Subjects:
Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is or is not a racist novel. The
question boils down to the depiction of Jim, the black slave, and to
the way he is treated by Huck and other characters. The use of the
word "nigger" is also a point raised by some critics, who feel that
Twain uses the word too much and too loosely.
Mark Twain never presents Jim in a negative light. He does not
show Jim as a drunkard, as a mean person or as a cheat. This is in
contrast to the way Huck's (white) father is depicted, whom Twain
describes using all of the above characterizations and more. We see
Jim as a good friend, a man devoted to his family and loyal to his
He is, however, very naive and superstitious. Some critics say
that Twain is implying that all blacks have these qualities. When Jim
turns to his magic hairball for answers about the future, we see that
he does believe in some foolish things. But all the same, he is
visited by both blacks and whites to use the hairball's powers. This
type of naivete was abundant at the time and found among all races-the
result of a lack of proper education.
. . .
The second example is where Huck doesn't tell Jim's whereabouts, which
would return Jim to slavery, and instead chooses to "go to Hell" for
his decision. This is in
contrast to the way Huck's (white) father is depicted, whom Twain
describes using all of the above characterizations and more. They come from people
who are hurt by racism and don't like seeing it in any context. If Twain wanted to write an historically
accurate book, as he did, then the inclusion of this word is totally
necessary.
However, they must realize that this novel and its author are not
racist, and the purpose of the story is to prove black equality. Some critics say
that Twain is implying that all blacks have these qualities.
Mark Twain never presents Jim in a negative light. They come from people
who are hurt by racism and don't like seeing it in any context.
These claims that Huckleberry Finn is racist are not simply
attempts to damage the image of a great novel. The first one is where Huck is disgusted by
Jim's plans to steal his own children, who are "someone else's
property. There are two main examples
of this in the story.
It is next necessary to analyze the way white characters treat Jim
throughout the book. " While Huck is still racist here, Twain has written the
scene in a way that ridicules the notion that someone's children can
actually be the property of a stranger because the father is black. The
examples of the way Jim is denigrated: by being locked up, having to
hide his face in the daytime and how he is generally derided, are
necessary for historical accuracy.
However, they must realize that this novel and its author are not
racist, and the purpose of the story is to prove black equality.
Essay's Topics
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