For proving that the book is racist I might talk a bit about the word n****r being used throughout the book but show how how this was typical for the time period and not racist, just accurate. BUT, the real reason the book was racist was the way Jim's character is abandoned in the end. The way he becomes "just another dumb n****r" at the end compared to being a true character shows how Twaine didn't want to spend the time to care about his main black character. In this uncaring the book becomes racist.
With very carefully thought out lesson plans, the book can be very helpful to be taught in school. The book can show a fairly accurate depiction of the time period and introduce the subject of racial relations in the 1800s. The real value in the book however, is learning by observing Mark Twain's use of writing. Even if the kids take no more out of the book than, "if you start writing a book you should have some sort of ending in mind," that is an important point. Looking at the way Twain's writing varies (the beginning of the novel, the amazingly fluid river scenes, and then the LOOOONNNNGGGG drawn out terrible ending) can give students good ideas on how to be an effective writer.
For points from the book I'll use sections from each of the three sections to illustrate their racism as well as how that can be useful to teach students. I'll probably quote a lot of Lionel Trilling as well as T.S. Elliot to show what they praise(or at least excuse) in the end of the book should really be criticized and taught as a racist failure. I would also like to expand on Smiley's idea that being an anti-slavery book takes more than simply having the main character acknowledge that blacks are people too. This can be an important point in proving that even when Twain was trying to make Jim a full character on the river, he still failed to prove an anti-slavery point.
Nina,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if you have a very good approach to this assignment, and a number of good ideas to explore at length. I think the Peaches Henry article in our packet (as well as the last one, by Kevin Cato) might provide you with additional ammunition. Finally, if you have time you might want to review Julius Lester's essay, "Morality and the Adventures of Huck Finn" (let me know if you'd like a copy--again, you probably have enough to work with based just on your post; but if you'd like more, I'll try and supply it.
I'm anxious to read your essay!