Huck Finn Criticism -Rachel

In my opinion Huckleberry Finn has been vastly simplified over the course of its criticized life. The question of racism within the book is only one tiny element of a much more complicated plot with a sophisticated message about society as a whole. Though an underlying anti-racist current does exist in this book it is deeply buried beneath a mountain of satire and obvious racism (such as the minstrelsy tone and use of the n-word). In addition every bit of growth that is awarded to Huck and his anti-racism is nullified by an ending that defeats anti-racism again by showing the power of society, manifested in Tom Sawyer. Accompanying this in the text is also Twain’s smaller (but still significant) jabs at women, and children, and white men, and at human kind in general. There is also a bit of a transcendentalist feel to the way the river holds so much power, even more than society does. So therefore my main argument is that this book is not about racism, but is a satirical depiction of southern society in the 1830s.
However the question of it’s being taught in schools is more clear cut to me. I do not think this book should be taught in high school. High schoolers are in a period of their life where they are just beginning to understand the concept of not taking things at face value. As such, they are still liable to misconstrue (or just completely miss) Twain’s deeply obscured anti-societal message. This will lead to an immature take on the book by many, and great offense for others. After all, Twain uses the n-word nonchalantly, a word that to this day holds a profoundly vile meaning that carries with it all of the endured hatreds of slavery. Due to this fact I think it should be a book that is left for colleges to teach. It is not a boy’s book as was intended, it is a very serious adult book that deals with very sensitive issues. College professors will be better able to teach the book than most high school teachers, students have a choice to take that class or not, and those students that do wish to learn it will be more mature and equipped with the discerning power necessary. In addition this book holds many lessons about society that I think those young adults about to spring on society could find valuable. In addition to this I think high schoolers should be taught something that more accurately depicts slavery in the south. This would be more beneficial because it will give a different perspective on the issue than that which we are most often exposed to: that of the slaveholding white male.
To make my points I will be using a few sources. The book, is of course necessary. I will use T.S. Eliot to highlight the transcendentalist elements of the book. I will use Lionel Trilling as a foil, to discuss how the book does not speak ‘truth’ as he says, and Frederick Douglas as an example of what actual truth is. I will use Kevin Cato to show the implications of the n-word. I will use Leo Marx to show the defeat the end shows. There are other sources that I will also include to show the implications of the text, but the actual text is my number one source.