The Confirmation And Saving Grace That Both Twain And I

In chapter 31, Huck becomes faced with either helping Jim escape, or to abide by slave laws, which “is still a critique of slavery and racism” (Smith 184). Even though Twain used the word nigger, “the novel still presents teachable moments--provoking conversations about slavery, its moral dilemmas for the country, and its historical consequences” (Smith 184). Mark Twain wrote in a way that “enables its American readers to approach the most profoundly troubling issue in their history without risk of being overcome with the fear and guilt that is attached to this subject” (Kaye 14). Twain’s writing style makes this story so understandable that you fail to notice the gap of 132 years between then and now and you realize how similar things are to this

As a runaway slave accompanying a white boy, Jim cannot expect what Huck could do to him; Huck could turn him in or leave him by himself. Jim also had the opportunity to leave Huck, but having all his faith and trust in Huck, Jim decides to stay, hoping Huck was not lost in the fog. After Jim’s lecture, Huck starts to feel guilty, saying, “It made me feel so mean I could almost kissed his feet to get him to take it back”

Even in his moments of heroism, Jim is an objectionable character.  When he risks recapture in aiding the doctor tending to Tom’s gunshot wound, Jim is embodying the archetypal “good nigger” who lacks self-respect, dignity, and a sense of self separate from what whites want from him.  He is merely a plaything that Tom and Huck use to inspire

People often hesitate to accept what they do not understand. In the absence of love and compassion, it is no question that fear, ignorance, and hatred, all contribute to a melting pot of negativity in the world. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is about the love and friendship cultivated by a young boy and a black slave on the Mississippi River. Despite the pair’s differences, they are able to endure the struggles and difficulties that the toilsome journey brings. Mark Twain, in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, emphasizes the shift in Huck’s view towards slavery by contrasting Huck’s initial tone of reflectiveness to his assertive tone, both collectively addressing the issue of racism in society.

Through the theme of rebellion against society, Huck demonstrates the importance of thinking for oneself and embodies the idea that adults are not always right. This is highlighted in his noncompliance when it comes to learning the Bible and in the decisions he makes when it comes to Jim, decisions that prove to be both illegal and dangerous. By refusing to conform to standards he does not agree with, Huck relies on his own experiences and inner conscience when it comes to making decisions. As a result, Huck is a powerful vehicle for Mark Twain’s commentary on southern society and

comes up with a plan, and Huck is surprised that Tom would risk his reputation for a slave. But

The dissection of the immorality of society is further explored in Tom Sawyer’s scheme to free Jim from the Phelpses’ captivity. Tom, seemingly eager to help Jim escape, creates a plan that seems to exist more for his own amusement than for Jim’s emancipation, a plan that eventually ends in Jim’s recapture and Tom’s injury. Thus, Tom’s plan to free Jim takes on a dark irony as Huck says that Tom is “not mean, but kind”; this is subverted when we discover that Tom has used Jim as a plaything in his game of escape (Evans). Tom and Huck, both boys of about the same age and with similar backgrounds, are a good example of the difference that “sivilized” society makes on the development of the individual. As Tom and Huck plan Jim’s escape, the two represent very different places in their development as individuals; Huck having discovered a new morality through his journey down the Mississippi, and Tom having remained more or less the same as his introduction at the beginning of the novel. While Huck has demonstrated his ability to more fully realize individuals, notably Jim, Tom has been conditioned by society to see slaves as subhuman, and thus has no problem with using Jim as a plaything in his game of adventure. This trivialization of human life, presented by the “civilized” and “kind” Tom, demonstrates the immorality and toxicity of Southern society. Twain also comments on the hypocrisy

Huck is perplexed at this moment when Tom Sawyer, the guy he admires and respects, is about to tarnish his reputation and his family for a slave.

