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Fisharound Posted 19 years ago
Software & Reviews

WHY did MarkTwain write this notice?

At the beginning of the novel THE ADVENTURE OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN there's a NOTICE

Persons attmpting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted ;persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished;persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.

BY ORDER OF THE AUTHOR

Per G.G.,Chief of Ordnance

I don't know what does it mean ,who can tell me ?Thanks
  

Top answer

Just guessing, The authorities will prosecute you if you want to find out the motive in the book. The majority will treat you like an outcast if you want to find out the moral in the book. The majority will shoot you if you want to find out the plot.

— BW2/3

  • Just guessing, The authorities will prosecute you if you want to find out the motive in the book.
  • The majority will treat you like an outcast if you want to find out the moral in the book.
  • The majority will shoot you if you want to find out the plot.
  • I guess those words were written for readers at the time.
  • Those words were not applied on today.
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10 Answers
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Just guessing,

The authorities will prosecute you if you want to find out the motive in the book.

The majority will treat you like an outcast if you want to find out the moral in the book.

The majority will shoot you if you want to find out the plot.

I guess those words were written for readers at the time. Those words were not applied on today.
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He's just saying "Don't try to ANALYZE this book, just READ it."

He's saying "It's just a story - don't look for the deeper meaning of life in it."

It's humorous, not a real warning.
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I took it for grant what you said. Then I think the humorous author knew his book would create a lot of disturbance.
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wasn't this book the one that was forbidden for a while?
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Hi Foxflow

It has been controversial to one degree or another ever since it was published. As far as I know, however, the book has never been universally banned (i.e. never banned in the entire United States). I believe it has been banned and/or restricted in some way in specific localities, however.
You can read more about that
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Twain is using reverse psychology here. Back in his time, a reader may have interpreted this as a "Oh boy, an adventure story that I can just read", but Twain secretly says that there will be all of this if you analyze it.
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It was banned due to the use of the N-word.
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I interpret it as

"This is a story describing Life.

It is not meant to advocate anything, it is not meant to teach you anything, it may not always make sense.

It is only meant to describe novel situations a person may encounter in Life."

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This is a great question for discussion!

This article helps put it in perspective. Maybe it was a humorous way to protect himself?

Article:

'Huckleberry Finn' and the Subject of Slavery
https://www.thoughtco.com/mark-twain-about-slavery-in-huckfinn-740149

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Twain wrote this hyperbolic statement to actually imply the opposite-- that there is meaning and intent behind the novel. It's meant to be over-the-top and extreme, such a protest and extreme statement that it cannot be taken seriously.

Further humor, or irony, is that G. G. was probably a nod to George Griffin, a freed slave who became Twain's butler for over 17 years and family frie

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