Prejudice and Racism in Mark Twains The Adventures of...

Prejudice and Racism in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Despite all the criticism, of racism and other questionable material for young readers, Mark Twain’s The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn is a superbly written novel, which in the opinion of this reviewer should not be remove the literary cannon. Twain’s novel is a coming of age story that teaches young people many valuable lessons and to some extend makes students reexamine their own lives and morals. The most common argument for its removal from the literary canon is that the novel is too racist; it offends black readers, perpetuates cheap slave-era stereotypes, and deserves no place on today’s bookshelves. However one must ask if Twain is encouraging†¦show more content†¦To get a better assessment on Twain’s views on racism, we must analyze Jim, the major black character. 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 de picted, 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. He is constantly referring to â€Å"ghosts† and â€Å"witches.† Some critics say that Twain is implying that all blacks have these qualities. Huck says that, â€Å"Jim, had a hair-ball as big as your fist, which had been took out of the fourth stomach of an ox, and he used to do magic with it† (Twain, H.F. 1275). When Jim turns to his magic â€Å"hair-ball† 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 hair-ball’s powers. This type of naivete was abundant at the time and found among all races, as 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 as pect of the story clearly there is no racism intended. Huck’s views towards the black Jim cannot be ignoredShow MoreRelated The Importance of Friendship in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn829 Words   |  4 PagesThe Importance of Friendship in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Aristotle was once asked what he thought friendship was. His response was, One soul inhabiting two bodies. This was the kind of relationship that Huckleberry Finn and Jim shared in Mark Twains epic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This novel is a tool that Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemmons, was using to impress the great benefits of friendship upon society. However, others feelRead More Mark Twain a Racist? Absolutely not!1597 Words   |  7 PagesCelebrating its 135th anniversary this year, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic of American literature and is read by millions across the nation every year. However, many claim that the book promotes and endorses the heinous act of racism. In their attacks on the classic, many of the book’s critics employ evidence such as the use of the n-word 211 times (Powers, 2010) and the novel’s repeated inferior depiction of African-Americans. Many supporters of the no vel, thoughRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1346 Words   |  6 Pagesat â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† Racism was an ever present evil that was prevelant during the 1830s and 1840s that lead to a multitude of wrongdoings against blacks. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is about a young child name Huck and how he matures in a society teeming with racism. While on his adventure, he must learn to make tough, adult-like decisions. He travels down the Mississippi River with a runaway slave who later becomes one his his greatest friends. In Mark Twain’s novel TheRead MoreRacism In Huckleberry Finn Analysis1458 Words   |  6 PagesMark Twain, the author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, grew up in the antebellum south where blacks were often viewed as nothing more than just ignorant, lazy, pieces of property with no feelings. As Mark Twain grew older, the perception of blacks as ignorant property with no feelings remained the same and even intensified to a certain extent. Surprisingly, around the time The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was written, Mark Twain opposed slavery and presumably cringed at the common notionRead MoreMark Twain s The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn1996 Words   |  8 PagesRegarded by Ernest Hemingway as â€Å"the source of all American literature†, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has for decades been the subject of unrelenting controversy. The question of whether or not the novel is a depiction of a racist society or solely the beliefs of a racist writer, is one without a clear response for the close minded reader. While the argument may be presented either way, I believe any claim should be based on what the novel represents rather than on an individuals’Read MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain Essay1055 Words   |  5 PagesJhonatan Zambrano Mrs. Patmor AP Lit-Period 5 28 September 2016 Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 1835 Mark Twain embodies realism in almost every aspect of his writing not excluding The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which in he portrays such a lifelike setting that it almost gives you this sense of reality through the point of view of a young man that has an urge for freedom yet struggles to conform to society s norms due to his adolescence. Twain s ability to unmask the true identities of theRead MoreMark Twain s The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn1216 Words   |  5 Pages Shaw English 2 Honors/Pd. 8 5 June 2015 Is Mark Twain Racist? Alveda King once stated, â€Å"Racism springs from the lie that certain human beings are less than fully human.† Mark Twain supports this belief when he composed his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In the aftermath of the American Civil War, the institution of slavery and American Southern culture was not well understood internationally. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn conveys Southern culture and the social attitudesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn 1310 Words   |  6 PagesThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been a topic of debate for a long time. The most heated topic of debate is if the novel is racist and if it should then be included in school curriculum whether. Many believe this book should be taken out of school curriculum for being racist. Huckleberry FInn should be taught in schools because of its satire, views on slavery and morals, and depiction of antebellum America. Huck Finn still remains a classic Twain s use of satire is one of the many thingsRead More Racism in Huck Finn Essay example3609 Words   |  15 PagesRacism in Huck Finn Kids are often exposed to books long before they are ready for them or exposed to them in a manner that seems almost calculated to evaporate whatever enthusiasm the student may bring to them. Very few youngsters of high school age are ready for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Leaving aside its subtle depiction of racial attitudes and its complex view of American society, the book is written in a language that will seem baroque, obscure and antiquated to many young peopleRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain Essay1389 Words   |  6 PagesAdventures of Huckleberry Finn, a picaresque novel by Mark Twain, was first published in the United States in 1885. It has been said to be the greatest American novel in history thus far. However, it is also one -if not the- most controversial works of literature to be taught in school curriculum. There are a few controversies surrounding Twain’s novel, including racism, sexism, and the overall conclusion of the book. The biggest controversy that the novel poses, however, is the ostensible racism