Mark Twain lived through the Civil War and the Reconstruction Era. The goal for Reconstruction was to achieve full and political equality for blacks and future generations. During the Reconstruction Era, political change was easy to achieve. For the Confederate States to be readmitted back into the Union, the states had to have at least ten percent of the voting population to pledge full loyalty to the Union. Political change was easy to achieve, but social change was not. It was difficult for whites to adjust with freed slaves, which therefore caused racism and prejudice. Through the characters in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain criticizes the morals of a civilized society. In the beginning of the novel Twain depicts the society
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As Jim and Huck Finn become closer, Huck Finn feels guilty for helping a slave run away from his owner, and helping him to freedom. Even though no one from society is on the raft to shape the views of Huck Finn, the norms of society still lingers in Huck Finn’s thoughts. As the journey of Huck Finn and Jim progresses, Huck Finn begins to have a guilty conscience for helping Jim escape, and for stealing Miss Watson’s property. Twain portrays his criticized views through Huck Finn’s guilty conscience, “I felt good and all washed clean of sin for the first time” (213). Huck Finn does not even think twice about why Jim ran away from Miss Watson, but he does think twice about going to hell and committing a sin. Huck Finn does not think twice about Jim because Huck was taught that a slave is essentially, not a human, but property. Historically, slaves were not considered humans, but as property. An example would be the Dred Scott v. Sandford landmark case. Dred Scott believed he was a freed slave, since he entered a free state, while Sandford (slave owner) argued that Scott is not free due to the 5th Amendment, “No man shall be deprived of life, liberty and property”. The case decided in favor of Sanford. This case also declares Missouri Compromise as unconstitutional because it deprives property owners (slave owners) and men their right to own
As Jim and Huck Finn become closer, Huck Finn feels guilty for helping a slave run away from his owner, and helping him to freedom. Even though no one from society is on the raft to shape the views of Huck Finn, the norms of society still lingers in Huck Finn’s thoughts. As the journey of Huck Finn and Jim progresses, Huck Finn begins to have a guilty conscience for helping Jim escape, and for stealing Miss Watson’s property. Twain portrays his criticized views through Huck Finn’s guilty conscience, “I felt good and all washed clean of sin for the first time” (213). Huck Finn does not even think twice about why Jim ran away from Miss Watson, but he does think twice about going to hell and committing a sin. Huck Finn does not think twice about Jim because Huck was taught that a slave is essentially, not a human, but property. Historically, slaves were not considered humans, but as property. An example would be the Dred Scott v. Sandford landmark case. Dred Scott believed he was a freed slave, since he entered a free state, while Sandford (slave owner) argued that Scott is not free due to the 5th Amendment, “No man shall be deprived of life, liberty and property”. The case decided in favor of Sanford. This case also declares Missouri Compromise as unconstitutional because it deprives property owners (slave owners) and men their right to own