Huckleberry Finn is a popular American classic written by Mark Twain. Although it is a popular classic, it is surrounded by many debates and questions over the book’s controversial issue of racism. The story is about a young boy named Huck Finn, who is running away from civilization with a runaway slave named Jim. The story covers Huck’s character development and realization of Jim’s caring personality, that leads to the two becoming good friends. Huckleberry Finn is not a racist book because of the time period it was written in, the fact that Twain shows Jim in a positive manner, and themes used throughout the book. Huckleberry Finn is not a racist book because of the time period the story was written in. The book was written in the late 1800s. Critics of the book believe the story is racist because there are slaves and the ‘n’ word is used.
‘The word is there for a reason,’ says Jeff Nichols, the executive director of the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Conn. ‘The word is terrible, it’s hurtful, but it’s there for a reason,’ to convey the language and attitudes …show more content…
Jim may be called the ‘n’ word or slave during the story, but his personality does not carry the negative connotations that come with those words. “Rather, he [Jim] is the moral center of the book, a man of courage and nobility, who risks his freedom- risks his life- for the sake of his friend Huck” (Salwen). Jim is constantly caring and respecting Huck throughout the story, whether it be taking over his watch or listening to Huck’s judgments. Valkeakari talks about how Twain shows Jim’s caringness during the hairball scene. Twain presents Jim as an adult who stops to listen to Huck’s struggles and anxieties. Huck is scared of his father and Jim responds to this by showing true kindness and generosity. This is beautiful and ironic because many people during this time question Jim’s full humanity (Valkeakari
‘The word is there for a reason,’ says Jeff Nichols, the executive director of the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Conn. ‘The word is terrible, it’s hurtful, but it’s there for a reason,’ to convey the language and attitudes …show more content…
Jim may be called the ‘n’ word or slave during the story, but his personality does not carry the negative connotations that come with those words. “Rather, he [Jim] is the moral center of the book, a man of courage and nobility, who risks his freedom- risks his life- for the sake of his friend Huck” (Salwen). Jim is constantly caring and respecting Huck throughout the story, whether it be taking over his watch or listening to Huck’s judgments. Valkeakari talks about how Twain shows Jim’s caringness during the hairball scene. Twain presents Jim as an adult who stops to listen to Huck’s struggles and anxieties. Huck is scared of his father and Jim responds to this by showing true kindness and generosity. This is beautiful and ironic because many people during this time question Jim’s full humanity (Valkeakari