Racism In The Second Great Awakening

Throughout Huck’s adventures, he is put in numerous situations where he must depend on himself, and use his own judgment to make fundamental decisions that will later have an affect on his life. Growing up, Huck has always been considered an outcast amongst all his peers and in society as a whole. Consistently throughout the book, all the people he is forced to live with try to change him. Prior to the start of the novel, Miss Watson and Widow Douglas have been granted legal custody of Huck, who views him as an uncivilized boy who possesses no morals. Huck explains in the opening chapter, “The Widow Douglas, she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize me”(Twain 1).

In the 19th Century, “Antebellum” era America, citizens were witnessing America go through a radical metamorphosis. The country had gone from an agricultural empire to an industrial beast, seemingly overnight. To compensate for these great changes and difficulties, many idealists forged plethoras of reformation movements. One of these being, the Second Great Awakening. Two of the issues the Second Great Awakening brought light upon were Temperance (alcoholism), and the ever capsulating issue of racism. For a short modicum of time, many Americans were very against the overconsumption of alcohol, and although racism is always an issue everywhere, many leaders of the Second Great Awakening were abolitionists in addition to being religious leaders.

Running away as a child can be seen as a way to escape. A child can escape their parents, their responsibilities, and society as a whole. It is a way to get away from everything in one’s life and live naturally. This is very similar to how Huckleberry Finn decides to live his life in the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. In this story, set in the south before the Civil War South, Huck decides to abandon his life at home and live life on a raft, floating down the Mississippi river with a runaway slave Jim. On their journey, they meet people from different walks of life, engage in a decades long feud, and even attend a circus. However, this novel is not all fun and games. Mark Twain blatantly demonstrates his beliefs in

Religious hypocrisy is one of Twain’s most glaring examples of the flaws of humanity. Throughout the novel, Huck struggles to reconcile his perception of adults like Miss Watson as religiously moral with his misgivings about the practice of slavery. Twain also uses the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons to this extent: “Next Sunday we all went to church, about three mile, everybody a-horseback. The men took their guns along…[the sermon was] all about brotherly love” (Twain 111). In this quote, Twain shows how people

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

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic novel that takes the reader on a series of thrilling adventures full of life threatening situations, racism, and slavery. The author Mark Twain, uses the novel to highlight the flaws in society by creating a character like Huck, whose personal sense of morals and justice are more noble than those of the very people trying to civilize him.

The widow, Miss Watson, takes Huck into a closet to pray, and tells him to pray every day so he will get what he wants. Huck tries to pray daily, but becomes disappointed when all he gets is a fish-line with no hooks, when he prayed extra hard for hooks. “By-and-by, one day, I asked Miss Watson to try for me, but she said I was a fool. She never told me why, and I couldn’t make it out no way” (19). When he asks Miss Watson about it, she tells him praying brings spiritual gifts. Unable to see any use for that sort of thing, Huck decides praying is probably not worth his time. Huckleberry Finn, an illiterate white trash boy who is at the bottom of society’s hierarchy, narrates Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain put the novel in the voice of Huck for his very literal thinking. His realistic views and perceptions provide much of the ironic humor of the novel. 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.

Racism is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one 's own race is superior. This used to be very bad in the 1900’s. But overall we can say racism has tremendously changed. Back then there was definitely more physical fighting because of your race, color of your skin, and what your nationality is etc. At the turn of the century, racism was at it’s all time high. Things were very limited for black people and many other groups. Black people didn’t have the same jobs, houses, or rights. They were treated this way for many reasons but mostly because of the color of their skin.

trying to run away from all of his problems and in the process runs into an escaped slave, Jim. Instead of turning Jim in, Huck helps him on his journey to the north. During the book Huck grows from a immature boy to a more respectable young man. Huck begins to see how different people can be. Throughout the story Huck grows as a character and that is because of the people he meets along the way. The portrayal of adults in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is to help Huck to grow as a more mature and respectful person. Twain uses the King and the Duke, Jim, and Huck’s own father to help Huck develop as a more mature adult.

Huck’s initial thought, to treat people equally, is countered by society’s need for separation. Huck promises to keep Jim's secret after he learns of his escape from Miss Watson. “Well I did. I said I wouldn’t, and I’ll stick to it. Honest injun, I will. People would call me a low-down abolitionist and deise me for keeping mum” (43). Huck’s decision to keep Jim’s secret reflects a higher

Hucks guardians, Widow Douglas and Miss Watson, practice Christianity. Huck and Jim on the other hand, believe in superstition: they look for signs for answers rather than God. They look for bad signs in everything; if anything bad happened to them they 're sure to have a sign that was leading to it. Though their superstitions are silly, they do have reason to believe bad things will happen to them: they live in a world where nature is dangerous and people act with hatred. Huck has a realization that the Christian “good’’ isn 't really “good”; they believe Huck will be condemned to hell for saving Jim from slavery. Huck, knowing he may go to hell, saves Jim away. He believes Christianity to take up to much stock in the dead and not the living; Huck thinks Heaven will be filled with boring, like Miss Watson and Widow Douglas, he thinks hell would be more

Individuals often say that the right way may not necessarily be the popular way, but standing up for the right thing, despite it being frowned upon, will be the true test of one’s moral character. This relates to the moral growth that Huck Finn experiences throughout his journey. Mark Twain’s controversial novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, can be said to be a compelling story about how one individual, Huck Finn, goes against society’s ideals. Huck’s moral development can be said to be based primarily on those around him, especially Jim. Many instances also influence Huck’s morals, particularly during the raft journey that will change his beliefs and morals. Although there are numerous instances where Huck’s moral growth can be seen, the individuals around such as Jim, will influence his moral growth greatly.

Racism is a very tragic but important part of history. Blacks in the early 1900s sacrificed their lives just because there was a small chance of change. This just emphasizes how badly they were being treated. But with many sacrifices and attempts things changed.

In the beginning of the book, Huck’s lack of morals and uncultured personality is a product of living with his abusive, demoralized father. But when Pap disappears, the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson take Huck in and attempt to civilize him by giving him new, clean clothes, teaching him to read and write, and teaching him manners.

Throughout my life, there have been numerous occasions in which I haven’t felt completely free to do what it is I want. Much like Huck, I would often try to sneak away from my house to explore. I can’t remember a time that I actually got away with it, but I would always try nonetheless. However, it never felt like I was being forced into a way of life like Huck was. Huck had it much harder, and grew up in a more harsh condition than what I was put into.