Personal Response to "Captain Underpants and Huckleberry Finn"

This article by Susan Orlean moved me because of her no nonsense way of approaching the ongoing debate of the "n-word" in "Huckleberry Finn." Orlean relates the word to her own writing and even "Captain Underpants", which makes the article appealing to a wide audience. Replacing the word "nigger" with "slave" is also believed to make the novel, "Huckleberry Finn," appealing to a broad audience. However, shielding students’ eyes from the horrific word is not and never will be the correct approach. The novel does not convey the same powerful message of a character rising above their social status without the word. Orlean believes that "banning it is a futile effort to remake history, and a dangerous one" and I share the same opinion. It is wrong to use the "n-word" in a derogative way, but it is also inaccurate to pretend it wasn't used commonly in the past.

"This is one of those doughnut-shaped arguments that has no beginning and no end and nothing much inside. The problem isn’t the word; the problem is having the book banned to begin with because of the word, and yet having it returned to reading lists would indeed be a good outcome, although achieved by the worst sort of means."

This passage is particularly effective because of its powerful use of imagery to describe the problem associated with the "n-word" in "Huckleberry Finn." The problem is described as "having the book banned to begin with because of the word, and yet having it returned to reading lists would indeed be a good outcome, although achieved by the worst sort of means." The reader is able to imagine the problem unfolding as a circle or doughnut with no obvious solution. The use of the "n-word" in "Huckleberry Finn" has been a heated debate for years. Susan Orlean believes that it is acceptable and even accurate used in the novel, but at the same time offensive. There is not much substance behind this debate, but it will continue on for many years to come. This is why a doughnut is the perfect way of describing it.

"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley - Book Pitch

"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley launches the reader thousands of years into the future. New reproductive technology and sleep-learning techniques have changed the very basis of society. A hatchery produces thousands of nearly identical human embryos that are then conditioned to fulfill a certain role in society, creating instant happiness with their life's work. However, Bernard Marx is not content with the happiness forced down his throat. His behaviour is seen as difficult and unsocial yet he is allowed to travel to the savage reservation where humanity still exists in its purest form. He is awaiting exile but returns with something that will change both his life and society itself. The unusual and captivating plot makes the reader question what makes our world keep spinning. Huxley is regarded as one of the most prominent explorers of visual communication and this novel is no disappointment.



About the Author: Aldous Leonard Huxley was born in England on July 26th, 1894. He was an English writer and one of the most revolutionary members of the famous Huxley family. Huxley is best known for his novels including "Brave New World" and "Island" along with a wide range of essays. He also published short stories, poetry, travel writing, film stories and scripts. He moved to Los Angeles in 1937 and lived there until his death in 1963. By the end of his life Huxley was considered a leader of modern thought and a scholar of unmatched intellect.


Price: $9.99
ISBN: 978-0060929879
Published: 1932 by Chatto and Windus (London)