Close reading historical lens

  To understand why Mark twain uses the N-Word so many times, we first have to look at the history of the this word. The n-word derived from the word negro which means black in spanish. In other countries Negro does not have the same weight as it does in America. Americans adopted N-Word as a derogatory word to dehumanize and offend african and african american slaves. The Portuguese being the main slave traders  were the ones who started to give more racist and derogatory definition to negro.The definition that slave traders and slave owners gave to the N-Word was dumb animal. Even at the time when the book was written many people were outraged at the high number of time the N-Word was used throughout the book. At the time like now N-Word was an offensive word.

     Is you think that mark twain used the N-word as a derogatory and  racist word you have to consider that he was an abolitionist. In reality mark twain did not support slavery.

“I hain’t been nowheres,” I says, “only just hunting for the runaway nigger—me and Sid.”

“By and by they fetched the niggers in and had prayers, and then everybody was off to bed.

I went up to my room with a piece of candle, and put it on the table.” Using the N-Word so commonly in the book makes it seem ordinary and makes fun of how americans used the word. In a way it manifest how the N-Word is a dumb and stupid word that suppresses others. Working in  a river boat for a few years mark twain was exposed to a diverse amount of people. He got to interact with slaves and slave owners throughout his journeys. It is known that his characters were real people he met while working in the river boat. The word chose in Huckleberry finn is no more than a manifestation of the absurdity of the what thats word means. In certain pages like in page 295,246 and 244 the N-Word Is used 5 times. In pages 36,193 and 289 the N-Word is used 6 times. These pages all exaggerate the N-word. It is this exaggeration in the use of this word that makes his message come across stronger. If mark twain wanted to make a statement he first wanted to grab the attention of others. The use of the N-Word was used 219 times to make fun of how stupid and inhumane whites were treating slaves. By showcasing how everyday people were using the word mark twain could show them just how stupid and ignorant they sound. The sole definition of this word makes and should make it one of the most taboo words in the english language. All that  Twain is trying to do is show others the true stupidity of slavery itself. Weather you agree with his method is a different story.