Mark Twain's Influence On American Literature

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Mark Twain’s 1884 novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, left an influential impression on American Literature. Its use of satirical content by way of combining both history and racism to expose Antebellum South proved to be a brave initiation in expressing Twain’s attitude towards slavery - a crucial part of American society, at the time. Mark Twain’s novel proved to also be an everlasting influence on modern culture. Through Disney, Stephen Sommer directed a film called “The Adventures of Huck Finn” in adaptation of Twain’s book. Sommer’s film aired in 1993 which starred Elijah Wood as Huck and Courtney B. Vance as Jim - a runaway slave and Huck’s travel companion. Both the film and novel captures the atrocities of slavery as Huck learns the importance of knowing what is right and …show more content…
Disney films are often aimed towards specific viewers. Because of the complexity of Twain’s book, using his novel as a source for informing slavery to youths while also enthralling them may be a, rather, hard thing to do. Because of Twain’s use of “n” words - particularly to portray the ignorance of southern slave owner - it may raise some questions on whether this is appropriate and too serious for the younger generations to learn about slavery and, arguably, the most influential novel of American literature: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain’s novel is rich in exposing such a crucial part of history that initiating inclusion of slavery towards a generation of viewers who may not be mature enough to understand is not effective. Disney intends to solve this by depicting slavery in a less hostile way while also focusing on Jim’s relationship with Huck to encourage friendship between different races. Sommer’s film is a simplified version of Mark Twain’s novel that, nonetheless, showcases the boundaries slavery had created between different races but also, and arguably, creates an unsafe depiction of slavery to young
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