How Does Twain Use Language In Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is written in the viewpoint of a homodiegetic narrator, where the titular character, Huck Finn, serves as the narrator of his novel. As such, the language used is centered around what a twelve-year old boy in Missouri would sound like. Much of his language choices points to him being uneducated and of low socioeconomic stature. This is evidenced at the beginning of the novel where Huck is seen being "sivilized" by the Widow and Miss Watson in the ways of proper society. He is taught about religion and is indoctrinated with what is right and what is wrong. And in the novel, racism is seen as acceptable. Twain's use of language also encapsulates the time period in which Huckleberry Finn is set. The overt use of the n-word exposes Southern society's prejudice against black people during a time where slavery was still present. This theme is present throughout the book. …show more content…
He had written a letter to Miss Watson about Jim's whereabouts in order to absolve his guilt of rejecting society's ideals about black people when he first decided to help Jim escape. During this time, he uses both the social and religious beliefs taught to him by white society in order to make the correct decision. He prays to God, but achieves no answers. His taught beliefs don't satisfy him. It is at this point where Huck starts to question his learned values. "I'd got to decide, forever, betwixt two things" is Huck's way of choosing between what society had taught him and what his experiences with Jim had taught