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Discrimination In Huck Finn

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A man whips another person for the simple fact that they are different. The oppressed is forced to work under harsh conditions, with his only payment being able to live. Discrimination is embedded into America’s history as many expressed hate towards those who were simply different for most of it. America’s dark past should not be allowed to terrorize its open-minded future, yet many things in our world uncover the prejudiced views America once held. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain should not be required reading in 11th Grade American Literature classes at Issaquah High School because the book upholds racist ideals and can potentially destroy a classroom environment. Despite praise for Twain’s intended purpose of promoting …show more content…

Halfway through the novel Twain tosses Jim “to the side of the narrative” causing him to take the backseat of the story as the Duke and King, and later Tom, treat him poorly and ignore him (Smiley 63). Jim is left on the raft as the Duke and King go about their antics, all but forgotten by Huck. Despite Huck’s respect for Jim, he ignores him as he enjoys his life of adventure with the frauds. Jim is treated as the stereotypical slave, whose job is to be the loyal watchdog and stay on the raft. Jim never has a say on how he feels about remaining on the raft and, like a black man in the 1800’s, he is never allowed one. This discrimination reflects the racism of America’s past, and is not something students today should be forced to learn in class. Jim is also discriminated against when Tom decides to place a “rattlesnake” in Jim’s cell because “a prisoner’s got to have some kind of dumb pet” (Twain 263). Despite Tom’s knowledge of Jim’s freedom, he decides to keep the information secret so that he can enjoy his prison break adventure. He disregards all of Jim’s objections, and subjects him to the torturous ideal of being a prisoner. Tom drags Jim to all of his whims, under the claim that he is helping Jim escape and be free even though Jim already is. Tom’s treatment of Jim reflects a way of thinking that treats black men as toys. Similar to white supremacists, Tom subjects African Americans to dehumanizing and unequal levels despite the freedom that they are entitled to. By the end of the book, Jim is treated simply as equal to whites in all ways. When Jim helps save Tom after he was shot, Huck only hopes that “one or two of the chains” would be removed rather be disappointed with the fact that Jim might no longer be free (Twain 287). Twain ends the novel by dehumanizing Jim, so as a reader, the last

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Jim’s hat is one of his few possessions. Tom slipping off Jim’s hat while Jim is asleep is reflected in many a white man’s systematic exploitation of blacks and disregard for their property or welfare in this book. Though Tom does not appear to necessarily deprive Jim of his wellbeing, this small gesture is testimony to the implicit racism and prejudice that existed in the minds of many during this time. Summary: Huck finds living with

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In the book "The Adventures if Huckleberry Finn", Mark Twain's writing mirrors the society and problems it had in that time. This book promotes seeing African-Americans as people, which is absolutely groundbreaking and unheard-of in the time it was written, right after the Civil War. Throughout the book,, Huck has a complete change in his feelings towards Jim, starting with his highly influenced young mind, only able to view Jim as a slave, all the way to seeing Jim as a father-figure who can protect and provide for him. Although Huck tries to see Jim as a friend and fatherly-figure, society's beliefs don't allow him to see Jim as anything but a slave.

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Huck has always seen Jim as a slave until they crossed paths while going down the river. The two develop a friendship and Huck starts to care about Jim and his well being. Although Huck views Jim as someone he cares about, he still sees him as a slave as well. “ I would do the right thing and the clean thing, and go and write that nigger’s owner and tell where he was,” ( Document E). Huck is in a continuous battle with his inner self when it comes to his views on Jim.

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Throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain attacks the institution of slavery, by allowing readers to feel empathy for Jim through showing his fears and concerns about running away from Ms.Watson, and the friendship between Jim and Huck. Mark Twain uses Jim to criticize the ideas of slavery society held onto from before the Civil War by causing readers to feel sympathy for him. This can first be seen on page 45 when Jim admits to Huck why he ran away, “She always said she wouldn sell me.. I hear ole misus tel de widder she gwyne to sell me down to Orleans,” (Twain 45). Jim’s fear of being sold shows a side of the slave trade no slave owner ever recognized.

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Huck does not see Jim as a slave anymore he sees Jim as a friend and he treats him like a friend. Huck would of never done this at the begning of his journey or when he found out Jim is a runaway. He evolved his morality, Twain finished the book after the civil war he did not believe in slavery it

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Twain's writing cuts deep into the heart of racism, and shows us that it does not matter what we look like on the outside, it only matters what we have on the

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In the beginning of the story, before he runs away, he is ordered around by his owners, which is very typical for a slave. However, even after Jim escapes he is forced to submit to the will of white people. For example, when Tom Sawyer tries locking snakes in the shed where Jim is being kept, Jim says, “I k’n stan’ dem, Mars Tom, but blame’ ‘ f I couldn’t get along widout um, I tell you dat” (263). Jim is certainly opposed to the idea of having garter snakes put in where he has to stay, but he is willing to compromise with Tom Sawyer and Huck so that they can still play their game and he is not locked up with a rattlesnake like they had first intended.

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When Huck runs away to the Island to escape his abusive father, and a “civilized” society, he finds Jim. When Huck finds out that Jim also escaped, he yells” Jim!”(43), he is beyond surprised and he cannot even fathom the idea that Jim would run away. Huck does not hold Jim to the same standards he holds himself in.

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Yet, Huck still does not think of him as an equal, and might not ever think this as result of his upbringing. It is frustrating for modern readers since we are raised to treat our elders with respect and seeing Huck treating Jim with such disrespect is irritating. Twain wrote this to show that Huck is, once again, loosening up to the idea that Jim is alright. However, he still thinks he is above Jim due to of the influence of society on

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While books influence Tom he still sees African Americans as objects when devising a plan to free Jim, Tom just cares about the adventure that goes along with the plan (Twain 216). Tom is has grown up in a society where white people see blacks as object not people. While also being twelve years old he just isn’t that interested in the real plan of freeing Jim. Tom is a

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Throughout the book Twain shows how the black man and the white man are equal. This is something that he tries to stick out to the reader throughout the book. At this point in the book he has shown that Jim is equal to a white man. As Tom is doing his plan to get Jim out, Jim is going along with it and never steps up to say anything to Tom. Huck notices and says, “Jim never said nothing, and he never let on to know me, and they took him to the same cabin…”(Twain 214).

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Jim defers to Huck again when Huck prepares to steal him from the Phelps. Huck and his friend Tom force Jim to write on the bottom of tin plates, keep snakes and rats as pets and create a coat of arms, acts that Jim believes are pointless. However, Jim submits to Tom and Huck’s wills because he believes that as white people, they are superior to him. Instead of rejecting Tom and Huck’s foolish schemes, Jim yields, proving that he cannot serve as Huck’s father because he sees himself as less than Huck and constantly submits to Huck’s desires.

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Throughout the novel, Twain implements the notion that society’s manipulative views must be overcome by following one’s heart and having moral strength. He enforces this by using literary devices such as satire, imagery, and individual motifs. The first literary device that Twain utilizes is satire. The author satirizes society and how many “civilized” people have twisted beliefs.

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Despite Huck’s constant teasing and mild abuse, Jim exhibits unconditional kindness towards Huck. Jim also proves to be a father figure, disciplining Huck and protecting him from seeing Pap dead in the floating house. He is not clueless and loving like a dog; in fact, Jim is one of the most intellectually and emotionally consistent and whole characters in the novel. Huck’s inability to express his care for Jim further reflects the stigmas held toward interracial relationships in the South and the flawed nature of the narrator, Huck. Jim and Huck’s existence on the raft provides a refuge from society, from the chains that bind Jim and separate him from Huck.

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