Racism In Huck Finn

Lauren Masterson
Mr. Repp
Honors American Lit. Per. 1
4 May 2014
Huckleberry Finn; the Deep South Exposed
By: Mark Twain
Mark Twain used the backdrop of a children’s adventure novel to expose the post-Civil War Deep South for what it really was; highly prejudice and slow to change. Some people may argue, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is merely an interesting sequel to the already successful, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”. But, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is much more than that. Twain used the “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” to show how the majority of people in the Deep South continued to be highly prejudice, often corrupt, and slow change. Through Jim, a “black” man, Twain shows how “blacks” are every bit as human and compassionate as “whites”. And, in Huck, he shows how a logical person went through a metamorphous to break away from the traditions of the Deep South to realize “blacks” are people too. In this story, Twain successfully shed light on the unsavory side of the Deep South at a time when our country wasn’t necessarily ready to face it.
An argument can be made that Twain was trying to write an interesting story about how a boy, Huckleberry Finn (Huck), who ran away from home had many adventures while rafting down the Mississippi. They may also argue that Twain’s writing in character consistent with the times and location in which the story was taking place was too racist for its intended audience; young adults.
“A child should not have to read something they don’t feel comfortable with”, said Kathy Monteiro (Born to Trouble)
And, as many of mentioned in Peter Salwen’s article that, “(Twain’s) writing is offensive to black readers, perpetuates cheap slave-era stereotypes, and deserves...

... middle of paper ...

...evailed over the “traditional” thinking of the Deep South; Huck came to see “blacks” as people too.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is so much more than just a teen’s novel. Through Twain’s harsh language reflective of the times and location and the use of characters Twain showed how much the thinking of the majority of people in the Deep South fought progression. Mark Twain use of Miss Watson, pap, the duke and the king and others to show just how many thoughts and traditions where opposed to seeing “blacks” as equals. Through Jim, Twain showed that “blacks” are people / equals. And, in Huck, Twain showed how a logical person could progress, despite the views and morals of the Deep South, to see “blacks” equals. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn succeeded in exposing the Deep South for what it really was; highly prejudice and extremely reluctant to change.