Huckleberry Finn is a novel written by Mark Twain in 1884 and is a staple of American literature, even though it contains strong themes of racial relations that would seem out of the norm in today’s literature. Yet, instead of finding these themes just in old literature we are now finding them in the modern world. This paper will focus on past and modern-day racial relations by looking at historical events and the use of literature.
Before diving into race relations in Huckleberry Finn, readers must understand the historical context of the time written. The novel is set before the civil war, roughly 40-50 years before its publication, Twain wanted to reflect the racist themes of daily life during that time. A couple years before the
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anybody hurt?" "No'm. Killed a nigger." "Well, it's lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt.” (Twain 241)” This proves that people during that time thought African-Americans were less than human and that there lives did not matter as much as white which provides a very unbalanced race relation.
The second example of this race relation is when Huck is confronted with the moral dilemma of turning Jim in. On one hand, he still views Jim as the property of Miss Watson, who helped him read and with manners and such, and he feels guilty. But, on the other hand Jim is his friend and companion. Eventually, Huck decides to go against the racial norms he has been raised with and doesn’t turn Jim in. In brief, this example asks if a person born into a racially insensitive culture can overcome such things, why can’t the reader? Twain was trying to have the same realization for his audience like with what Huck had with Jim. Even though Huckleberry Finn is a fictitious book released in the 1880s, it touches on a very modern issue of race relations between African-Americans and whites. While on the surface, these kinds of race relations might sound like a outdated issue, there are several pieces of modern evidence and proof ranging from criminal records to social perception to stereotypes that point otherwise. For just one example, the race relation between the black lives matter movement and the press. All examples point to white people having an
These social injustices are even more evident when Huck and Jim have to make landfall, and this provides Twain with the chance to satirize the socially correct injustices that Huck and Jim encounter on land. The satire that Twain uses to expose the racism and injustice of society develops along with the adventures that Huck and Jim have.
“All modern literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn,” this is what fellow writer had to say about this classic novel. Still, this novel has been the object of controversy since it was published more than 150 years ago. Some people argue that Huckleberry Finn is a racist work, and that the novel has no place in a highschool classroom. This feeling is generated because a main character in the story, Jim, and other slaves are referred to many times as “niggers.” When Mark Twain wrote this book, he was striving to show the general public that society was wrong in the past, that the way white people thought black people were less than human was a wrong viewpoint. The
Controversy was the immediate response when Mark Twain’s, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was first published, and over 100 years later, the novel continues to wear this controversy with pride. The mixed opinions stem from Twain's purpose: portray racism in a way, that even the racists themselves would notice. Within the novels pages, Twain applies the standard heroic journey to the journey Huck and Finn share of the Mississippi River in order to effectively criticize society. With Huck as the hero, Twain criticizes the stubborn and ignorant nature of society where racism is able to thrive in, by having society portray the villain, and the young hero rise above it.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain talks about his experiences before the Civil War through the eyes of a young boy named Huckleberry Finn. Throughout the story, he points out the hypocrisy of society, morality and the controversial issue of racism and slavery. In today’s world we have different cultures and societies. There are certain views that these societies or communities have held for many years.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain represents his advocation for the propriety of the racial minority through the momentous interracial friendship between Huckleberry Finn and an African American slave named Jim. Racial prejudice is a prominent theme of this novel because it was published in 1884, a period of extreme racial tension following the gruesome Civil War that ended in 1865 with the abolishment slavery in the 13th Amendment. The 13th Amendment, a controversial document in forming the foundation of our country, declares, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the
The novel of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has gained a wide range of audiences internationally due to its realism. Many have criticized the novel due to the use of the word “nigger.” The word is offensive to not only African-Americans, but all diverse ethnic groups, and therefore, educational institutions are seeking a way to abolish the educational curriculum in which young adults have to read the novel. The author of the novel, Mark Twain, created the novel with the intention of making a change socially for all African Americans and to all of America, but really most importantly, to transform and abolish racist ideals. The topic of racism has been vastly discussed over the lapse of time, however before the Civil Rights Movement and
Mark Twain’s stories have made a name for themselves into the realm of the old world and new world. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn not only enlighten and inspire readers, but they also educate them on the tragedy and hardships faced in the olden days: slavery and racism. The reader can infer that Twain portrays slavery and racism through characters seen as abusers or victims.
