Rough Draft Of Huckleberry Finn

The ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’, written by Mark Twain, follows the narrative of the young protagonist, Huckleberry Finn. While the novel takes off describing the wild adventures of Huck Finn, the novel progresses to reveal more mature themes. Before beginning the novel, readers are greeted with a warning from the author; “NOTICE: Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot” (Twain, 1). At the risk of being banished, readers may uncover two prominent themes: racism and slavery, and Huck’s evolving morality. While reading the novel, one may catch a glimpse into the society of the south where slavery

Throughout the novel, readers encounter the “n” word several times and it is used in a very casual manner; many white characters and even Jim himself uses this language. For example, when Huck is explaining the existence of different languages, specifically French, we see both Jim and Huck use this crude language; “I don't know; but it's so. I got some of their jabber out of a book. Spouse a man was to come to you and say Polly-voo-franzy- what would you think? I wouldn’t think nuff’n. I’d take en bust him over de head. Dat is, if he wasn’t white. I wouldn’t ‘low no [n-] to call me dat” (Twain, 98). In response, Huck ends the conversation internally, saying, “I see it, don’t use wasting words- you can't learn a [n-] to argue. So I quit” (Twain, 99). The use of this word is important to understanding the themes of racism and slavery within the novel; by using this word, characters are separating themselves from African American slaves and dehumanizing them, while also treating them as lesser-than. It also helps readers uncover the possible aims Twain may have had when writing the

It was dreadful to see. Human beings can be awfully cruel to one another.” (Twain, 270). Furthermore, readers witness Huck and his attempts to be noble. When the duke and dauphin manipulate the young women in an attempt to gain their fortunes, Huck feels extreme guilt and takes action to try and right the wrongs of the duke and dauphin. “I say to myself, this is another one that I’m letting him rob of her money. And when she got through, they all just laid themselves out to make me feel home and know I was amongst friends. I feel so ornery and low down and mean, that I say to myself, My mind’s made up; I’ll give that money to them or bust” (Twain, 214). Moreover, Huck challenges socially acceptable norms within society; initially starting out as subtle but then progressing into dangerous ideology and actions for that time