Analysis On Racism In Huck Finn Essay -- essays research papers

In July of 1876, a man by the name of Samuel Clemens began physical composition ace of the most important and potent works in Americas literary history. Under the pseudonym of Mark Twain, the work was begun as a sequel to Twains favorite boys adventure smart, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. As he progressed in the writing of the sequel, Twain, an author already noted for his humor, cynicism, and American social criticism, began to lean outside from strictly the boys adventure style towards a more serious, critical look at society. By the time Twain had finished writing the novel in 1884, eight years after it was begun, he had produced The Adventures of huckleberry Finn, his greatest work and possibly on of the greatest works of American literature. With The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain seek to illustrate his contempt for certain aspects of specifically pre-Civil War Southern society through the eyes of the innocent Huck Finn. However, his focalization was not entirely on pre-War Southern society, for criticism of aspects of modern society as a whole was evident, as well as on aspects of human nature. Although Twain had essential produced a superficial boys adventure novel, its very bailiwicks are not characteristic of such a genre. The themes that are developed throughout the novel include that of hypocrisy, racism, violence, and gullibility. These four themes represent the elements of pre-War Southern society that bear Twains main criticisms throughout the pages of the novel. Specifically, much of Twains critical focus landed upon the theme of racism. Racism, in all of its ignorance and crudeness, is present in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, from the Widow Douglas and Miss Watsons attempt to sivilize Huck to Tom Sawyers take aback acclamation that Jim was already free. Huck is confronted with example after example of Southern societys innate racism, some of which Huck too has inherited. As Jim and Huck journey down the mighty Mississippi , Huck begins to lose those inborn racist sentiments in his through his uninfluenced life with Jim. By closely developing the theme of racism through Hucks internal struggle with reality and with societys reality, Twain attempts to illustrate his contempt for the outright injustice of one of societys most disturbing and irrational aspects.As the novel b... ...probes deeper into Jims despair, he discovers that Jim feels wholeheartedly guilty about an incident that occurred in his relationship with his deaf and dumb daughter. Jims great display of emotion surprises Huck, for he has inherited the belief that a black man is not capable of such a degree of emotion. He was thinking about his wife and his children, away up yonder, and he was low and homesick because he hadnt ever been away from home before in his life and I do believe that he cared just as much for his people as white family does theirn. It dont seem natural, but I reckon its so. (Twain 23)Societys belief that the black lavation was inferior to the white race in every way, including emotion, is illustrated in this sentence. Hucks surprise that Jim loves his family just as much as white people do is simply a belief that he has inherited from civilized society. Twain demonstrates the inherent racial prejudice of pre-Civil War Southern society in a satirical manner. The image that black people do not care for the families as much as white people care for theirs seems utterly ridiculous to the reader. However, in the South, this look was commonplace and accepted.