Huck Finn And Slavery Essay, Research Paper
Huck and Slavery In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,
Huck Finn s relationship with slavery is very complex, and
often contradictory. He has been brought up to accept
slavery. He can think of no worse crime than helping to free a
slave. Despite this, he finds himself on the run with Jim, a
runaway slave, and doing everything in his power to protect
him. Huck Finn grew up around slavery. His father is a violent
racist, who launches into tirades at the idea of free blacks
roaming around the countryside. Miss Watson owns slaves,
including Jim, so that no matter where he goes, the idea of
blacks as slaves is reinforced. The story takes place during
the 1840 s, at a time when racial tensions were on the rise, as
Northern abolitionists tried to stir up trouble in the South. This
prompted a backlash from Southerners, which entrenched the
institution more than ever. Huck Finn could not be against
slavery, because if he were, he would be a traitor to the South
and its way of life. Huck s first moral dilemma comes when he
meets Jim on Jackson Island. Huck s initial reaction on
hearing of Jim s escape is one of shock; he could not believe
someone could run away from his master. He cannot believe
that Jim would stoop so low as to run away from his master,
which he sees as a terrible sin. Huck does promise to keep
his secret, however, despite knowing that people will call him
a low-down abolitionist and despise him for keeping mum (p.
57). Although Huck disagrees vehemently with the idea of
runaway slaves, he quite likes Jim, and so warns him that
dogs are coming on to the island. This shows that Huck s
heart and Huck s mind are often in disagreement with one
another when it comes to the issue of slavery. Despite being
good friends with Jim, Huck does not hide his obvious
prejudice against blacks. Because blacks are uneducated, he
sees them as stupid and stubborn. He frequently tells stories
to Jim, mainly about foreign kings and history. When Jim
disagrees with Huck, he becomes very stubborn and refuses
to listen to explanations. Huck eventually concludes, you
can t learn a nigger to argue (p. 107). Jim also seems to
accept that whites are naturally superior to blacks. He knows
that Huck is far smarter than he is. When Tom Sawyer and
Huck are planning an elaborate breakout for Jim, he allows
their outrageous plan to continue because they was white
folks and knowed better than him (p. 328). T
acceptance of whites as superior to blacks shows how deeply
rooted slavery was in Southern culture. This made it very
difficult for Huck to help Jim. When Tom Sawyer says he will
help free Jim, Huck is very disappointed. He had never
thought that Tom Sawyer, of all people, would be a nigger
stealer (p. 299). Huck had always considered Tom
respectable and educated, and yet Tom was prepared to
condemn himself to damnation by freeing a runaway slave.
This confuses Huck greatly, who no longer knows what to
think about his situation with Jim. When Huck is forced to
make a decision regarding slavery, he invariably sides with
his emotions. Huck does not turn Jim in, despite having
several chances. His best chance to do what he believes is
right comes as they are rafting towards Cairo, Illinois. Huck
finally manages to convince himself that turning in Jim is the
only way to clear his conscience, and so he sets off towards
shore to tell the authorities. Before he has gone halfway, a
skiff with slave hunter stops him and asks if the man aboard
Huck s raft is black or white. This is the perfect opportunity for
Huck to do what he, as a white southerner, should do.
Instead, he tells them that the only man aboard is his father,
who has smallpox. Later in the story, he writes Miss Watson a
letter revealing Jim s whereabouts. As he is about to send it,
however, he remembers all Jim and he have been through
together; how he is Jim s only friend in the world. Finally Huck
remarks All right then, I ll go to Hell, and tears up the letter.
These scenes confirm for the reader that Huck does not have
the heart to betray a friend, black or white. Huckleberry Finn
has a very complicated relationship with the concept of
slavery. Being a Southerner, he naturally supports the
institution, as it is all he has ever known. Once he meets Jim,
however, his opinions begin to change. He cannot bring
himself to turn in Jim, although he believes it to be the moral
thing to do. During his adventure down the Mississippi, Huck
constantly sees evidence of the good inherent in Jim and
other blacks, as well as the wickedness evident in some of his
white acquaintances. This causes Huck to consider the fact
that blacks are not necessarily inferior to whites. Because of
this, he manages to justify, in his own mind at least, both
slavery and his freeing Jim. He is thus trapped in a
contradiction, which he must deal with for the entire
adventure.