Huckleberry Finn Synthesis Essay

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is widely considered an American classic. The author, Mark Twain, holds strong control over the language he uses in his stories. This is a talent he uses in order to develop his characters, plot, and satirize issues of his time. A particular example of this is the quote “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a n***** - but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither” written by Twain in the titular character’s point of view (Twain 65). In this one sentence, Twain is able to use both language and satire to characterize the narrator, Huckleberry Finn, as a southern boy with societal ideals and a young child with a need for a parental figure.
The aforementioned

quote is included in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in its fifteenth chapter. Twain uses the dialect and diction contained within the sentence to demonstrate Huck’s illiteracy and accent.

For instance, the word “warn’t” is very distinctly improper English. Huck has only had very basic literacy lessons which is embodied in his use of this single word. This also demonstrates an accent within Huck’s speech. He was raised in Missouri which gave him a strong southern accent. Another example of this is the use of the phrase “humble myself.” Twain intends to paint Huck as the picture of a southern gentleman. However, Twain also attempts to demonstrate that these ‘southern gentlemen’ are not all charm and chivalry, and neither is Huckleberry. Huck uses the n word in reference to his friend and the man he has just wronged. Despite his guilt and regret at hurting this man, Huck uses a heavily derogatory racial slur. By using this word, Finn exposes the influence society has had on him. During modern times, the n-word is considered one of the most if not the most offensive word in the English language. This is all due to the meaning it held during Twain’s time and before. Huck is using this word toward someone he almost

considers a friend. Thus, simply because his friend is black, Finn refers to Jim with a word that is derogatory, demeaning, and cruel. While this word is truly unspeakable, were Twain to have ignored its use and referred to black people by another, less offensive word, he would not provide the same meaning. This word is vital in characterizing Huck and the society the boy lives in. A kind, thoughtful boy about to apologize to a black man refers to his elder and better with contempt that he does not recognize. Due to the society he was raised in, Huck simply has the n-word in his vocabulary as the word for black people. He does not understand the extremely negative connotations. Had he understood what the word means, he may not have used it. Twain writes in this word many times throughout the book as a constant reminder that even the sweet southern gentlemen, like Huck, are marred by the societal view that black people are worthless.
This quote not only characterizes Huck’s background, but also his needs.

Once again, the use of the n-word is relevant. This word explains Huck’s ingrained opinion of black people. He considers them inferior to the point of near inhumanity. While these ideas are mostly subconscious, this hereditary opinion proves just how desperate Huck is to have a father or simply a friend. Huck’s mother died, his father abused him, and his caretaker, the Widow, forced him to be something he was not. Huck’s loneliness is further intensified by the staging of his own death. At this point in the story, Huck truly has no friends who know he is alive and does not expect to see them again. Thus, Huck turns to Jim. This is proven by the entire meaning of this sentence which is that Huck apologizes for hurting Jim. Both the hesitation and the use of the n-word demonstrate Huck’s poor opinion of Jim but he apologizes all the same. Jim is the only person left to Huck and no matter how the boy feels about his companion, he strives to remain on good terms with Jim. This constant desire to please Jim demonstrates Huck’s loneliness true childhood. Twain includes this relationship to demonstrate to readers that, no matter how many adventures he goes on or how many fights he is in, Huck is still just a little boy. Like any other boy, he just wants love and attention. Since Jim is the only one to provide this, Huck must overcome his discriminatory opinions of his elder in order to meet his own needs. As

demonstrated through the n-word and Huck’s hesitation, the boy does not fully think of his companion as an equal but somehow, Huck also manages to think of Jim as a father and a friend.
Twain uses strong language throughout the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This quote is simply one example of the heavy use of language that is implemented to achieve one goal which is, in this case, the characterization of Huckleberry Finn. Through this one small portion of his book, Twain explains that Huck is a young boy from the south with strong desires for love and a major internal conflict between his ingrained racism and his love for his newfound friend and father figure. Mark Twain’s books may not have the most eloquent plot line nor the characters of modern day that readers fall in love with but he is an incredible writer all the same, simply through his use of language.