Huck Finn

Few books in American literature have been both as influential and as thoroughly debated as Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The question whether or not Huck Finn should be banned has been posed for more than a hundred years, yet still shows no sign of going away. It is due to Mark Twain’s repeated use of the word “nigger” that many attempts to ban the novel from schools have been made. Although some argue that the novel is extremely racist, a careful reading will prove the opposite. Huckleberry Finn remains one of the greatest classics of American Literature and although it is highly controversial due to racism, I do not find it to be a racist novel.

As we look into the issues of racism in Huckleberry Finn we must first look at the time and setting of this book. Twain wrote this book before the Civil War and during slavery when black people were known as property rather than people. Twain displays the truth about slavery, including issues that surround it such as runaway slaves like Jim. There were many slaves that escaped by running away and a countless amount that attempted to run away due to their harsh living conditions. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn seems to be racist for the most obvious reasons…because the word “nigger” is used throughout, but since the action of the book takes place before the Civil War, it would be amazing if that word was not thoroughly used.

Due to Huck’s upbringing, he starts to believe that slavery is part of the natural world, but as he wrestles with his conscience, he decides to stick with Jim rather than betray him. If this book were about racism, why would Huck worry if he lost Jim or not (and vice versa)? Throughout the entire novel, they displayed care for another and stuck by each other’s sides. Every time that Huck had the chance to turn Jim in, he could never do it. He was a boy that had been raised in the South to dislike black people, yet he cared enough for Jim to betray his upbringing and be a loyal friend. Huck knows that he is breaking the law by helping Jim escape, but in the end he decides that even if it means his damnation, he will not betray his friend.

This point is proven when Huck quotes:

“I got to feeling so mean and so miserable I most wished I was dead. Everytime he danced around and says, “Dah’s Cairo!” it went through me like a shot, and I thought if it were Cairo