Huckleberry Finn Racism

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is written in the point of view of Huck Finn, which will allow the reader to get a deeper understanding of the story through Huck’s eyes and closely connect with the narrator. The story is told entirely from Huck’s point of view as he refers to himself continuously as “I” throughout the whole novel. Although having a 13 year old boy as a narrator may come off as unreliable, it was significant to the theme of racism in the novel.

Mark Twain, author of the novel, as a child, never questioned the institution of slavery. He lived in the slave state of Missouri growing up with his uncle who had owned around 20 slaves, since his father passed away when he was young. He grew up living on the river and

During the time the novel took place, racism was a major issue and it was known that whites were not supposed to be friends or talk with a negro, unless they were your slave. While spending time with Jim, Huck was beginning to think that what everyone else believes was not true; “well [Jim] was right; he was most always right; he had an uncommon level head for a ni****” (Twain 76). Huck is beginning to form his own opinions and Twain use Huck as a young age because he wanted the reader to learn lessons as Huck was learning them himself. Huck is capable of being honest and admitting his uncertainties, while adults are absolutely full of themselves and become subject to their opinions. If the narrator were to be an adult, then he would have already turned Jim in for being a runaway slave. But, since Huck doesn’t format off other peoples beliefs, he helps Jim escape into freedom. Huck began to “believe [Jim] cared just as much for his people as white folks [do] for their’n. [Huck thinks that] it doesn’t seem natural, but [he] reckon[s] it’s so (Twain 155). We hear Hucks frustration, perspective on everything and that he has no problems with who he spend his time with. Since Huck is so young, he can act out without being threatened. Twain is free to explore many controversial issues, like slavery, but since those issues are seen in the eyes of a young boy, it doesn’t come off as threatening as they would be if seen in an older narrator. To add on, Huck can question society in a way no adult would and his thoughts somehow become the readers thoughts.Furthermore, it allows Twain significant pliability to search society in ways that would be impossible in any other