racism in huckleberry finn essay

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

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Though Mark Twain wrote Adventures of Huckleberry Finn after the abolition of slavery in the United States, the novel itself is set before the Civil War, when slavery was still legal and the economic foundation of the American South. Many characters in Twain’s novel are themselves white slaveholders, like Miss Watson , the Grangerford family, and the Phelps family, while other characters profit indirectly from slavery, as the duke and the king do in turning Miss Watson’s runaway slave Jim into the Phelpses in exchange for a cash reward.

While slaveholders profit from slavery, the slaves themselves are oppressed, exploited, and physically and mentally abused. Jim is inhumanely ripped away from his wife and children. However, white slaveholders rationalize the oppression, exploitation, and abuse of black slaves by ridiculously assuring themselves of a racist stereotype, that black people are mentally inferior to white people, more animal than human. Though Huck ’s father, Pap , is a vicious, violent man, it is the much better man, Jim, who is suspected of Huck’s murder, only because Jim is black and because he ran away from slavery, in a bid for freedom, to be with his family.

In this way, slaveholders and racist whites harm blacks, but they also do moral harm to themselves, by viciously misunderstanding what it is to be human, and all for the sake of profit. At the beginning of the novel, Huck himself buys into racial stereotypes, and even reprimands himself for not turning Jim in for running away, given that he has a societal and legal obligation to do so. However, as Huck comes to know Jim and befriend him, he realizes that he and Jim alike are human beings who love and hurt, who can be wise or foolish. Jim proves himself to be a better man than most other people Huck meets in his travels. By the end of the novel, Huck would rather defy his society and his religion—he'd rather go to Hell—than let his friend Jim be returned to slavery.

Slavery and Racism ThemeTracker

Slavery and Racism Quotes in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

“When they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote again…I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?”

“People will call me a low down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum—but that don’t make no difference. I ain’t agoing to tell, and I ain’t agoing back there anyways.”

“Yes—en I’s rich now come to look at it. I owns myself, en I’s wuth eight hund’d dollars. I wisht I had de money, I wouldn’ want no mo’.”

Well, he [Jim] was right; he was most always right; he had an uncommon level head, for a nigger.

“My heart wuz mos’ broke bekase you wuz los’, en I didn’t k’yer no mo’ what become er me en de raf’. En when I wake up en fine you back agin’, all safe en soun’, de tears come en I could a got down on my knees en kiss’ yo’ foot I’s so thankful. En all you wuz thinkin ‘bout wuz how you could make a fool uv ole Jim wid a lie.”

It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger—but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither.

Jim said it made him all over trembly and feverish to be so close to freedom. Well, I can tell you it made me all over trembly and feverish, too, to hear him, because I begun to get it through my head that he was most free—and who was to blame for it? Why, me .

I do believe [Jim] cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their’n. It don’t seem natural, but I reckon it’s so.

“All right, then, I’ll go to hell”—and [I] tore [my note to Miss Watson] up.

I’m bound to say Tom Sawyer fell, considerable, in my estimation. Only I couldn’t believe it. Tom Sawyer a nigger stealer!

Racism in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain Term Paper

Introduction, the theme of racism, works cited.

Huckleberry Finn is a novel written by Mark Twain, which was published in 1888 (Wieck 23). Since then, the book has been a topic of controversial debates because of its dominant theme of racism. It has received a lot of criticism because of challenging authority, making fun at the concept of religion, and offering misleading advice to children. The novel has been banned in many schools because of the theme of racism. The author uses the word “nigger” so many times that the readers get the feeling that Twain is promoting racism (Wieck 43).

In today’s world, the word has been replaced by the phrase “African American.” In the media, the word is usually censored or replaced with the phrase “the N-word.” Throughout the novel, Twain uses characters and certain events to explore the theme of racism. The book is considered as one of the greatest works in the genre of literature.

For that reason, it has been reprinted by certain publishing houses that have replaced the offensive word with ‘slave.” The book was published before the Civil War when racism was rampant in the American society. Other critics have argued that the novel is not racist but appears so because many readers have little or no understanding of Twain’s use of language.

Due to repetition of the word “nigger” in the novel, many schools have banned the book and certain libraries have censored it. The reason for censoring and banning the novel is the theme of racism, which is explored through characters such as Jim and Huck. Jim is a black slave who escapes from the custody of his owner Miss Watson. Throughout the book, the author makes certain descriptions and characterizations that many critics describe as racist.

