Group Perspective

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should not be considered an American classic because the characters are not strong enough to help build the novel's purpose. As a testimony against slavery, Huck Finn lacks a hero because Huck does not achieve any moral clarity or personal growth and isn't a developed character. Throughout the novel, Huck appears to grow in moral character; for example, he apologizes to Jim after he plays a prank on him, he reveals to Mary Jane that the duke and king are frauds, and he consciously makes the choice to go against society in order to help Jim to freedom. However, at the end of the novel-- when Huck's moral growth and journey would predictably culminate to reveal a significant change in character in regards to his perception towards Jim as a human being-- he makes the statement "I knowed [Jim] was white inside" (ch. 40). The fact that Huck says that Jim is "white inside" emphasizes his lack of moral development as a character because despite his strong relationship with Jim, he still compares him to white people instead of erasing the fine line between races altogether. As a result, Huck makes no progress in surpassing the stereotypes present in society, and therefore should not be considered an American classic.

Author Profile: Sami

Sami is a vibrant 16 girl who is currently a Junior at a Catholic high school in Northern Indiana. She enjoys making blogs for American Literature and looking for "YOLOs" at football games. On Sunday mornings she walks around to University Park Mall for exercise and on Sunday afternoons Sami  buys produce at the local farmer's market. Sami often spends her free time shopping online for inflatable unicorn horns for cats and is known to distribute them to her feline-loving pals. After Sami read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn she formed the opinion that the novel should not be considered a great work of American Literature because the poorly constructed characters are not effective at showing an anti-slavery sentiment.

Author Profile: Emma

Emma is currently a 16 year-old girl that attends a Catholic high school in the midwest. In her free time, she enjoys long walks on the beach, cheerleading, and vivaciously exclaiming prayers to the world. She has a pet gold fish that has been alive for 13 years. In regards to Huckleberry Finn, she is fond of the way in which the language and plot enlightens readers on American history. However, she finds the conclusion of Huck's development as a character to be a disappointment; it seems to fall short of Huck's "coming of age" that progresses throughout the novel.

Author Profile: Maggie

Maggie is a seventeen year old girl who attends a Catholic high school. She enjoys basketball and group projects while spending her free time traveling with her family. Maggie loves college sports and people. She enjoyed the book for pleasure reading but as an "American masterpiece", believed it was lacking. Maggie thinks the book should be read in schools however, because students learn the wrong way to develop a character on his journey of becoming himself.

Author Profile: CJ

CJ is a caucasian male living in an average sized town in Indiana. He is currently 16 years of age and attends a Catholic high school. He has received his education in a Catholic institute since he started his schooling. In his free time, CJ enjoys folding napkins and playing volleyball. CJ takes his education seriously and will stop at nothing to reach his goals. In regards to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, CJ feels that the novel is not the American masterpiece that many think it to be. However, he does think that the novel should be read for the experience and knowledge that one does gain from it.