Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Racist or Writer of Era

“Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Racist or Writer of Era”

What would you think if you heard “nigger” or “poor white trash” in every other sentence in a novel you were reading? Society usually reflects its ideals and standards through its most popular literature. Every prejudice and standard of inequality are all stated and accepted as the way of life. Most authors will create their publishing that will be adverse in the way the society sees itself. This is the way Twain approached with “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”. He used a plot that dealt with such controversial topics such as mental & physical abuse in all aspects. Because of the language Twain uses in his novel, many today believe it to promote racism. In turn, they have called for banishment in school systems. I believe if people could get beyond Twain’s language in the novel, which is a reflection in which it was written, many would understand that this is a writing of era, not one to discriminate against races. In my opinion, I do not see where it could influence students to think in this manner. He wrote in a time in which these phrases and words were commonplace. I believe that his writing would give children great insight into the time and era in which he wrote. Children are far more accepting of differences in races and people as a whole than ever before.

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“Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was story of Huck’s struggle to win freedom for himself and Jim, a Negro slave. The main character, Huckleberry Finn, spends much time in the novel floating down the Mississippi River on a raft with a runaway slave named Jim. Before he does so, however, Huck spends some time in the fictional town of St. Petersburg where a number of people attempt to

Influence him. Huck’s feelings grow stronger through the novel especially in his feelings toward his friends, family, blacks, and society. Throughout the book, Huck usually looks into his own heart for guidance. Moral intuition is the basis on which his character rests on.

As the story continues, Huck and Jim’s friendship took plenty of time to develop and had many bumps in the road; their relationship develops into a strong one that will last a long time. Through it all, Huck triumphed over society and followed his heart, and Jim helped Huck to mature and became free. Their journey to friendship is one to remember. Huck is a developing character throughout the novel. Much of his development is due to his association with Jim and his increasing respect for the black man. Huck and Jim start their long journey down the Mississippi River to Cairo where Jim will find his freedom. It is on this journey where Huck slowly develops a respectful friendship with Jim. Later fate decides to test Huck and they run into a group of slave hunters. Huck is still a little confused between right and wrong and decides to turn Jim in, but at the last second Huck begins to lie in order to keep Jim from being discovered. Throughout the course of the novel Huck changed from a boy who shared the narrow-minded opinion which looked down on Negroes, to one where he viewed

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them as equals. In my opinion this would be his greatest emotional step in the novel. Huck is a very personable narrator. He tells his story in plain language. It is through his precise trusting eyes that the reader sees the world through his novel.

I believe that “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is a book that can be used to explain racial conflict in the years ago when racism was first introduced. People that feel as though this book should be ban should realize that we are still living in a time that racism exists. I see people that feel as though this book is racist have their own issues with race, and you should lighten up when the issues come up. “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” should be allowed in all public school systems in the United States, and actually it should be mandated for students to read this book. With that being said, his writing did not come without critics. Unfortunately, Twain did not live long enough to see how his writing caused such a uproar in modern day society. Critics such as Kaye, Sloan, Scott, and Hurt, voice their opinions very vividly.

Many people feel the same as I do. Twain opened light to what many have not be told; what many have no explanation to what happened in history. Frances Kaye states that Twain “sugar coats reality”. She believes that it helps you swallow the bitter pill of reality, which is our very own history. I believe she felt as though Twain brought a brighter light on the shameful acts of our fathers. I believe that the words contained within “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” may be hard to take, but it was written about a time