Throughout the course of the 19th century, the topic of slavery changed the face of the nation. This issue was of incredible importance to the south, where slave labor was the cornerstone of the economy. Anti-black ideologies permeated every part of southern society, in both the pre-war era and through the reconstruction period. The belief that slavery was a moral practice ordained by god, continued and strengthened discrimination in the American south for the entirety of the 19th century. Because of prejudice culture, racial equality developed very slowly, such ideas were halted by strong hate for freed slaves and their abolitionist allies.. Even after the war, blacks could still feel the lingering shadows of slavery outside their doors. Many examples of the internal turmoil can be seen in the cultural products of the day. Pieces like “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” humanized slaves in the eyes of many. One …show more content…
Huck begins to struggle with the central ideas of his upbringing, he must decide between what he has seen and what he has been taught. “Conscience says to me, “What had poor Miss Watson done to you that you could see her nigger go off right under your eyes and never say one single word? What did that poor old woman do to you that you could treat her so mean?” In this excerpt, Huck is controlled by the culture in which he was raised, despite his personal positive experiences with Jim. Once an individual has become accustomed to a certain way of life, it is difficult for that person to expand or even change their values. This is why racism had such a long
Huck 's morality is the only educational thing I believe is in this book, because it 's something you have to piece together and isn 't clear all the time. On page 43, Hucks early morality is a typical southern 's, “‘Well, I b 'lieve you, Huck. I—I RUN OFF.” “Jim!’”. Huck basically states he 's better than Jim in a way, Huck is shocked and mad that Jim has run off but Huck is also a run away so you can see this early racial attitude Huck has.
This book proves that not everyone who grew up around racism was cruel, as Huck began to love Jim for who he is, despite the society he grew up in. An example of Huck maturing could come from chapter forty, "I knowed he was white inside, and I reckoned he'd say what he did say - so it was all right, now, and I told Tom I was agoing for a doctor." (Twain 301). This quote clearly shows that Huck is maturing, and seeing past the color of Jim's skin. The book shows us how hard it was to grow up in a racist society and not be racist.
That is a question often asked by many but the meaning has considerably changed over the years. Huck’s decisions can often be seen by many and many can argue depending on the perspective, whether it is truly right or not. Huck’s choices, regardless of right or wrong, do have an impact on who he is and each one changes and shapes Huck in a different way. For example, in the book it states that "Dah you goes, de ole true Huck; de on'y white genlman dat ever kep' his promise to ole Jim" (Twain, Chapter 16) - meaning that Huck, one of the only known white people to keep his promise to a black man or a slave, did ultimately what was right but not of that time period. This shows that Huck was not one to conform to society after truly living an experience with Jim.
In summary, the controversial issue of racial equality and racism, in effect, makes Huck’s relationship with slaves (like Jim) slowly grow stronger throughout the novel. Moreover, racial equality and racism also affect the way Huck chooses to reject the societal norms of the late nineteenth century in order to bring two races together. In addition, everyone should understand the importance of racial equality and racism because of the stain they have left on American history and society as well as the affect these controversial issues have on people today. That’s why people in the twenty-first century should discuss racial equality and racism, in order to prevent any future occurrences of one race enslaving another race. To continue, While some
As the story progresses, Huck's views change drastically. Scattered instances of childish, irresponsible actions still occur, but they are accompanied periods of reflection. An example of this is when he tricks Jim into believing he was dreaming about the fog. When Jim says, "en trash is what people is dat puts dirt on de head er dey fren's en makes 'em feel ashamed" (Twain 90), this makes Huck feel bad enough to apologize which truly costs him alot of pride as he says "It was 15 minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterward, neither. I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't have done that one if I'd `a' knowed it would make him feel that way."
Huck’s view of society and his morals are constantly changing as the story progresses. Civilization and people’s behavior heavily affect how Huck Finn is as a person and his morals. The majority of people have racial prejudice against African Americans which is carried to their children which makes them think the same way as their parents. Unlike Whites, African Americans were forced into the system and had no choice on how to live their lives. Huck’s morals are truly put to the test when Jim is captured and Huck has to decide between what is right legally and what is right morally: “I was a trembling because I’d got to decide, forever betwixt two things” (Twain 161).
