Why is the n-word essential to the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
One simple answer to your question is that it was the word of choice by author Mark Twain for many of his characters. Recent adaptations have actually eliminated the “N” word from the original text in order to appease readers who might be angered by the repeated usage of what has become one of the most hated words in any language. However, the “N” word was in common use during the mid-1800s by Americans in both the North and South. Presumably, slaves may also have used the term widely as many African-Americans still do today. African-Americans–both freed men and slaves–were still considered second (or even third) class citizens, and the “N” word was a common expression to describe anyone of color. It was not necessarily a hateful expression, and Huck does not seem to show any innate hatred toward African-Americans in general. Indeed, he treats Jim as a friend, but he is also aware that as a slave, Jim was not his equal. Twain’s repeated use of the word was in part due to his own desi
