Twain’s Not Racist
Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is essentially the story about the relationship between a fourteen-year-old white boy and an escaped, adult, African-American slave. The novel is required reading in high schools and colleges across the United States, however, the racist language and racial stereotypes cause a lot of debate in the classroom (Carey-Webb). The novel paints a vivid picture of a history that makes readers feel the pain of America’s racist past. This discomfort has led students, parents and some teachers seeing the novel and the author as racist (Mensh and Mensh 112). Despite the appearance of racism in the novel, the underlying message is in support of racial equality. Mark Twain was a realist. He used …show more content…
Jim is an escaped, African American, slave. By creating this character, Twain forces the reader to see Jim as a complete person. Jim is portrayed as silly and superstitious. In chapter eight, Huck narrates, “Some young birds come along, flying a yard or two at a time and lighting. Jim said it was a sign it was going to rain. He said it was a sign when young chickens flew that way, and so he reckoned it was the same way when young birds done it” (Twain 47). Later, in chapter nine Jim wants to set up camp in a cavern on a hill. Huck does not want to use the cavern because he does not want to have to climb up and down the hill. Jim tells Huck “them little birds had said it was going to rain” (Twain 50). When they are getting ready for bed it began storming and Huck says how nice it is. Jim answers, “Well, you wouldn’t a ben here ‘f it hadn’t a ben for Jim. You’d a ben down dah in de woods widout any dinner, en gittn’ mos’ drownded, too; dat you would, honey. Chickens knows when it’s gwyne to rain, en so do de birds, chile” (Twain 51) This shows readers that Jim’s superstitions are based on knowledge and life experience. When Jim and Huck face dilemmas, Jim consistently chooses the correct path. Many critics complain that Jim is portrayed as naïve, but this trait is just Jim’s belief in and loyalty to his friends. This loyalty is shown in chapter forty, when he risks his freedom to stay with Tom Sawyer. Tom has been shot and Jim
Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is essentially the story about the relationship between a fourteen-year-old white boy and an escaped, adult, African-American slave. The novel is required reading in high schools and colleges across the United States, however, the racist language and racial stereotypes cause a lot of debate in the classroom (Carey-Webb). The novel paints a vivid picture of a history that makes readers feel the pain of America’s racist past. This discomfort has led students, parents and some teachers seeing the novel and the author as racist (Mensh and Mensh 112). Despite the appearance of racism in the novel, the underlying message is in support of racial equality. Mark Twain was a realist. He used …show more content…
Jim is an escaped, African American, slave. By creating this character, Twain forces the reader to see Jim as a complete person. Jim is portrayed as silly and superstitious. In chapter eight, Huck narrates, “Some young birds come along, flying a yard or two at a time and lighting. Jim said it was a sign it was going to rain. He said it was a sign when young chickens flew that way, and so he reckoned it was the same way when young birds done it” (Twain 47). Later, in chapter nine Jim wants to set up camp in a cavern on a hill. Huck does not want to use the cavern because he does not want to have to climb up and down the hill. Jim tells Huck “them little birds had said it was going to rain” (Twain 50). When they are getting ready for bed it began storming and Huck says how nice it is. Jim answers, “Well, you wouldn’t a ben here ‘f it hadn’t a ben for Jim. You’d a ben down dah in de woods widout any dinner, en gittn’ mos’ drownded, too; dat you would, honey. Chickens knows when it’s gwyne to rain, en so do de birds, chile” (Twain 51) This shows readers that Jim’s superstitions are based on knowledge and life experience. When Jim and Huck face dilemmas, Jim consistently chooses the correct path. Many critics complain that Jim is portrayed as naïve, but this trait is just Jim’s belief in and loyalty to his friends. This loyalty is shown in chapter forty, when he risks his freedom to stay with Tom Sawyer. Tom has been shot and Jim