A century ago Mark Twain's novel Huckleberry Finn was criticized for its unfair depiction of whites. American schools banned the issue-loaded work, saying that it was one sided.

A time has passed since those years, and Huckleberry Finn has regained its status as a classic work. Big River, the musical version of the controversial pre-Civil War piece, will be presented by the Center for the Performing Arts at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday in Eisenhower Auditorium.

Set on the Mississippi river atop a makeshift raft, the story is centered on the relationship between Jim, a runaway slave, and his poor, young companion Huck. Together the seemingly mismatched pair search for a better life.

Twain was born Samuel Clemens in 1835 in Florida, Missouri. As a riverboat pilot during his early twenties, the humorist learned to respect the beauty and dangers of the Mississippi. He set his most famous novel on the wide water way to commemorate what he said were his happiest years.

Throughout his life, Twain tried to make predictions. For example, on April 20, 1910 the social critic said, "I came in with Halley's comet in 1835. It is coming again, and I expect I'll go out with it. The Almighty has said no doubt, 'Now here go these two unaccountable fraudds; They come in together, they must go out together.' Oh! I am looking forward to that." Ironically, Twain died one day after making this statement.

In 1985, the year Big River opened on Broadway, Halley's Comet returned again.

Daniel Walden, professor of American studies, English, and comparative literature, said Huckleberry Finn is regarded as one of the greatest literary creations of the nineteenth century because it cuts across geography, race relations and culture.

"Jim and Huck come together as human beings on an equal plain," Walden said.

Divorced from the pressures of Southern law while floating down the Mississippi, the voyagers are able to relate in an unconventional way for their time period.

Big River cast member Russ Konstans, who plays "The King," a bum who pretends to be royalty, said that Huck represents the conflict that exists between doing what one thinks is right and what his or her society insists is correct behavior.

Terrell Jones, special assistant to the provost for underrepresented groups, said the tale of Huck and Jim fosters stereotypes, rather than breaking them as Twain had hoped.

"Mark Twain was a liberal, but a liberal for his times," Jones said. "Seeing Jim as a person in itself was revolutionary."

Despite efforts to show his Southern society its bigotry, Twain's own low level of cultural awareness is revealed through his writing. For example, although Jim is painted as a loving and loyal person, he lacks elements of responsibility and common knowledge.

Jones, who did his doctoral dissertation on the effects of reading Huckleberry Finn on white 9th grade students, concluded that those of the Catholic and Jewish faith, women, and younger students were more sensitive to a range of issues which surface in the novel. He said he believes the book could be beneficial to today's youth but only when taught by a responsible teacher.

Norman Eric Bigelow (junior-history), Black Caucus public relations officer, said that Jim was stereotypical for the times.

"He was, quite frankly, a big jolly nigger," he said.

Bigelow said Jim's character is not fully developed. Readers get little insight to Jim's feelings and emotions because he is kept on a two dimensional level. Huckleberry Finn should be studied because the work causes those who read it to look at their own stereotypes and inadequacies, he said.

Student tickets for the musical "Big River" can be purchased at half price 30 minutes before both the 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances on Sunday at Eisenhower.