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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.
One challenge of Huck’s was the moral debate of slavery and the regard of JIm. Huck stated, “ People will call me a low down abolitionist and despise me”(Twain 52). As you can see Huck has doubt about helping Jim because of his race. Huck grew up in the south where slavery was their way of life and growing up there strongly influenced how he thinks about race. A second challenge of Huck’s is his moral debate of the actions of the king a duke.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an American classic, it was the starting point for all great American Literature. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been awarded all of these honorable titles because of its abnormal and controversial plot line. During the time period when the book was written, it was unacceptable to view African- American’s as anything other than slaves. They were viewed as inferior to whites and were treated like property, they had no rights. The main character of the book, Huck, disagrees and disobeys these norms and pushes the boundaries of society when he becomes friends with a slave from his childhood; Jim.
Huck is bigger than his journey down the mississippi. A perfect example that Huck changed throughout the journey is when Jim said this about him: "Dah you goes, de ole true Huck; de on 'y white genlman dat ever kep ' his promise to ole Jim" (87 Twain). Huck is making promises to a black man, and keeping them? This is rare to find during this time period. A white person treating a black person equally was completly agaisnt the ‘rule’ of white America.
Living in the 1800s was a very confusing time for a thirteen-year-old American white boy named Huckleberry Finn. African people were faced with inhuman acts of slavery, prejudice, and discrimination. Choosing between what was right and wrong was a challenge, especially for Huckleberry Finn. Huck’s peers tried to corrupt him into believing that slavery was the norm and black people were to be shunned. Mrs. Watson, for example, was Huck’s adoptive mother whom consistently told Huck to not associate with people of the African culture.
Suddenly, Huck’s eyes are opened to the shortcomings of people he was previously blind to. Huck reaches the pinnacle of his moral development when he decides that Jim is worth going to hell for, no matter what society may think about a slave’s worth. After much internal turmoil, he decides, “All right, then, I’ll go to hell” (Twain 215). This is a significant point in his changing perception of what is “sivilized”, as he finally decides that the ideals he has been taught are truly not worth it.
Throughout American history, minorities have been discriminated against for numerous things relating to race, gender, religion, etc. One group that was discriminated around the time of the Civil War were the Blacks. Throughout American history, they were thought of as inferior to whites and treated like animals. After the Civil War, laws started to change in favor of Blacks, things like making it illegal to enslave them, making them citizens and giving them the right to vote. These laws didn’t eliminate discrimination, though, and failed to change the opinion of what most thought of the Blacks.
This book proves that not everyone who grew up around racism was cruel, as Huck began to love Jim for who he is, despite the society he grew up in. An example of Huck maturing could come from chapter forty, "I knowed he was white inside, and I reckoned he'd say what he did say - so it was all right, now, and I told Tom I was agoing for a doctor." (Twain 301). This quote clearly shows that Huck is maturing, and seeing past the color of Jim's skin. The book shows us how hard it was to grow up in a racist society and not be racist.
When Huck and Jim are thrown from the raft they get separated and Huck gets caught in the middle Jim decides to search for Huck and find him, instead of leaving him behind. This advances Huck’s views because he realizes that even though Jim’s skin color is different he still cares and is willing to do what is right. This influences future decisions that Huck makes revolving around slavery. In chapter sixteen he decides to lie to the slave hunters by saying he was traveling with a white man “ I didn't answer up prompt. I tried to, but the words wouldn't come.
Towards the end, Huck is the boy who helped a slave get his freedom and his rights, If there were to be another boy in Huck’s place, he would’ve loved having a slave do all his work for him. Huck on the other hand is very uncomfortable having a slave do his work for him, because he is not used to it and rather do everything himself. Although Huck hold on to the aspect of racism, he still has more respect for blacks than others at the time being. Huck’s has been raised in a place and time, where slavery and difference between men was normal. In the beginning of the novel, Huck didn’t respect black people and didn’t care about them either.
Near the beginning of the story, Huck sets stereotypes of black slaves as ignorant and lazy (Enotes). By the end of the story, Huck realizes that Jim is like any other person and should not be treated differently. In the middle of the story, Huck begins to come to this conclusion, “I do believe Jim cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their’n. It don’t seem natural, but I reckon it’s so” (Twain Chp. 23).
Satire is once again used to portray slavery in this novel. For instances, Huck’s father Pap should have been protecting Huck instead of being drunk and abusing Huck. On the other hand, Jim who was a negro slave has more compassion and consideration towards Huck. This shows the foolishness of slavery. Because of Slavery prevalent in that period of time, the slaves were considered to be “mere property” without any emotions or personalities.
Ryan Scaggs Mrs. Johnson Huck Finn Essay October 25, 2015 Racism and Slavery Throughout Throughout his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain exposes many themes that related well with the 1880s America during which Twain wrote the novel. Many important themes are at the center of the book, such as the conflict between civilization and Huck’s “natural life”. However, the most well-known thematic aspect of this novel is the inclusion of racism and slavery in that day’s society.
Huck would be characterized as a proponent of individuality rather than conformity. Furthermore, Huck did not apprehend slavery and its contribution to productivity. Slavery is so inhumane and blacks should have just as much rights as whites. Towards the end of the novel, Huck’s true innocence is shown when he helps Jim escape his confinement at the Phelps’ house. Innocence got the better of him since he was debating whether he should inform Ms. Watson about Jim’s dilemma or should he save him.
Racism and Slavery are a hand in hand subject, without Slavery, Racism wouldn 't have been a broad topic. Although modern day slavery is nowhere to be found in America, Racism is still an existing matter. Racism against African Americans was a byproduct of permanent and inhumane enslavement of the black population. Although slavery was not only among Afro- Americans, it was also towards white slaves, and indentured servants who all received the same treatment, were punished equally and worked the same hours. The need to solve economic and social problems drove the Colonists to strip Afro-Americans down from their basic rights and such, which rose to naming all blacks, slaves.
