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Analysis Of Racism In Huck Fin

            To teach or not to teach? This is the question that is presently on many administrators' minds about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. For those who read the book without grasping the important concepts that Mark Twain gets across "in between the lines", many problems arise. A reader may come away with the impression that the novel is simply a negative view of the African-American race. If we believe that Huck Finn is used only as a unit of racism we sell the book short. I feel that there is much to be learned about Blacks from this book and it should not be banned from the classroom. This is only one of many themes and expressions that Mark Twain is describing in his work. I believe that in Huck Finn slavery is used as insight into the nature of blacks and whites as people in general. Overall, the most important thing to understand is that Mark Twain is illustrating his valuable ideas without pushing them upon the reader directly.I believe that "Huck Finn" teaches a reader two important lessons about the true nature of people. Throughout the book, one of these main lessons is that Blacks can be just as caring as whites. The white characters often view the blacks as property rather than as individuals with feelings and aspirations of their own. Huck comes to realize that Jim is much more than a simple slave when he discusses a painful experience with his daughter. Jim describes how he once called her and she did not respond. He then takes this as a sign of disobedience and beats her for it. Soon realizing that she is indeed deaf, he comforts her and tries to make up for the act of beating. The feeling that Jim displays shows Huck that Jim has a very human reaction and the fact Jim says, "Oh Huck, I bust out crying.'Oh the po' little thing!" (Twain 151), only further proves to Huck that Jim is as caring as he is. Huck's realization allows him to see that Jim is no longer the ordinary slave.


Essays Related to Analysis Of Racism In Huck Fin

1. Huckleberry Fin and Jim's Realtionship (Ch.1-15)

In the book Huckleberry Fin, Mark Twain, tries to show the intolerance and injustice of the society of the South in the times of civil war through the eyes of a child. ... Huck new Jim since he was a child in his old town. ... One day, when Huck went into the cave where he and Jim slept, Huck saw a snake lying in the corner. ... Jim sees Huck as the best friend he ever had; nonetheless, Huck only perceives Jim as runaway black man. ... Then Huck realizes how wrong he was. ...

  • Word Count: 607
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Money and Huck Finn

Huckleberry fin on the other hand cares about money as any adult would. ... Huck never the less refuses to pay money for the entrance to the circus, "I ain't opposed to spending money on circuses when there ain't no other way, but there ain't no use in wasting it on them." ... Huck doesn't pay on other hand instead he sneaks in. ... Huck saved his twenty gold pieces and other money that he is able to get his hands on. ... Even though Huck is careful about the money he is not greedy. ...

  • Word Count: 377
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Huck Finn: A Change of Beliefs

Huck was brought up in a southern society in which racism is accepted and even encouraged, and slaves are household items. ... Huck was born into a 2 racist society and is brought up surrounded by racism. ... This society, some times, unintentionally shows racism, strengthening Huck's immoral ideas. ... Phelps" ignorance of this racism she is doing an injustice to Huck by further embedding this racism into his mind. ... Huck most of all respects how Jim rises through the prejudice and racism of the society to be where he is now and also how he changes Huck's views comp...

  • Word Count: 1554
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Huck's relationship with Jim

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain used Huck and Jim as the protagonists to show the contradiction of the racism in the American society. ... Again, Mark Twain points out the fault of the racism indirectly through Huck's feeling toward Jim. ... Twain intended to make the readers judge that the racism is wrong after reading the novel. ... From Huck's mental development, Twain tries to stress that the racism is "learned", not "given". Huck's feeling toward Jim demonstrates that the racism is clearly incorrect if someone judges it, not biased by any kinds of preju...

  • Word Count: 1236
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

5. The Role of the River of Mark Twain's

Some kids grow up in a world of racism, while others grow up in a society filled with drugs and crime. ... Hucks escape on the Mississippi allows him to develop without the influence of society. ... He abuses Huck both physically and mentally, then one day while pap is gone Huck escapes to Jackson Island. ... Well this is put to the test first when Huck is on Jacksons Island, and he discovers the runaway nigger Jim, well if Huck had been back home with either Pap or Miss. ... En when I wake up en fin you back agin", all safe en soun", de tears come en I could a got down on my knees en...

  • Word Count: 997
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Huck Finn: Morality

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, because Huck was raised under various different settings, Huck struggles with morality: his own and what society has taught him. ... Through his father Huck, was taught that racism is right and that society is often gullible. ... By helping Jim run away, Huck ignores racism to better survive on the island and so that he would not feel "lonesome" anymore (49). ... By protecting Jim, Huck again rejects society's beliefs. ... Huck is simply a child being raised in a not so simple world. ...

  • Word Count: 736
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Huck Finn's Rejection of Society

The reader can see the main character, Huck's, rejection of society as he faces inner turmoil when discovering the greed, corruption, selfishness, racism, and deceit of it. ... Here as Huck is going through with his decision to turn in Jim, Jim reminds Huck of their friendship and his trust in Huck. ... The logical consequences of Huck's action, rather than the lessons society has taught him, drive Huck. ... Huck is a perfect example of existentialism. ... First racism, the feud, and now the King and Duke; Huck experiences many corrupted ways of society as he travels with Jim down th...

  • Word Count: 2222
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Attacking White Racism

Huck's personality and character proves this novel does not support racism. ... But Huck moves past this, though, and befriends Jim anyway. This proves that the book Huckleberry Finn attacks white racism, because the main character, Huck, attacks it. ... But neither Huck nor Jim is stupid, they are just uneducated. White racism comes from whites that think blacks are naturally more stupid and inferior to whites. ...

  • Word Count: 509
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

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