Say It Ain T So Huckleberry Finn Analysis

Twain writes, Huck “humbled” himself to a “nigger” and “warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards” (Twain 15.49). Later, Huck writes a letter to Jim’s owner and states that he has her slave. After contemplating his friendship with Jim the man, Huck decides he would rather receive eternal punishment and go to “hell, than turn him in (Twain 31.3) . The narrative has shown that the morals of one’s inner self should outweigh society. Huck eventually makes a clear determination that he wants to live by his own beliefs, not those set by society, especially in regards to racism.

Anna Edgren Sophomore English Period 3 Mrs Burdette 28 April, 2017 Quote Journal #1 Revision Project Throughout the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the readers are able to see the protagonist Huck change his views on society and being able to distinguish right and wrong. The end of chapter fifteen reveals a great deal about Huck and Jim’s relationship. In the chapter, Huck and Jim are on the river on a raft trying to get to Cairo. During this journey, Huck and Jim get separated by the fog when Huck goes ahead to pull the raft.

Had Huck been a white extremist, he may have utilized the chance to kill Jim. However, the good-natured protagonist does not do so, and instead shows to the reader his playful personality when he jokes around with Jim as a friend. At first, Huck’s prank on Jim may seem like an act of implicit racism or discrimination, but his words appear to be genuinely cheerful and light-spirited. Twain uses this example to further Huck and Jim’s whimsical friendship that develops throughout the novel.

Mark Twain juxtaposes opposites in many ways and one of theses ways is through his belief on society. In the middle of the book Huck begins to second guess himself about if helping Jim is really a good idea or is it really a sin. Huck begins to explain,

Twain uses this time to show how Huck has grown fond of Jim because Jim would “do everything he could think of for [Huck]...” (Chapter 31). Twain’s use of action and showing the reader Huck’s thoughts leading up to the action proves that he successfully conveyed Huck’s character

Throughout the story, the author, Mark Twain, creates a social critique by juxtaposing freedom against slavery, civilization and other social norms. The reader understands that it is not only Jim who is looking for freedom, but Huck as well. While Huck is not a slave, he still feels trapped by the restrictions society has placed upon him. The entire novel reveals Huck 's resistance to conformity in a culture filled with hypocrisies. At the end of the novel, Huck is once again given the opportunity to reenter society.

At no point, does Twain pretend like the tragedies of slavery did not exist, so neither should society today. Jim did not have an easy life as a slave, Twain made sure to point this out and pointed how some immoral people had it easy. Through the eyes of Huck Finn, Twain ensures that Huck and Jim understand inequality so that they prevent it – not embrace it. The literary masterpiece that is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn must be allowed as a symbol of the best humanity has to offer it. It is more than a matter of who is or is not offended.

Throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain attacks the institution of slavery, by allowing readers to feel empathy for Jim through showing his fears and concerns about running away from Ms.Watson, and the friendship between Jim and Huck. Mark Twain uses Jim to criticize the ideas of slavery society held onto from before the Civil War by causing readers to feel sympathy for him. This can first be seen on page 45 when Jim admits to Huck why he ran away, “She always said she wouldn sell me.. I hear ole misus tel de widder she gwyne to sell me down to Orleans,” (Twain 45). Jim’s fear of being sold shows a side of the slave trade no slave owner ever recognized.

In the book "The Adventures if Huckleberry Finn", Mark Twain's writing mirrors the society and problems it had in that time. This book promotes seeing African-Americans as people, which is absolutely groundbreaking and unheard-of in the time it was written, right after the Civil War. Throughout the book,, Huck has a complete change in his feelings towards Jim, starting with his highly influenced young mind, only able to view Jim as a slave, all the way to seeing Jim as a father-figure who can protect and provide for him. Although Huck tries to see Jim as a friend and fatherly-figure, society's beliefs don't allow him to see Jim as anything but a slave.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an American classic, it was the starting point for all great American Literature. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been awarded all of these honorable titles because of its abnormal and controversial plot line. During the time period when the book was written, it was unacceptable to view African- American’s as anything other than slaves. They were viewed as inferior to whites and were treated like property, they had no rights. The main character of the book, Huck, disagrees and disobeys these norms and pushes the boundaries of society when he becomes friends with a slave from his childhood; Jim.

Despite Huck’s constant teasing and mild abuse, Jim exhibits unconditional kindness towards Huck. Jim also proves to be a father figure, disciplining Huck and protecting him from seeing Pap dead in the floating house. He is not clueless and loving like a dog; in fact, Jim is one of the most intellectually and emotionally consistent and whole characters in the novel. Huck’s inability to express his care for Jim further reflects the stigmas held toward interracial relationships in the South and the flawed nature of the narrator, Huck. Jim and Huck’s existence on the raft provides a refuge from society, from the chains that bind Jim and separate him from Huck.

These reasons show why Twain may have intended to discourage racism. In the novel Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain it is a story of a troubled young boy and his good friend Jim. In the story Twain is not trying to portray racism toward the character Jim but rather is discouraging it. We see examples in the novel where Twain shows how Jim differs from other White men who cheat others, how he describes the white and black symbolism, and shows empathy for Jim.

As this change in Huck begins to happen, Huck struggles with deciding whether to help Jim, going against what he has been taught, or to turn him in, doing what Huck believes, is the right thing. Huck feels compassion for Jim, but he thinks that helping him is directly defying God. “it [Huckleberry Finn] is an image of the conflict between social and personal virtues, between, on the one hand, people 's associations as social concepts and social products and, on the other, their associations simply as human beings”(Ostrom, 164). Huck grapples with his personal feelings, and what society has taught him. Jim is seen by most as simply a slave who is inferior.

(Twain 87-88). At this stage in the novel, it is important to denote his ambivalence toward the situation. Though he helps Jim, he feels a sense of guilt for going against societal standards. Regardless, Huck has a myriad of opportunities to turn Jim in--and doesn’t. This verifies that Huck progresses in developing his maturity and poise.

Huck simply reports what he sees, and the monotone narration allows Twain to show a realistic view of the common ignorance, slavery, and inhumanity that took place. Having Huck as the narrator gives a unique