Critics who endorse the novel argue that censoring the book is a sign of ignorance because many readers do not read between the lines in order to understand the author’s message (Wieck 46). They argue that people who criticize the book possess superficial understanding of Twain’s literary style. The first description of Jim in the book is negative. He is described as illiterate, highly superstitious, and of low intelligence. Huck’s racist parents influenced him into developing negative attitudes towards black people.

The reason for Jim’s situation is understandable. He was not allowed to go to school and was mistreated and abused. Twain depicts slavery as it happened during his times because slaves were mistreated, abused, and barred from attending school (Wieck 48). He uses the character of Huck to express his opposition to slavery and racism. He uses the characters of Huck and other white people such as Miss Watson to demonstrate the absurdity of racism.

The character of Pap is used to advance the theme of racism in the book. On one incident, he is angered by the realization that certain states allow black people to vote (Wrobel 6). He cites the case of a college professor. Even though the professor is more educated and has a better lifestyle than him, Pap decides to refrain from voting in future because the professor has the right to vote. He thus says,

Thinks I, what is the country a-coming to? It was ‘lection day, and I was just about to go and vote myself if I warn’t too drunk to get there; but when they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote agin. (Twain 28-29)

Pap knows that he is financially, intellectually, and socially inferior to the professor. Therefore, it is ironical for him to despise the professor simply because he is of a different race. Unlike Pap who does not have a job and is a drunkard, the professor has a job and lives a good life. Pap believes that he is above the professor because he is white.

He believes that nothing can make an African American better than a white person. It is evident that Huck was raised in a racist environment (Wrobel 6). However, throughout the book, he gradually changes his perception about African Americans.

In chapter 15, Huck is angered by the fact that he has to apologize to a black person. Even though he hates it, he apologizes anyway. His apology does not mitigate the severity of Twain’s advancement of racism in the book. Huck is a little different from other racist characters. Even though he is racist, he acts in a way that shows his little respect for black people (Wrobel 6). Maybe Twain uses Huck to show the differences in people’s perception of race. Huck says,

It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn’t do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn’t done that one if I’d a knowed it would make him feel that way. (Twain 89)

Literary critics argue that the author created the character of Huck to show that even though many white people were racist, some of them respected black people. Such incidents reveal Twain’s feelings regarding racism.

In chapter 16, Huck talks ill of Jim. He says that it is stupid of Jim to come back with the intention of stealing his own children. Huck further says Jim’s notion that he can free his children has resulted from his own weakness. He then contradicts himself by saying that Jim wants to steal children that belong to a man that he does not know. Huck quotes an offensive saying that advances the theme of racism in the novel. He says,

Just see what a difference it made in him the minute he judged he was about free. It was according to the old saying, “Give a nigger an inch and he’ll take an ell.” Thinks I, this is what comes of my not thinking. Here was this nigger, which I had as good as helped to run away, coming right out flat-footed and saying he would steal his children—children that belonged to a man I didn’t even know; a man that hadn’t ever done me no harm. (Twain 92)

Twain narrates an incident involving Jim and Huck in order to express the absurdity of racism. After meeting Jim in the Island, Huck decides not to report him to Miss Watson. He is confused because he is unable to decide whether to obey the force of society that describes Jim as a slave or the force of their friendship that sees him as an equal human being (Wrobel 7). In the closing chapters of the book, Huck and Tom come to the realization that Jim is not property but a human being who is their equal.

Many instances are presented in the book in which Huck fails to understand why his friend Jim is a slave. Twain uses Huck to express society’s attitude towards slavery and racism. To show the evil nature of racism, the author gradually transforms the character of Jim throughout the book (Wrobel 7). At the end, the reader is challenged to modify the description of Jim given at the beginning of the book.

The voice of society is represented by Huck. However, Twain uses other characters to refute the ideas presented by Huck with regard to racism.

