The Adventures of Huckelbery Finn
Mark Twain wrote "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" in the 1800's. During this time slavery was socially acceptable. Even in the church it was taught that there was nothing wrong with slavery. Black people were often referred to as "niggers". Huck, even though he was a friend of Jim, didn't even think twice about calling a black person a nigger. Huck would say things like "Give a nigger an inch and he'll take an ell."(86) He didn't see anything wrong with using language like this. He didn't see anything wrong with it because he was taught to call black people niggers just like his dad did and everyone else around him did also. During this period in history in the south, that is how people talked. I think the meaning of the word nigger was different then than it is now. The word nigger was used in this book because in the 1800's it was common language. It did not have the same impact on a person back then as it does today. Jim even uses the word nigger freely
He says, "I wouldn't 'low no nigger to call me dat. as if it does not have any meaning to it. Huck does not pay attention to the fact that Jim is black, and a nigger, and he befriends him. When Huck found Jim on Jackson Island, Jim trusted Huck enough to tell him what he had done. He kept thinking, "What had poor Miss Watson done to you that you could see her nigger go off right under your eyes and never say one single word?"(85) But even knowing this, he helped Jim anyway. The simple fact that Jim belonged to Miss Watson made it hard for Huck's conscience to help him escape from slavery. He is the one who helped Jim escape to freedom when nobody else would have cared. Huck's love and dedication to Jim helps us over look the frequent use of the word nigger. This just shows us that during this time people were taught that there was nothing wrong with slavery. Huck knew it was wrong to help a slave run away. If there is anyone in this novel that has an anti-racism attitude, it is Huck. He always felt bad about helping Miss Watson's slave run away. It is kind if ironic that Miss Watson, a proper woman that attends church regularly who calls herself a Christian, owns a slave. "(77) Jim does not seem to be offended by the word because he uses the word himself. The only reason for the use of the nigger in this book is because of the vernacular in this area.
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