Naturalism In Huckleberry Finn

Think back several decades ago to when America became the land of the free and the home of the brave. Back then, the term “free” should not have been used so lightly due to the strict requirements that decided whether or not a person was free. Of course Americans were freed from the European rule, but not every American was freed from the American rule. African Americans and women were enslaved by white men during this time. History books do not like to go into depth about the topic of slavery, but fortunately, the enslaved were not afraid to tell their stories. Although slavery had been abolished, the mistreatment of minorities was at it’s peak during the popular literature era known as the Realist and Naturalist time period. The Realist and

During this time period, it was illegal for slaves to go to school and learn to read or write. Throughout the story, Twain frequently writes in thick African American dialect when Jim, the black slave speaks, to emphasize the lack of education he had. For example, “Say—who is you? Whar is you? Dog my cats ef I didn’ hear sumf’n. Well, I knows what I’s gwyne to do. I’s gwyne to set down here and listen tell I hears it agin” (Twain, 1884, p. 109). This is just one of the many quotes that is included in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that is written in the heavy dialect. Although it can be challenging to interpret, the dialect is an important part of the story, being that, it sets the tone of the story and gives readers an understanding for how uneducated slaves truly

“John is a physician, and perhaps—(I would not say it to a living soul, or course, but this is dead paper and a great relief to my mind)— perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster” (Gilman, 1892, p.486). Gilman makes a point to include the fact that her husband is a physician to represent the dominance men had and to depict how men were the only ones who could hold such a high standing position. Including this key detail makes John seem well respected, although he simply uses his high status as an excuse to control his wife. Gilman also carefully selects her wording and italicizes the word “perhaps” to add emphasis to her feminist beliefs that go against the social belief of men being superior to women during this