Should have read classics discussion

I read today about the newest edition of Huck The Adventures of Huckleberry Finnand they are taking out the "N" word and the word "injun". It created quite a stir on the web and I was wondering what everyone else thought about this.

Big Brother! Isn't that called censorship!!

It's just ridiculous. If you replace those words, it isn't even the same book. It loses all meaning.

I find it ironic that we must censor Huck Finn, but some rapper can say it 10 times in a song and no one "offended". My other question is why Huck Finn? Why not all books that contain those words? Light in August was full of that, but it is not on the chopping block? Weird!

It is terribly unfortunate that Mark Twain, one of our most famous authors is not and has never been taught in our schools. As I looked for classics to read for our New Year's challenge--a book from high school or college--I realized that the only authors we ever read at either level were British. Not even the Russian or German authors were taught. My father was always furious at the neglect of Twain, yet I still never read him--having hated the torturous language of Dickens et al. Nonetheless, to rewrite the words of any author is as much vandalism as using spraypaint on a Vermeer, Picasso or Renoir. How dare we?

I was trying to remember if I read Twain in school and I don't think that I did. My parents had a young adult version that I read, but I was Twain lacking in school. That is a shame!

We read "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" when I was in school, but that is the only Twain I have read...at least that I can remember. I did like it quite a bit. It is a short story. I know I didn't read either Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn.

Kerri wrote: "We read "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" when I was in school, but that is the only Twain I have read...at least that I can remember. I did like it quite a bit. It is a short sto..."

I read that too, Kerri! I also read Tom Sawyer as a child, but could never get myself to read Huck Finn. I tried but found it boring.

I'm "rereading" Tom Sawyer now by listening to an audiobook version I'd purchased from Audible and...I'm finding it boring as well. -_-;

Huck Finn was what made me a reader. I love Mark Twain but it is true, it is limited in schools. I can recall excerpts were read but not a book in its entirity. Personally, I think it is because of the offensive language and other connotations. Teachers can get the same message across using other titles and deal with less backlash from parents. Personally I love Mark Twain, but he is controversial when the content is analyzed and taught for acedemia rather than just pleasure. AND I also believe it wrong to change the language of the author. The message is changed and shock and awe value is gone and the tone is lost. The way the language is used is what made Mark Twain one of the most well know writers of his and our time.

Katherine wrote: "Nonetheless, to rewrite the words of any author is as much vandalism as using spraypaint on a Vermeer, Picasso or Renoir. "

Yes. Very much like putting a pair of underpants on Michelangelo's David.

People need to grow up.

Everyman wrote: "Katherine wrote: "Nonetheless, to rewrite the words of any author is as much vandalism as using spraypaint on a Vermeer, Picasso or Renoir. "

Yes. Very much like putting a pair of underpants on M..."

Ha ha ha hee hee tee heee. Well said. I shall go around all day quoting that. Honestly, very clever.

Tammy wrote: The message is changed and shock and awe value is gone and the tone is lost..."

In many cases this is right, but I don't believe Twain was going for shock value when he used those words- he was being authentic to the way they really spoke at the time.

I love The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because of the subtle way Twain shows us how wrong slavery was, and Huck's reaction as his loyalty to Jim contradicts the values taught by his authority figures.

I love Huck Finn as it is and would never choose to read a censored version. But if I were to say, read it out loud to my nine-year-old, I would leave the n word out, because it is just so very much more offensive now than it was in Twain's day.

So, I am not entirely against a censored version, providing that was the only modification, the original was still available, and the primary purpose of the new version was so that it could be used in the schools.

Lisa wrote: "I read today about the newest edition of Huck The Adventures of Huckleberry Finnand they are taking out the "N" word and the word "injun". It created quite a stir on the web and I was wondering wh..."

I assume the new edition is replacing these words not just leaving a blank space. What words are being used in place of the offensive ones? You can substitute a term that's not derogatory without losing the overall tone of the novel.

Lisa wrote: "I read today about the newest edition of Huck The Adventures of Huckleberry Finnand they are taking out the "N" word and the word "injun". It created quite a stir on the web and I was wondering wh..."

When I hear this it makes me think of the part of Fahrenheit 451 when they started cutting words that were offensive in books. I think it takes away the feel from the book.

Nell wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I read today about the newest edition of Huck The Adventures of Huckleberry Finnand they are taking out the "N" word and the word "injun". It created quite a stir on the web and I was..."

They are replacing the "N" word with "slave" and "injun" with "Indian". I think that was the major changes to the text.

Lisa wrote: "I find it ironic that we must censor Huck Finn, but some rapper can say it 10 times in a song and no one "offended"...."

I am one of many who find the use of that word offensive in rap. It is however used differently and an oversimplication to present them as though they were the same or as if one justifies the other.