Racism In Adventures Of Huckle Essay Research

Racism In Adventures Of Huckle Essay, Research Paper

Racism in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

During the Antebellum period of American history and for decades after, authors

often wrote works regarding the tragedies of slavery. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,

written by Mark Twain, is one of the most famous works of literature dealing with the

issue of slavery. Unfortunately, some claim that Twain s writings are offensive to black

readers, perpetuates cheap slave era stereotypes, and deserves no place on today s

bookshelves (Salwen 1). This work reflects a boy s struggle dealing with slavery while

growing up in the South during the era of slavery. In fact, the style of the book, which is

the style of Huck, is what makes it a far more convincing indictment of slavery than the

sensationalist propaganda of Uncle Tom s Cabin (Eliot 64). Furthermore, Huck Finn

savages racism as thoroughly as any document in American history (Morrow 159).

However, Attempts have been made to deprive children of the right to read Adventures

of Huckleberry Finn on the grounds that it is a racist tract (Morrow 155). Twain s

controversial usage of literary devices such as the vernacular of the time period and

various speeches by the characters has raised many issues as to the worth of the work

itself. Teaching Adventures of Huckleberry Finn can surely open students eyes to the

racial tension caused by ignorance.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the deepest stories written on slavery.

The main question that arises from readers and critics alike is What is the book really

about. (Salwen 1) This question is one that the reader will have to answer for himself

after reading the novel. As with any good work of literature, there always remains a range

of interpretation that is still correct though it may differ from other readers. T. S. Eliot

commented on Twain s writings stating that he wrote with just the right details and no

more, and leaving the reader to make his own moral reflections (64).

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is about the realization that everyone deserves to

be treated as a human being, as Huck finds out while on the river journey with Jim, and

about the horrors of slavery. Jim, as Twain presents him, is hardly a caricature. Rather,

he is the moral center of the book, a man of courage and nobility, who risks his freedom–

risks his life–for the sake of his friend Huck (Salwen 2). The trials and tribulations that

both Huck and Jim encounter while on the river serve to shape not only their relationship

as friends, but also to transform Huck s view of sivilized life. Having gone through his

life up to the present, he sees it as a whole and sums up what he sees in his decision to run

away from civilization (Miller 22). Huck yearns to find something better in life than

childish games of bandit and hypocritical prayers to save one s soul as is evident in his

decision to run away and to fake his death.

Twain s intent in writing Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is to satirize the

ridiculous lifestyle of the South during the slave era and to illuminate in a personal manner

the tragedies of slavery. One such example of the personal portrayal of the injustice of

slavery is a recantation that Jim gives to Huck while on the river. In a way that almost

made it seem okay, Jim tells Huck the story of his family and how they are separated as a

result of slavery. In the beginning of the novel, Huck uses the word nigger to describe

Jim and the other slaves living on the Widow Douglas s plantation. From his experiences

during the journey on the river, Huck learns from within himself that he does not agree

with slavery. This is evident in his attempt to save Jim from being turned in and in his

risking his life for Jim in the end of the book. The law [at that time] [ ] says Huck is

doing an awful thing in harboring Jim (Morrow 158).

A closer reading of the book reveals Twain s serious satiric intent. For instance, in

the scene when Aunt Sally hears of a steamboat explosion, Twain s usage of satire comes

across as particularly harsh.

Good gracious! anybody hurt. she asks.

No m, comes the answer. Killed a nigger (Twain 167).

Anyone who feels that Mark Twain meant this literally is clearly missing his true intent.

Twain is trying to effectively underscore the chilling truth about the old south–that it was

a society where perfectly nice people did not consider the death of a black person worth

their notice (Salwen 1).

Understanding what the piece is saying and recognizing that it is written in satiric

form, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn proves to be some of the most significant

anti-racist literature rather than the pro-slavery work it is often proclaimed to be (Fishkin

3). These judgments often come from readers abhorred by reading only a few chapters of

the book. [I]f the content of Huck Finn is read carefully, it is clear that the message

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