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DANIEL OBRIEN's avatar

Jeremy, I share your dismay at Huck's unmoored life and his casual acceptance of physical abuse, although I don't identify with his "civilizing" aunt, either.

Is anyone else stopped cold by the n-word? I'm not at all arguing that it should be censored, but it's amazing that six letters in a particular sequence can carry such an emotional charge.

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Cheryl's avatar

Yes I’m also “stopped cold” by the n word.

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William Britton NYC's avatar

Wow. Thanks. These notes and the video were very informative.

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Cheryl's avatar

In preparation for reading Huckleberry Finn I just finished listening to Tom Sawyer narrated by Nick Offerman. It was excellent! Going to listen to Huckleberry Finn narrated by Elijah Wood. Looking forward to this read.

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William Britton NYC's avatar

Hey Daniel, yes, the racial language is jarring and seems unnecessary (especially to me, in its quantity). I had the same feeling lately reading Hemingway. Maybe it's the time, maybe it's the characters portrayed not the author's views, but at a certain point, in both cases the language seemed gratuitous to me. I supposed Twain couldn't imagine how six instances of the n-word in one paragraph would be heard today. For Hemingway, less of an excuse.

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