ipl-logo

Racism In Huckleberry Finn

2185 Words9 Pages

In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, racism is one of the main topics that the story is based around. The story’s protagonist Huck, has grown up around slaves and even has a father who would rather never vote again than to see an African American vote freely. “When they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote again…I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?”. (Twain 24). Even though Huck has been subjected to all of society’s views on blacks in the community and their only usefulness as being a slave, Huck eventually finds himself in the situation where he cares more for a black man, than he does his own father. The novel was written …show more content…

The reader can see this is true for the reason that so many characters in the novel are themselves white slaveholders, such as Miss Watson, the Phelps, and the Grangerford family who own over one hundred slaves. The protagonist of the novel Huck, has grown up around the idea set by society that African Americans are supposed to serve the white men and that is all they are good for. In the novel, there are a few times where the reader can see how the white characters are profiting from owning slaves or from merely just having an encounter with a runaway slave. One of these times is when Miss Watson learned she could sell her slave Jim for …show more content…

En when I wake up en fine you back agin’, all safe en soun’, de tears come en I could a got down on my knees en kiss’ yo’ foot I’s so thankful. En all you wuz thinkin ‘bout wuz how you could make a fool uv ole Jim wid a lie.” (Twain 77) From this quote Huck learns that Jim truly does care for him, and that both white and black men can be hurt, they have the same ability to love and feel sadness. Huck comes the conclusion that both he and Jim are very much alike no matter the different color of skins “I knowed he was white inside.” (Twain

Show More
Related
933 Words | 4 Pages

Huck lives in a time and place where African-Americans are legally not human, so that influences Huck's brain, causing him to see Jim as a slave. For example, when Jim and Huck become separated in the fog, Huck plays a rude trick. He says to Jim that they were never lost and there was no fog. Jim gives a whole speech to Huck, explaining how Huck made him feel like trash. Huck believing that Jim wasn't smart enough to figure the lie out, as well as lying to him at all, shows that Huck feels as though he is above Jim intellectually.

Read More
935 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
617 Words | 3 Pages

The novel contrasts Huck’s and Jim’s different forms of enslavement, and Lester believes that by doing that it “obscures the fact that, by definition, slavery was a horror”(342). Later in the novel we can see Jim and Huck start growing appreciation for each other on the raft. It is true we cannot deny Huck’s growing appreciation and love for Jim, but first we must acknowledge that Huck’s love for Jim does not mean Huck is not racist. An example of Huck’s racism is the scene in the book where they miss Cairo because of the fog, but Huck lies to Jim and tells him he has been there the whole time. Then, Jim gets really sad, and Huck feels bad about about lying to him and says, “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither.

Read More
878 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout the novel, Huck faces the dilemma of whether or not to turn Jim in. Huck starts to see that even though Jim is a slave he is a person who has feelings just the way he does. Quote from passage: “He was thinking about his wife and children, away up yonder, and he was low and homesick; because he hadn’t ever been away from home before in his life; and I do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks did for theirs.” In this quote Huck believes that even though Jim is an African American he still is a person that cares about his family and children that he left behind just like any other person would worry about. Another reason how this noval teaches students and adults that African American are no different then any person is yet even though Huck is white, Jim cares about him just like a father would do.

Read More
951 Words | 4 Pages

The readers start to see Hucks opinion and point of view develop when he finally discovers Jim’s true feelings. “I didn’t do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn’t done that one if I’d a knowed it would make him feel that way”. Huck grew up his whole life watching slavery, not knowing the wrongs from the rights. However, he starts to understand that even though African Americans weren’t treated the same, that they still feel the same way as white people. It also demonstrates his empathy towards Jim, developing a sense of care towards him.