Mark Twain’s classic novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn took place during a tense period in U.S. history. Heated debate over the morality of slavery had sparked and deep divisions were emerging between the northern and southern states. Born in Missouri, a slave state, the novel’s protagonist Huckleberry Finn was raised on values of racism and prejudice. He adhered to these principles as they were all he knew. However, over the course of his journey, Huck’s formerly provincial morality was challenged by his real-world experiences, and he was forced to derive a new set of morals for himself. At the start of the novel, a blind acceptance of slavery was present in Huck’s mind. This was revealed when Huck thought, in reference to Jim’s plan to free his children, “Here was this nigger, which I had as good as helped to run away, coming right out flat-footed and saying he would steal his children – children that belonged to a man I didn’t even know; a man that hadn’t ever done me no harm” (137). Although grateful for Jim’s companionship and reluctant to report him to the authorities, Huck still believed slavery to be a moral practice. As evidenced by this thought process, Huck held on to the values of the slave-owning states in the south, believing that Jim’s children, as slaves, were property. He even felt remorseful at the thought of a man’s slaves being stolen. Regardless of his budding friendship with Jim, Huck was still concretely in favor of slavery. This static view on

Tom and Huck contribute to escape Jim from a prison and to fight the gang. When the man come into the cabin, Jim and the boys immediately head for the river, but Tom is shot on the way to the raft while escaping. Tom says everyone to shove off but Jim insists to stay by saying, “I doan’ a budge a step out’ dis place’dout a doctor , not if it’s forty year (Twain, 276 ).” The statement reinforces Jim as a heroic figure of capable to sacrifice himself. Even though Jim successfully escapes and has freedom right in front of him, Jim refuses to “step out” from the place and allows himself to be recaptured despite the fact that freedom is what Jim desperately wants to earn. Jim’s willingness to risk his life to aid Tom shows his kindness and compassion, which is totally different from what Huck’s society thinks of slave’s humanity. People interpret Jim as a runaway slave, because of the prevalent word “racism” that gives a fact that black as an inferior race, but by showing his kindness and loyalty that is different from a stereotypical slave, Jim defies society’s moral code. Jim finely illustrates his veiled heroic figure and society’s ridiculous blindness because of the labeling of

To Huck, a slave is another’s property or investment; so consequently, he believes Jim is wrong to run from his master. Living in a society tolerant of such deep-rooted racism and prejudice, Jim’s generation is challenged merely to survive.

“He was thinking about his wife and his children, away up yonder, and he was low and homesick…and I do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their’n” (155). After Jim ran away and escaped with Huck, He felt guilty for leaving his family behind. When Huck saw Jim crying in the middle of the night, it was the first time he realized that a slave can care as much about their family as a free person does. “I knowed he was white inside, and I reckon he’d say what he did say… and I told Tom I was a-going for a doctor” (276).

Huck writes a letter to Miss Watson informing her of Jim’s whereabouts. He debates whether to send it to her or not. He tries to pray about his decision, but finally concludes “‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell’—and tore it up” (Twain, 217). This is the truest marker of Huck’s moral development: he now views men by the way they act rather than their stereotypical profiles. So-called “niggers” are “niggers” no longer—they are human beings.

Finally, Twain shows how the slave were treated in the south. The slaves are shown no respect, the slaves are dirt and property only in the white people's eyes. Huck is saying this because that is what Tom’s aunt would want him to say: “‘No’m. Killed a nigger’” (Twain 221). This quote is showing that the African Americans do not matter to the whites. The slaves cannot fight for their freedom because the whites would lynch them so the slaves cannot save themselves. In the article “The Adventures…” they discuss that the African American community cannot own land: “1840s: Under the Slave Codes, enacted by individual southern states, slaves could not own property” (¨The Adventures…” 11). This is showing that slaves are not no contractions people

Despite an ardent view on slavery evident through interactions with Jim, Huck’s slowly shifting view of Jim from that of ignorance to seeming acceptance expresses his ability to stray from flawed societal values to his own developed moral code of conduct. This becomes evident when Huck protects Jim from men who board his raft, by hinting he has smallpox. Although one can see this as compassion for Jim, Huck questions with racist undertones, “s’pose you done right and give Jim up; would you felt better than you do now? No, says I, I’d feel bad” (Twain 127). However, he later affirms himself to “do whatever come handiest at the time.” (Twain 127). At this point, society still influences Huck, but his statement marks his decision to detach from societal values, and eventually allows him to form his own views on Jim. This comes slowly, as Huck cannot shake free from racism.