Another character that advances the theme of racism is Duke. In chapter 26, Duke says that black people are thieves. He says that it is impossible for the black man who is responsible for cleaning to refrain from stealing money. Twain uses the word “borrow’ instead of “steal.” Duke says that,

Because Mary Jane ‘ll be in mourning from this out; and first you know the nigger that does up the rooms will get an order to box these duds up and put ’em away; and do you reckon a nigger can run across money and not borrow some of it? (Twain 181)

In the book, Duke is depicted as a thief. Therefore, it is hypocritical of him to say that all black people are thieves. Duke has a similar attitude to other white characters in the book that welcome white strangers into their homes but lock up black strangers (Wieck 53). This shows that they are racist. The skin color of black strangers is not a good enough reason to lock them up. Their actions show that they do not like black people.

In the novel, African Americans are depicted as slaves and unworthy human beings. This is evident from the character of Huck at the beginning of the book. According to Huck, black people are slaves and white people are superiors. However, this perception changes after a friendship develops between him and Jim. He comes to the realization that Jim was like him. He learns this from observing Jim’s personality and actions.

The realization shows that it is naive and hypocritical of Huck to consider black people as slaves because of their skin color (Wrobel 9). For instance, Jim cries when he fails to find Huck. After he shows up, Jim hugs him affectionately. Jim’s actions change Huck’s perception of black people.

He realizes that they are human beings who possess feelings just like white people. Twain satirizes the value of black people through the character of Huck. For instance, Huck describes a riverboat accident that delayed him as he made his way to Aunt Sally’s home. In the accident, no one dies but a black person (Wieck 55). To Huck, the life of an African American is not precious.

Before the end of the novel, the author uses the character of Tom to show that race is a trite issue because all human beings are equal. The character of Jim depicts African Americans as intellectually inferior because in several instances throughout the book, it is difficult for Jim to express himself clearly because he is illiterate. However, Twain smashes this notion before the last chapter. Tom says that,

They hain’t no RIGHT to shut him up! SHOVE!—and don’t you lose a minute. Turn him loose! He ain’t no slave; he’s as free as any cretur that walks this earth! (Twain 291).

From this excerpt, it is evident that the writer expresses his opinion regarding racism. He closes the book by stating that all human beings are equal regardless of their race. This is evident from the actions of Miss Watson who set Jim free after declining to sell him. Not all characters had change of heart with regard to racism.

Within the context of the aforementioned excerpt, Tom argues with Aunt Sally who is happy about Jim’s recapture. Tom vows to set Jim free even if everyone in the room disliked the idea (Wrobel 18). Even though he wants to set Jim free, he convinces him to stay locked up for his personal amusement.

Huckleberry Finn has received critical reviews because of its dominant theme of racism. The character of Jim and Huck are used to advance the theme. In the initial chapters, Huck considers black people as slaves and white people as superior. He despises them. His attitude is largely due to the racist environment in which he grew in. his dad, Pap, is a drunkard and jobless man who is also racist. Twain’s goal of writing the novel was to show the absurdity of racism and slavery especially in the South.

However, over the years, many people have misunderstood his motive. Before the end of the book, Twain uses the character of Tom to show that all human beings are equal regardless of their race. Tom vows to set Jim free because according to him, all human being are equal and should be free. The transformation of Huck’s attitude towards Jim is proof enough that Twain authored the novel to show that he detested racism.

Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . New York: Cricket House Books LLC, 2013. Print.

Wieck, Carl. Refiguring Huckleberry Finn . New York: University of Georgia, 2003. Print.

Wrobel, Isabella. Racism in Huckleberry Finn . New York: GRIN Verlag, 2010. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2020, April 3). Racism in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racism-in-the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn-by-mark-twain/

"Racism in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain." IvyPanda , 3 Apr. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/racism-in-the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn-by-mark-twain/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Racism in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain'. 3 April.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Racism in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain." April 3, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racism-in-the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn-by-mark-twain/.

1. IvyPanda . "Racism in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain." April 3, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racism-in-the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn-by-mark-twain/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Racism in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain." April 3, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racism-in-the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn-by-mark-twain/.

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: the Mirror of Racism in the South

This essay will delve into the representation of racism in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” It will explore Twain’s portrayal of race relations and the controversy surrounding the novel’s use of racial language and stereotypes. More free essay examples are accessible at PapersOwl about Huckleberry Finn.

How it works

Mark Twain mirrors the racism of the south throughout his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain is making it evident that he is saying that society and its views are racist. This theme is very evident throughout the book and is constantly seen throughout almost every chapter. This enforces the idea that Twain is trying to use the way the characters treat African Americans inside The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to make a commentary on the racist tendencies of the south.