Read More
638 Words | 3 Pages

In Huckleberry Finn, Huck’s father curses the government for allowing a biracial man to vote. The biracial man is described as being well educated, well-dressed, and is even an esteemed professor at a university, but Huck’s father believes the man to be nothing more than "a prowling, thieving, infernal, white-shirted free nigger" (Twain 27). Twain illustrates that Huck’s father is not a very good person; he is an illiterate alcoholic child abuser. The colored man in contrast is very well educated and sophisticated. Although Huck’s dad is a white male and thought to be the supreme race, Twain breaks this misconception by proving that the colored man is actually better than the Caucasian man, and that the colored man breaks the stereotype of a thief or inferior individual that society portrays him to be.

Read More
356 Words | 2 Pages

In a society full of racists is HuckleBerry Finn a racist? The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain. Huckleberry is not a racist despite what people think because he promises Jim at the beginning of the book that he won’t say anything when Jim tells him why he’s out there, when Huck comes across two men in another canoe they ask him if the other passenger of the raft is white or black he’s ready to turn Jim in he changes his mind, and he wanted to help him escape the farm. When Huck and Jim first meet Jim doesn’t want to tell Huck why he is out in the middle of nowhere so he makes him promise not to tell anyone and Huck tells him “Well I did.

Read More
1403 Words | 6 Pages

The black man on the back porch is afraid of the rattle snake because it is bad luck, or the innocent little slave is quick to believe everything one tells them at the drop of the hat. These are just some of the many racist stereotypes of the 1840s. A character named Jim is the star African American whom Twain bestoys the mission of being the stereotypical black man to prove a point. He along with his much more pallor companion Huck go on exciting adventures that unfold the events which expose the racist conduct of the time. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain saturates his novel with potent images of acute racism severe enough as to create a satirical mien that exposes the absurdity of prejudice.

Read More
1050 Words | 5 Pages

Huck’s inner dialogue signifies that he has been taught that it is normal for men to own another man, his wife, and his children; that it is immoral for a black man to speak of being free and having his family back. Despite Huck’s influenced dehumanization toward Jim, he decidedly doesn’t betray his trust and helps him to freedom, portraying the message that norms can be nullified by individuals to make a

Read More
206 Words | 1 Pages

In summary, the controversial issue of racial equality and racism, in effect, makes Huck’s relationship with slaves (like Jim) slowly grow stronger throughout the novel. Moreover, racial equality and racism also affect the way Huck chooses to reject the societal norms of the late nineteenth century in order to bring two races together. In addition, everyone should understand the importance of racial equality and racism because of the stain they have left on American history and society as well as the affect these controversial issues have on people today. That’s why people in the twenty-first century should discuss racial equality and racism, in order to prevent any future occurrences of one race enslaving another race. To continue, While some

Read More
907 Words | 4 Pages

The 1980s was and interesting decade in the history of the United States. Many thinks of the events of the 60s and 70s when asked about fascinating times in the US, the 1980s, however, was no exception. It the time of Ronald Reagan, a president who’s ideals and presence in many ways became the backbone of the Republican Party going forward. Along with this, the social elements of the 1980s took a turn from their 60s and 70s roots. The two former decades laid the groundwork for the 1980s with massive social changes, scandals, and war.

Read More
142 Words | 1 Pages

In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the racist attitudes of the Deep South in the late 1800's are shown. Mark Twain portrays a runaway slave, Jim, as a racist caricature who does whatever is asked of him and exhibits little intelligence. The reader can initially see this through the use of the word "nigger" that is all throughout the book. In the modern 21st century this term is taken offensively, but in the 19th century this term was commonly used and Twain took advantage of it.

Read More
516 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
1621 Words | 7 Pages

Analysis of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Everyday humans are faced with racial prejudice and societal stereotypes. These are, by no means, new topics of discussion. Such issues took hold in society centuries ago. Not only is it a burden on the minorities, but it has negatively affected humanity as a whole regardless of ethnicity.

Read More
1164 Words | 5 Pages

This a dangerous belief, as it seems that even though Huck goes through major character development, he still see’s African-Americans as less than white people. This notion must be overcome in order for Huck to free Jim for

Read More

More about Racism In Huckleberry Finn

Related Topics

Open Document