РефератыИностранный языкHeHey Essay Research Paper Huckleberry Finn

Hey Essay Research Paper Huckleberry Finn

Hey Essay, Research Paper


Huckleberry Finn – A Racist Novel?


There is a major argument among literary critics whether


Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is or is not a racist novel. The


question boils down to the depiction of Jim, the black slave, and to


the way he is treated by Huck and other characters. The use of the


word “nigger” is also a point raised by some critics, who feel that


Twain uses the word too much and too loosely.


Mark Twain never presents Jim in a negative light. He does not


show Jim as a drunkard, as a mean person or as a cheat. This is in


contrast to the way Huck’s (white) father is depicted, whom Twain


describes using all of the above characterizations and more. We see


Jim as a good friend, a man devoted to his family and loyal to his


companions.


He is, however, very naive and superstitious. Some critics say


that Twain is implying that all blacks have these qualities. When Jim


turns to his magic hairball for answers about the future, we see that


he does believe in some foolish things. But all the same, he is


visited by both blacks and whites to use the hairball’s powers. This


type of naivete was abundant at the time and found among all races-the


result of a lack of proper education. So the depiction of Jim is not


negative in the sense that Jim is stupid and inferior, and in this


aspect of the story clearly there is no racism intended.


It is next necessary to analyze the way white characters treat Jim


throughout the book. Note that what the author felt is not the way


most characters act around Jim, and his feelings are probably only


shown through Huck. In the South during that period, black people were


treated as less than humans, and Twain needed to portray this. The


examples of the way Jim is denigrated: by being locked up, having to


hide his face in the daytime and how he is generally derided, are


necessary for historical accuracy. So, Mark Twain had to display Jim’s


treatment in this manner, even if it is not the way he felt.


Huck, however, does not treat Jim as most whites do. Huck looks at


Jim as a friend, and by the end of their journey, disagrees with


society’s notion that blacks are inferior. There are two main examples


of this in the story. The first one is where Huck is disgusted by


Jim’s plans to steal his own children, who are “someone else’s


property.” While Huck is still racist here, Twain has written the


scene in a way that ridicules the notion that someone’s children can


actually be the property of a stranger because the father is black.


The second example is where Huck doesn’t tell Jim’s whereabouts, which


would return Jim to slavery, and instead chooses to “go to Hell” for


his decision. This is again Twain making a mockery of Southern values,


that it is a sin to be kind to black people.


Another reason that is given to say this novel is racist is the


use of the word “nigger.” This is not a good reason because this is


how blacks were referred to then. To have used the word Negro or


African-American would have taken away from the story’s impact and


make it sound stupid. If Twain wanted to write an historically


accurate book, as he did, then the inclusion of this word is totally


necessary.


These claims that Huckleberry Finn is racist are not simply


attempts to damage the image of a great novel. They come from people


who are hurt by racism and don’t like seeing it in any context.


However, they must realize that this novel and its author are not


racist, and the purpose of the story is to prove bla

ck equality.


Huckleberry Finn – A Racist Novel?


There is a major argument among literary critics whether


Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is or is not a racist novel. The


question boils down to the depiction of Jim, the black slave, and to


the way he is treated by Huck and other characters. The use of the


word “nigger” is also a point raised by some critics, who feel that


Twain uses the word too much and too loosely.


Mark Twain never presents Jim in a negative light. He does not


show Jim as a drunkard, as a mean person or as a cheat. This is in


contrast to the way Huck’s (white) father is depicted, whom Twain


describes using all of the above characterizations and more. We see


Jim as a good friend, a man devoted to his family and loyal to his


companions.


He is, however, very naive and superstitious. Some critics say


that Twain is implying that all blacks have these qualities. When Jim


turns to his magic hairball for answers about the future, we see that


he does believe in some foolish things. But all the same, he is


visited by both blacks and whites to use the hairball’s powers. This


type of naivete was abundant at the time and found among all races-the


result of a lack of proper education. So the depiction of Jim is not


negative in the sense that Jim is stupid and inferior, and in this


aspect of the story clearly there is no racism intended.


It is next necessary to analyze the way white characters treat Jim


throughout the book. Note that what the author felt is not the way


most characters act around Jim, and his feelings are probably only


shown through Huck. In the South during that period, black people were


treated as less than humans, and Twain needed to portray this. The


examples of the way Jim is denigrated: by being locked up, having to


hide his face in the daytime and how he is generally derided, are


necessary for historical accuracy. So, Mark Twain had to display Jim’s


treatment in this manner, even if it is not the way he felt.


Huck, however, does not treat Jim as most whites do. Huck looks at


Jim as a friend, and by the end of their journey, disagrees with


society’s notion that blacks are inferior. There are two main examples


of this in the story. The first one is where Huck is disgusted by


Jim’s plans to steal his own children, who are “someone else’s


property.” While Huck is still racist here, Twain has written the


scene in a way that ridicules the notion that someone’s children can


actually be the property of a stranger because the father is black.


The second example is where Huck doesn’t tell Jim’s whereabouts, which


would return Jim to slavery, and instead chooses to “go to Hell” for


his decision. This is again Twain making a mockery of Southern values,


that it is a sin to be kind to black people.


Another reason that is given to say this novel is racist is the


use of the word “nigger.” This is not a good reason because this is


how blacks were referred to then. To have used the word Negro or


African-American would have taken away from the story’s impact and


make it sound stupid. If Twain wanted to write an historically


accurate book, as he did, then the inclusion of this word is totally


necessary.


These claims that Huckleberry Finn is racist are not simply


attempts to damage the image of a great novel. They come from people


who are hurt by racism and don’t like seeing it in any context.


However, they must realize that this novel and its author are not


racist, and the purpose of the story is to prove black equality.

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