Theme Of Racism In Huck Finn

The defining factor of racism lies within the context of our hypocritical and ignorant beliefs of supremacy during the post-civil war era of American society. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, challenges the racial adversity and social oppression that became prominent throughout the mid 1800’s with a story about rebellious individuals who broke free from the reigns of the civilized world. Main characters Huck and Jim became the representing factors that define the truth behind breaking the stereotypes of racism in American history. The story centrally revolves around a sadistic town which exposes the reality of post-civil war slavery and society. In the face of racial adversity, Mark Twain is a disciple of abolitionism and

For example, as Huck reminisces his feats with Jim he says, “and for a starter I would go to work and steal Jim out of slavery again; and if I could think up anything worse, I would do that too” (214). Huck holds onto Jim as a father figure who accepted and cared from him when others did not accept who he was. The civilized world robbed Jim of his freedom and Huck realized that skin and race do not translate into love, companionship, and friendship. Racism is not a playing factor in this story in fact it is anti-racism that leads the two most unlikely individuals to become friends. In addition, Ralph Waldo Ellison once said, "Huckleberry Finn knew, as did Mark Twain, that Jim was not only a slave but a human being and a symbol of humanity... and in freeing Jim. Huck makes a bid to free himself of the conventionalized evil taken for civilization by the town.” Slavery was a religion that was idolized, praised, witnessed, respected, and supported and its lasting affects on our society are still prominent today. We announce racism as an unjust hate towards another individuals of different cultures and backgrounds because we still consider ourselves as separate groups. Jim and Huck represent the only remaining pieces of sanity that the town has diminished with its hypocritical civilized

For example, As Huck makes ending remarks to tie up the happy ending of Jim and Tom he says, “but I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me and I can’t stand it” (294). Huck throughout the book, tries to run away from the very people who gave him a way in order to be proper and civilized and his actions foreshadow a reality where Twain dreams of a society that pulls away from the reign of slavery and the unlawful practices that represented the norms of that era. Huck’s adventurous and daring behavior emulate Mark Twain himself because as a man he sought out to go into this world with a purpose and Twain’s anti-racist beliefs show through Huck’s acceptance of Jim. There is no color that separates men and women and Huck eventually learns that even with the oppressive culture that he has been brainwashed into conforming he realizes that skin color does not fit the stereotypes that he was brought on. In addition, in "The Lowest Animal," Mark Twain wrote "man is the only slave and he is the only animal who enslaves…and has always held other slaves in bondage under him.” In the essence of understanding our humanity, we have done things that we are ashamed of, things that we hide behind walls in order to move on but Twain reiterates our past selves in order for