Twain uses The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to frequently display the racism in south and the southern culture by mirroring in the way the characters feel and talk about the slaves, how Pap represents the extreme racism in the south, and finally how the majority of the characters are slave owners and treat their slaves without humanity. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is mirroring a racist society based on the way the characters feel and talk about the slaves, how Pap represents the extreme racism in the south, and finally how the majority of the characters are slave owners and treat their slaves without humanity.

Twain uses the characters in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to mirror the racist ways of society through the characters feelings, thoughts, and speech about the slaves and Jim. This is seen when Uncle Silas and a few other men talking about hanging Jim because he ran away but they choose not hang him because it is possible that they might have to pay money for killing Jim. An example of this is when Huck overhears their conversation about how “some of them wanted to hang Jim for an example to all the other n-word around there, so they wouldn’t be trying to run away like Jim done…but the others said don’t do it, it wouldn’t answer it al all; he ain’t our n-word, and his owner would turn up and make us pay him, sure. So that cooled them down a little.”(279). Although Huck and Tom say it was them they are punished but Jim is blamed showing that the characters feel as if Jim is not a human but only property. This demonstrates that many people in society view slaves as property. Another example of how characters mirror the racism in the south is the way Tom speaks to Jim in a derogatory and how he treats his imprisonment as a game not as a rescue for another human being. For example when Jim says that Tom’s ideas are not going to work Tom gets mad Huck describes Tom as ” “( ) and when Tom’s Aunt Polly asks why he tried to save Jim Tom says that he ” “( ).

Tom getting mad at Jim and implying that he is idiotic displays that Tom thinks Jim is nothing but ignorant for not agreeing with his views. Tom also reflects these views by only helping for the adventure which shows Tom thinks of Jim as property, ignorant, and stupid but also as a way for him to have fun. This mirrors a racist society because Twain is using the way Tom behaves to demonstrate that society doesn’t think African Americans are human beings but unintelligent and a game for themselves to benefit from. Another way Twain reflects the racism in the south and in society is through Aunt Sally not caring about a slave dying when Tom’s ship gets blown up. For example when Huck tells Aunt Sally a slave died on the boat she replies ” ” ( ). Twain uses Aunt Sally’s indifference to show how society does not care about the lives of African Americans or colored people. Aunt Sally’s views on slaves and African Americans reflect societal views on the lives of slaves. Through these characters speech and views Twain mirrors the racism in southern society and culture. Finally Twain represents society through Mrs. Loftus saying that they think the n-word did it and pg 250 for good quote on racism Para 2 Twain shows the racism in society by Pap mirroring the extreme racist and hypocritical views in the south and in society. Pap is used to demonstrate these by the way his character talks, behaves, and thinks.

For example when Pap is talking to Huck about how african americans are allowed to vote in some states he says” When they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote again…I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?”( ). Through Pap’s behavior Twain demonstrates how Pap’s views are similar to those of in southern society and are very hypocritical of himself. Pap’s views help us see how Twain is mirroring the extremer views in southern culture such as the Ku Klux Klan. He also uses Pap to reflect and bring attention how his views are hypocritical too. Another way Twain uses Pap ro mirror the south is the irony of Pap not being able to read and write is similar to African Americans but is still a racist. This mirrors how even though Pap is the same level of intelligence as Jim or other slaves, he is still treated better because of his race. For example Pap says that ” “( ). E.G the black professor who can vote. This is Pap’s way of belittling them.

This displays that even though the educated african american is a better addition to society Pap is treated better because of his race even though he is a terrible person which is representing the hypocrisy of the racism in the south. Finally through Pap speaking about Jim Twain shows us how Pap’s speech represents the racist mindset of the time. For example Pap saying that African Americans are a nuisance and he is representing a stereotypical white southerner because of his very hypocritical and hateful views. Twain uses Pap’s character to show how southern culture and society are hypocritical towards African Americans and how Pap’s speech, views, and behavior reflect this racism too.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn — Criticism of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn on the Basis of Racism

Criticism of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn on The Basis of Racism

• Categories: Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

About this sample

Words: 1124 |

Published: Dec 3, 2020

Words: 1124 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, huckleberry finn: analysis of racism, historical context and racial tensions, the ending: a departure from the narrative, stereotypes as a tool to combat racism, jim's characterization and stereotypes, language and the use of epithets, the role of education and context.