By then, Huck figures out that Jim feels the same way as any other people would in that situation, this show that Jim worries and cares about Huck. The similarities that they share proves that all people are equal and even uneducated Huck realizes that they share the same feelings. Huck is not well educated do to the conditions he was in, but even for a uneducated teenager, he realizes that people in the world are selfish. What he has been taught conflicts the truth that he believes and he struggles a lot. Looking at jim running away from Ms.Watson, and huck helping Jim contradicts the way he has been taught.
On the eve of the Civil War, the abolitionist movement and the opposition to slavery were very strong and powerful. While many people knew that slavery was a disgusting and degrading institution, there was not much first-hand information available about the inhumane effects that slavery had on both black and white people. In his narrative, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Frederick Douglass demonstrates the dehumanizing effects slavery had, not only on African slaves, but also on the white population. In order to kindle the abolitionist movement and the opposition to slavery, Douglass includes his own personal accounts of life as a slave in America and utilizing elevates diction and vivid imagery
In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses Huck’s conscience and life experiences to illustrate the path of a young boy who is caught in the middle of what he believes ought to be right from wrong. Early in the novel, Huck demonstrates the traits of a young man who is caught up in societies views and behaviors towards slavery. Huck learns through his experiences that African American people; slaves, should be treated as property rather than afford them the same rights and equality he is given. Jim, Huck’s “slave”, means much more to him than just ordinary property. Huck’s moral instinct is to treat Jim with the same respect and moral standards that he feels is right.
Although the society’s standards and his father are repressing, Huck has his own inner voice and would listen to them. That’s why when he meets Jim, a running away slave, Huck helps to save Jim and runs away with him. By the society’s standard, running away slave is intolerable and has to be caught and punished. However, Huck acts against the society’s standard even though he knows it’s wrong to help Jim run away. There exists so much racism in the society.
Just like how Pap not allowing Huck to attend school hindered the growth of Huck’s moral compass, when students are not allowed to read this book it is preventing them from developing their moral compass because analyzing the book helps them to learn what is right, and in turn helps them to develop their moral compass. Although some may argue that the novel will encourage bigotry, however the novel will actually have the opposite effect. Because of how blatantly racist the novel is, students are able to analyze quotes and discover why and how the language used is offensive. If the novel was to be replaced by one that is not as blatantly racist, the student’s analysis may only lead them to discover that the novel is racist, but not how or why
Through Huck’s fluctuating beliefs he shows how often humanity exhibits hypocrisy without even realizing it. When Miss Watson had taken Huck in she had wanted him to become more respectable, she wanted to make sure he knew what was right and
After lying to Jim and getting caught, Huck thinks on his actions. “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither” (86). Huck knows that his actions are wrong but struggles to apologize to Jim because he is conditioned to believe that Jim has no real value. Huck tries to break free from the influence of society and in doing so, he realizes that his actions are not morally acceptable. With no interference from society, Huck is therefore able to humble himself to Jim and treat him in a way that opposes society’s expectations.
After bickering back and forward trying to make sense of humans speaking different languages, Huck “see it warn’t no use wasting words - you can’t learn a n****r to argue. So [he] quit” (96). Racist views preached to Huck since birth leads him to hold a stance that African Americans are incapable, engulfing and tarnishing his perspective of Jim. Huck views Jim as he views the whole African American race instead of seeing Jim as his own person. Huck, giving up in defeat, demonstrates how he identifies Jim as a hopeless cause and not someone up to his
Huck makes a bid to free himself of the conventionalized evil taken for civilization by the town.” Slavery was a religion that was idolized, praised, witnessed, respected, and supported and its lasting affects on our society are still prominent today. We announce racism as an unjust hate towards another individuals of different cultures and backgrounds because we still consider ourselves as separate groups. Jim and Huck represent the only remaining pieces of sanity that the town has diminished with its hypocritical civilized