Huckleberry Finn Dbq Essay

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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. As the book went on, Huck is in a constant argument with himself about his feelings toward Jim. Throughout …show more content…

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. Huck had multiple chances to turn Jim in or not to help him when he was in trouble, but he could never bring himself to turn his back on Jim. From the time they first saw each other on the river, Huck felt a certain loyalty toward Jim. They both agreed not to give away the other’s location, this agreement brought a loyalty between them. “ Well I did. I said I wouldn’t and I’ll stick to it… People would call me a low down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum- but that don’t make no difference,” (Document B). Huck always felt deep down that keeping Jim’s location a secret was wrong. Although Huck and Jim become best friends by the end of the novel, Huck does not stop viewing Jim as a slave. By the laws of the time Jim was a slave and Huck knew that , he just refused to treat him like