Social Commentary In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

Unfair racial hierarchies, dominating races, and bigotry. A time where society is divided by hate and driven by prejudice. An epidemic that is quickly consuming communities with no cure in sight. This may awaken memories of past civil rights events or even times of slavery, however, these statements can still be relevant in the present day. Many prominent people and renowned authors have discussed this same topic of race and have altered society’s viewpoints in the process. Late author Mark Twain composed a sequel to one of his earlier stories that provided significantly influential social commentary of his time. Written in the early 1880’s, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is about a boy who runs away along with his caretaker’s slave and …show more content…
There are countless times where slavery is brushed aside in the story and shows how this event is regarded as something less than it really is. There are also times where the characters contradict themselves when they discuss slavery. One character expresses his contradictory statement by commenting “‘tain’t right and ‘tain’t fair for you to stay thar all the time, and never give nobody a chance; other folks has their rights as well as you” (130). However, the rights he talks about only apply to white people. The rights of African Americans have been taken away, causing them to be regarded as property instead of human beings. Society at that time has been taught to accept what was happening with slavery because that is the way things have always been. Huck, while not having a wonderful relationship with his father, learned only one thing from his time together “I learnt that the best way to get along with his kind of people is to let them have their own way” (113). He learned very quickly not to question anything regarding adult matters. He was always silenced and not given the ability to learn why things were the way they were. Fortunately, with more exposure to this injustice, characters throughout the story were able to finally recognize the pain their actions were causing. After slaves on Miss Mary Jane’s property were sold she confided in Huck to …show more content…
The issues of racism, slavery, and authority are seemingly perpetual characteristics of society that affect the nature of people’s actions. Mark Twain’s sequel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published in attempts to provide stealthy social commentary that would enlighten and transform members of society for the better. Twain’s nonchalant addition of extreme views on society gave people insight as to what type of environment they have created for people of color. Experiencing these events through the eyes of a caring child helped readers from all time periods to relate to the storyline and realize the effects of their actions. Whether or not these characteristics continue to spread down generations all depends on society’s ability to accept the changes. “Brushing history aside..is no solution to the larger challenge of dealing with its legacy” (Fishkin). Prominent figures and renowned authors continue to touch on these issues today in hopes of healing society’s painful past, however difficult it may be. Furthermore, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn continues to be influential because many of the aspects included in the story still reflects what is found in the present day, and without this, society would be unable to find parallels between the past and present that creates awareness in them to spark change for future