Racial tension is a worldwide problem based on skin color, appearances, characteristics, and abilities. Racism and discrimination have been used strongly as weapons of dreadful fear or hatred, during all times such as war and conflict even throughout economic downturns. In America, during the 1800s, the antebellum South and North had many differences. White men and black men were considered to be different and, therefore, had different rights. The book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain started controversy ever since it was published.
Robert Fikes, Jr. of San Diego State University presents this idea of a ‘Black Love-Hate’ affair in the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. First, Fikes overviews the national media reporting the substitution of the word, “nigger”, with “slave” and the usage of how this
Twain is showing Huck as an example of how people should act in situations like this; maybe even better. Huck has that “lower than thou” mindset towards Black men and women, where Huck feels superior to them. Although Jim is a slave himself, he too can be considered a racist. “Well, it’s a blame ridicklous way, en I doan’ want to hear no mo’ ‘bout it. Dey ain’ no sense in it” ( Twain 85 ).
African American’s living during that time period was treated like they were slaves and less than human. White America was very ignorant just like today’s white America, They treated African Americans as if they were property or animals. In Adventure of Huckleberry Finn, Twain conveys through Jim and Huck’s father-son relationship that once white America gets to know a person they become more open-minded about equality. By Twain demonstrating that Huck has unlearned the pervading ethos of the South. Through this, Huck finally starts to think of Jim as a human and treat him as equal to white.
Have you ever had a gut feeling that something was wrong, yet you didn’t say anything because it was “Acceptable”? It’s really hard to stand up for what’s right in the heat of the moment, to fight against the flow of society. One boy did just that, Huck Finn. Racism is a issue clearly present in “The Adventures Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain. Racism affected how people perceived and treated Jim, but it isn’t a racist book because Twain uses this book to address the issue of racism. Twain creates a story with many racial issues for Huck to be exposed to. Over the course of the book, Huck matures and starts to think for himself, he starts to discern what’s morally right from what is socially acceptable when the situation arises. Many call Twain’s work “Racist”, but is it really?
The world can be a messy place, but there are always good people in the world. In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, the main thematic premise in the novel is prejudice compels society to take action.The main conflict of the novel revolves around a young boy named Huckleberry Finn. The Book takes place during the civil war, a time where many had averse feelings for black people. Huck oftens speaks in a southern dialect often openly insulting black people like “‘he had an uncommon level head for a ni****’” (79) a prejudice society has argued over time and time again, a prejudice that appears in the world today. Society has often touched base on this conflict by protesting, unfortunately however the prejudice still lingers on.
It is no secret that racism was a big problem in the America during the early 1860’s. Authors and artists found a way to incorporate the ways of life during this time into their work. One of the most famous pieces of literature that involves racism was Mark Twain 's, Huckleberry Finn during the Realism period. The Harlem Renaissance happened 30 years after the publication of Twain’s Huck Finn, and their works still talked about problem with racism and segregation. Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston were two of the most influential African American writers during this time period. Racism and the treatment of African Americans has changed dramatically from time period to time
A person’s looks can not determine how they feel about a certain race of people. Some of the nicest looking peoples harbor deep feelings of hatred towards races other than their own. Characters like Aunt sally, Uncle Earl, and Miss Watson all seem like very nice people, but they all accept and participate in, whether they realize it or not, racism. Almost all of the characters in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain seem to have pre-conceived ideas towards blacks, and the author does not seem to have any trouble writing the words of their pre-conceived thoughts or ideas. Mark Twain has an accepting attitude towards racism in his book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.