Humanity of Huckleberry Finn

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Understanding humanity is essential because it forces us to think critically about the challenges that face one as an individual as well as a society. This allows one to blend into a society that is constantly improving itself. Without humanity, civilizations become corrupt. Humanity in Huckleberry Finn is the understanding that others are not sub-human creatures without feelings. However, true humanity is far broader than this one definition. Humanity is being able to ignore the natural instinct of complying with the views of society and instead show the compassion and mercy to see one another as a human being. It is stopping unjust behavior to help others become more equal. Humanity is a blend of kindness, care, and a restoration of dignity. Twain’s Huckleberry Finn implies that Huck must leave “sivilized” society in order to find his humanity.
Twain’s view of humanity is that of a cruel one. He sees people as irrational and unreasoning, which is why he satirically wrote this novel to point out the illogical sense of common standards in the society of his time. Twain’s view of a white society is that they are senseless, greedy, and power-crazed: and he conveys his negative views throughout the actions and thoughts of his characters in Huck Finn. Even though Huck “lit out” from society, he still maintains the absurd views that were held toward African Americans. Huck is essentially given the stereotype of what is seen in culture as the best and the smartest: white upper-middle class kid who is educated(even with his attitude of not wanting to be civilized). Likewise, Tom Sawyer is also given the white boy stereotype being thought of as more educated and civilized, because he read books even though he did not understand their c...

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... deep south. (from the flawed Greatness) However, it’s not really a flaw, but rather another way to add to the satirical tone of the narrative. At first the narrative seems to have the sole motives for Jim’s freedom from slavery and Huck’s freedom from Pap. But we find at the end this was not the case as Jim was freed in the will and Pap was the dead man floating in the house. Furthermore, Mark Twain wrote this satirical narrative, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to reveal human nature to have no morals. It is not until Huck leaves “sivillized” society that he is able to discover humanity not only in his travelling companion Jim, but in himself. The book may have small faults. But Twain was not a writer who strived to eliminate every little flaw and write some ultimate piece of perfection but rather to convey the bigger picture and his negative views of society.

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