As a resounding anti-slavery supporter, Mark Twain discreetly presented his views to readers in his novel "The adventures of huckleberry Finn". Even though it was published after the time of governmentally condoned slavery, its setting was that of the pre-antebellum south, where a young white boy is conflicted by the social norms of slavery and facilitated racism. And through the main character's confrontation with said norms along with the seemingly "Human" actions/emotions of his run away companion, Mark Twain successfully created a rebuttal to contradict society's rational behind slavery. However, he did not openly refute the practice of slavery in the novel. And since at times he showed multiple actions backing up the insignificance of …show more content…
He constantly found himself battling on whether to help Jim or turn him in, which would be more sociably acceptable. But as Huck befriended him, he came to realize that Jim was more like him than he previously assumed. And after witnessing Jim's emotional outburst concerning his daughter, Huck thought that Jim "cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their’n. It don’t seem natural, but I reckon it’s so" (Twain 117). But this goes against everything he would have been taught to support slavery. One of the rationales behind slavery is that black people aren't humans, but "animals"/"savages". But by Twain showing Jim as having emotions that even a white person can identify with, he displays how the conception that blacks are emotionless animals is untrue. And later on, when he once again struggles with turning in Jim, Huck's actions sheds light on how cruel slavery is and the worth of a black persons life. He came to the decision that he would even risk going to hell to set Jim free, as he stated "All right, then, Ill go to hell" (Twain 162). After experiencing how Jim treated him and how much he acted like a normal "white person" would, Huck was able to realize that Jim's life was equally as valuable as his own and that forced labor would be injustice. Additionally, Twain used Jim's actions in contrast to characters such as the king, Duke, and Pap to further prove his
In his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain uses colloquialism throughout his writing in order to highlight the time period and setting of the novel. In this passage the reader notices the slang and difference in dialect from other parts of the book. There is a stark difference between how white folks talk and how African-American individuals talk. The purpose of separating the two different dialects is to emphasize the two separate worlds that blacks and whites live in, yet, coexist with each other as well. Furthermore, the reader is able to connect to whoever is speaking. For this specific case we as a reader can connect to the black individuals and how they may struggle in society. Illiteracy and unique diction such as double
Be that as it may, while Huck needs to recognize his association with Jim, he can separate himself in different ways. To begin with, he can call him a "nigger" - a word whose derivation Huck likely knows nothing about. At that point he can fill the word with importance, with the implications he gained from his Pap: about the unconscionable lives that niggers lead; how their extremely nearness can aggravate a terrible circumstance; and how connecting with them can recolor a decent man's whiteness. "It was by the well-known axiom, 'Offer a nigger a bit of leeway and he'll take an ell,' " Huck says. "Here was this nigger which I had on a par with fled, coming appropriate out level footed and saying he would take his youngsters - kids that had
Part of the reason that makes Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain a masterpiece is because of the way he forced the readers to fondle the details to find a greater meaning. He places details in the language for the readers to further their understanding of the characters and get a good feel for the setting of the novel. Twain places a heavy emphasis on Jim’s dialect, he does this by making Jim’s speech hard to read and digest. He does this to show Jims place in society, his level of education, and to show how most slaves during the time period talked. Twain also uses his language to show how slaves were treated in different states and to show the amount of education they receive. For example
Occasionally there are times when it is more beneficial to do what is necessary or useful to you as opposed to doing what's right. Huck Finn is met with a similar situation when he is stopped on his raft and he is forced to conjure up a lie to defend Jim. After the situation has been resolved, Huck decides that he "wouldn't bother no more about it, but after this always do whichever come handiest at the time".
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a novel written by Mark Twain, is an important literary work because of it's use of satire. It is a story written about a boy, Huck, in search of freedom and adventure. In the beginning of the story you learn what has happened since The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Huck and Tom found a hidden treasure that was later invested for them. Huck was taken in by Mrs. Watson, who attempted to teach him religion and proper manners, but was taken away when his father returned. Pap, being a drunk and abusive father, imprisons Huck because he wants the money Huck has invested for him. Huck fakes his own death and hides out on Jackson's Island, where he discovers Jim, Mrs. Watson's former slave, is also hiding. Jim
Twain’s purpose in writing that part was to get people to realize and understand how ridiculous it is to treat someone differently just because of the way they look. Twain’s depiction of Huck’s moral struggle has been just one of the ways he gets his readers to understand the idea he was trying to convey. Throughout the book, Huck begins to gradually change his views on the issues of racism and slavery. He is quoted saying, “Alright then, I’ll go to hell.” (p.195) Right before tearing up a letter he wrote to Miss Watson telling her where Jim was. Huck realizes that he would feel even more guilty if he turned in his friend. Throughout the book, it had been hard for Huck to separate himself from society’s view of African Americans, and this part is a definite turning point for him, but also an important lesson. Huck’s decision reminds the reader that society doesn’t always know what is best, and makes people realize that the right decision might not always be the popular one. As Huck’s friendship with Jim begins to form as the book progresses, he soon realizes that his perception of Jim and other African Americans isn’t entirely
In “Rethinking Huck,” Mintz implicated that truly understanding the book is difficult through his use of rhetorical strategies in his writing. Mintz begins by praising Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for its influence on American literature and its superiority compared to other novels, describing it as “a picaresque tale of adventure, a coming of age story, and a novel of escape and liberation” and much more. After praising the book with support from other people, he introduces the negative criticism Twain’s novels receives over “its frequent use of racial expletives, its condescending portrait of the runaway, Jim, and its misogyny, depicting women either as nurturers or as controlling and repressive figures.” Mintz uses a contrasting structure in order to implicate that people cannot see the true purpose of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as an informational, satirical piece of literature tackling the issue of
Huck and Jim form a friendship that transcends the boundaries of race and the morals of the society they live in. The strongest example from the text that shows how well their relationship has developed is when Jim is caught due to the duke and the king selling him out. After pondering many ideas and reflecting on his past actions, Huck eventually decides to save Jim and that “[He’ll] go to hell” (195). Even after living his life in a racially ignorant society, Huck still realizes that it’s better for him to save his friend than to give up and let Jim become enslaved again. Along the lines of morals, Huck also makes a good decision when the duke and the king are impersonating the Wilkes brothers.
