The Reasons Why "Tom Sawyer" Was Banned
Published in 1876, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" was written by Mark Twain as a tale about three young boys coming of age in the antebellum South. Although critically acclaimed throughout history, its racial references have long been the subject of controversy that has led to its banning from libraries and schools, as well as its recent censorship in publication.
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Background and Context
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Growing up in Missouri during the Civil War and amidst rampant and violent racism that characterized slavery and its aftermath, Mark Twain had developed keen insights into life in the antebellum South. During the war, he had enlisted to fight on the Confederate side but eventually became critical of the injustices of slavery and mistreatment of minorities.
Misunderstood Intent
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Twain's literature was meant as a social critique of the antebellum South, and he conveyed the times vividly in an effort to cast light on even the harsh realities. However, critics throughout history have misinterpreted offensive elements of his texts as reflections of his own attitudes. The authenticity of the language and treatment he includes in his texts have rendered judgments of him as racist and his character depictions of minorities as stereotypical. Of greatest concern is the book's repeated use of the politically incorrect terms "nigger" and "Injun." These criticisms led to the subsequent bannings of his most famous books.
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Recent Censorship
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In 2011, censored versions of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and its even more controversial sequel "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" were announced for publication with the word "nigger" replaced with "slave" and the word "Injun" replaced with "Indian" throughout the texts. Alan Gribben, an English professor and Mark Twain scholar associated with the project, has already anticipated that the edits will only be the center of further controversy from individuals concerned with literary integrity of maintaining the original text.
Goals Behind the Censored Publication
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Gribben has also acknowledged that his and the publisher's hopes are not to pass off Twain's novels as colorblind but simply to address concerns regarding the way that race is referenced in modern times. The minor changes in language do not ameliorate stereotypical depictions and occurences, for instance, but are meant to quell the sensitivity and hurt associated with offensive terms that are no longer as prevalent as they were at the time of the book's original publication. The publishers hope that these adjustments will make the book more accessible for students to read and appreciate as an educational tool and a literary classic.
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References
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