment may not be applicable to all forms of literature or novels but it certainly hold water here with this particular example.
ReplyDeleteMy problem with that line of reasoning, is that you are guessing on how Mark Twain feels about it. If he was here and said that it was fine with him, I would be all for it. However, since he is not here I think that it is a slippery slope. It is okay to change this because it offends us. What in today society doesn't seem to offend us. I also got to go about what he wrote when thinking about how he might feel.
ReplyDelete"Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it." - Mark Twain
That's fine, you, as I, are all entitled our opinions. I say shelf you steak and let it rot with old age, maybe the solution would be to just not give the baby steak. Regardless, I don't think Mark Twain would give a damn about a topic as "pressing" as this. Again, just speculation. I also don't expect an "ada boy" or social recognition for my comments so in this instance, like most, we can agree to disagree and move on with life. Mental density will most certainly thin the response pool.
ReplyDeleteQuite frankly, if a reader can't comprehend the meaning of the "n-word" in the context of Huck Finn, I think the reader isn't ready to handle the major themes of the book. Unlike "Tom Sawyer," it is a very deep and often dark book. Editing out the things that make it so remove the whole point of the book. I think that the specific language Twain used was very much a part of his intent.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the "Jefferson Bible," where he edited out all the parts that people objected to, trying to make the point that it removed the meaning and coherence of the book. Sadly, many people took him seriously, and if I remember correctly (which I may not), some denominations used it for a time.
Censorship is obnoxious at all times, in my opinion. Parents have the right to censor what their children see/hear/read... Other than that, I think it's tough to ever make a good case for it.