While he chooses not to hand Jim over, his position remains unclear. His moral compass is muddled. “I was stuck…but after this always do whichever come handiest at the time”. (l60). A true turning point reveals itself through Jim’s emotional vulnerability to Huck about Jim’s devotion to his family. While still bound by white southern culture, this added dimension to Jim’s character allows Huck to see past traditional stereotypes. Huck begins to view Jim more as a person and less as a slave. Having said that, Huck never reaches the point that readers so desperately wait for. While he decides to help Jim, Huck views his decision as morally wrong. It is Twain’s way of keeping Huck from overcoming the bounds of his culture, and Huck’s incomplete moral
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a Mark Twain classic, wonderfully demonstrates pre-Civil War attitudes about blacks held by whites. Twain demonstrates these attitudes through the actions and the speech of Huckleberry Finn, the narrator, and Jim, Miss Watson's slave. These two main characters share a relationship that progresses from an acquaintance to a friendship throughout the novel. It is through this relationship that Mark Twain gives his readers the realization of just how different people's attitudes were before the Civil War. Twain also reveals the negative attitudes of whites toward blacks by the cruel manner in which Jim is treated with such inferiority.
Huck knows what is acceptable in society, but he constantly finds his conscience pulling him in the opposite direction. For instance, when Huck contemplates the fact that he is traveling with a runaway slave, he resolves to turn Jim in because of that is what society tells him is the right thing to do. He is paddling out to shore when Jim tells Huck that he was his best friend and the first white man to ever keep a secret for him. This deeply affects Huck and he realizes that he cannot turn Jim in, even when he runs into an assemblage of men searching for slaves that have run away. Twain is especially critical of slavery in Southern society in this novel. When Jim tells Huck he plans to earn enough money or find a way to steal his children away from their owner, Huck pities the slaveholder saying, “Here was this [slave] which I had as good as helped to run away, … saying he would steal his children- children that belonged to a man I didn’t even know; a man that hadn’t even done me no harm.” Huck is not a bad person; he is simply blinded by his time. Twain is pointing out the social irony of a man having to steal his children because a white man owned them.
.” (Twain, ix) He openly and firstly acknowledges the irregularities in this story and explains that it is not on a whim that he uses this specific type of language but with the purpose to expose the world to a new and original form of literary design. The main character in this story is Huckleberry Finn, the complete opposite of a traditional European hero; he is not the typical king or nobleman that traditional stories tell of. He is an everyday boy uneducated and seemingly unworthy, Huckleberry Finn is the epitome of a real American every day hero. Mr. Twain writes this book as a way to show that just by simply maturing and growing up so that Huckleberry Finn can make the right decisions in all aspects of his life; it makes him a noble character. “We are asked to trust this not as a sport, but rather as a well-considered and well-honed document. . . We are invited to experience and to appreciate this narrative in terms of its thought, its thoughtfulness, and its craft.” (Fertel, 159 –Free and Easy”)
He seeks to evaluate his own perspective, society’s perspective, and attempts to find out through religious means although he doesn’t know what to say. Huck’s own experience made him think about these options unlike other people who would just be fine with selling Jim. Huck never really had any person whom he could rely on after he fled away from his abusive father. The relationship between Huck and Jim allowed for them to know and understand each other on a deeper level. Mark Twain might have shown this on purpose as an indirect way to tell his audience that after slaves were freed, they weren’t different than white people, and had the same feelings and
Hence Huck's comment “people would call me a low down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum" (Twain 131) shows that his society does not tolerate those who are against slavery. Throughout the novel, Huck is forced to deal with his conscience as to whether or not assisting Jim in his escape from slavery is the right thing to do. Despite what society thought, Huck knew that his intentions were good. Huck also knew that if going to hell meant that he had to turn is back on his true friend, he would just have to go to hell. After Huck disregards the teachings of society and chooses his friend Jim over heaven, he creates his own sense of right and wrong. Huck combining, helping Jim escape slavery, with going to hell, shows readers how engrained slavery was in southern society.
Throughout the story, Huck has a moral battle with himself trying to decide whether or not he should help Jim escape slavery. Huck felt bad about taking Jim away from his rightful owner and plans to give Jim back but Jim reaches Huck’s soft side. “Jim won’t ever forgit you, Huck; you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had; en you’s de only fren’ ole Jim’s got now,” Jim says with a heart full of gratitude. (205) “I was paddling off, all in a sweat to tell on him; but when he says this, it seemed to kind of take the tuck all out of me,” Huck expressed, showing the vulnerability that I did not know Huck had. (205) I also realized the whole time, the Duke and the King were trying to send Jim back into slavery. One of the signs that seemed suspicious to me was when they asked, “Was Jim a runaway nigger?” (284) The King gets the opportunity and takes it: he sells Jim for “forty dirty dollars.” I felt bad for Jim because nobody deserved to be treated like that but I am glad that he is eventually freed with the help of Huck and