• Twain, M. (1885). The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . Charles L. Webster And Company.
• Marx, L. (1953). Mr. Eliot, Mr. Trilling, and Huckleberry Finn. American Scholar, 22 (4), 433-449.
• Smith, K. S. (1988). Huck, Jim, and American racial discourse. American Literary Realism, 20 (3), 17-29.
• Lester, N. A. (1998). Humor and humanity in the adventures of huckleberry finn. The Mississippi Quarterly, 51 (1), 37-56.
• Gribben, A. (2011). Introduction: Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (pp. xi-xiv). NewSouth Books.
• Kakutani, M. (1996). Twain's ' Huckleberry Finn ' Is a Great Book—but Is It a Racist One?. The New York Times .
• Morrison, T. (1996). Introduction: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In The Oxford Mark Twain (pp. vii-xii). Oxford University Press.

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Book Club: Discuss ‘James,’ by Percival Everett, With Us

For The Book Review Podcast’s May book club, we’ll talk about “James,” Percival Everett’s radical reimagining of “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”

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By MJ Franklin

MJ Franklin is an editor at the Book Review.

Welcome to The Book Review Book Club. Every month, we select a book to discuss on our podcast and with our readers. Please leave your thoughts on this month’s book in this article’s comments. And be sure to check out some of our past conversations, including ones about “Good Material,” by Dolly Alderton, and “Demon Copperhead,” by Barbara Kingsolver.

You know him as Jim, the sidekick in “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” He’s an enslaved Black man who finds himself fleeing down the Mississippi River with Huck, as both attempt to reach very different types of freedom. Along the way, Jim is teased, duped, subjugated and otherwise maligned, in part because of Huck’s penchant for trickery and in part because of the mechanisms of slavery and racism in the American South in the 1800s.

Though Jim’s plight is harrowing, he’s not the star of this Mark Twain classic; he’s relegated to a variety of supporting roles, including comic relief, deus ex machina and agent for Huck’s moral awakening.

Now allow the novelist Percival Everett to reintroduce him. In Everett’s latest book, “James,” Jim becomes, you guessed it, James. The broad strokes of Twain’s character are still there — James is still an enslaved man who runs away after he hears that his master is going to sell him. But in Everett’s hands, James is no longer a helpless companion. Now, he’s a remarkably smart linguist, reader, writer and philosopher who is forced to play dumb for survival but is actually fighting for his family, freedom, dignity, self-determination and the right to tell his own story.

For this month’s Book Review Podcast book club, we’re chatting about “James,” by Percival Everett . The discussion will air on May 31 , and we’d love for you to join the conversation. Share your thoughts about the novel in the comment section of this article by May 22, and we may mention your observations in the episode .

Here’s some related reading to get the conversation started:

Our critic Dwight Garner’s review of the novel: “ What sets ‘James’ above Everett’s previous novels, as casually and caustically funny as many are, is that here the humanity is turned up — way up. This is Everett’s most thrilling novel, but also his most soulful.” [ Read the full review here. ]

Our critic A.O. Scott’s notebook about “James,” “Demon Copperhead” and reimagined classics: “For Everett’s James, his own humanity is not in doubt, but under perpetual assault. His relationship with Huck takes on a new complexity. How far can he trust this outcast white boy? How much should he risk in caring for him? To answer those questions would be to spoil some of Everett’s boldest and most brilliant twists on Twain’s tale.” [ Read the full critic’s notebook here. ]

Norman Mailer’s 1984 essay for The New York Times, about rereading “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” for the novel’s 100th anniversary: “Classics suffer by their distance from our day-to-day gossip. The mark of how good ‘Huckleberry Finn’ has to be is that one can compare it to a number of our best modern American novels and it stands up page for page.” [ Read the full essay here. ]

Revisit our March book club discussion of Percival Everett’s 2001 novel “Erasure,” which was recently adapted into an Oscar-nominated film : “ I love watching his mind on the page. He’s funny, he’s irreverent, he’s sarcastic. There’s nobody that writes like him. And I have to tell you that ‘Erasure’ totally blew me away, just because of the sheer number of textures in this book.” —Joumana Khatib, Book Review editor. [ Listen to discussion here. ]

We can’t wait to discuss the book with you. In the meantime, Happy May and happy reading!

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