Slavery Symbolism In Huckleberry Finn

One can experience isolation or detachment from society solely based upon something that makes of a person such as gender, skin color, social status, or personal beliefs. When one is alienated from a population, it mainly reflects on that culture or society 's values itself. A runaway slave named Jim in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is simply isolated from society based upon his race during the Civil War and Reconstruction era. Jim’s detachment from others reflects upon the moral values of many whites such as the dehumanization of race, the insensitivity towards slaves, and taking advantage of one’s vulnerability. One can be seen more as a piece of property than an actual human being just based upon the color of their skin.

He gets a lesson in equality when “People would call me a low-down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum”(42). Previous to his adventures on the river with Jim he thinks that he should turn Jim into the two slave traders because he realizes that at the time slavery was a legal law and Jim was breaking that law so he thought that was an injustice. However with the quote Huck understands that even though it's an injustice for Jim to be running away from slavery, the bigger injustice is the whole institution of slavery. Thus, the character of Huck Finn, who begins the journey down the river as an uneducated, immoral boy develops into a character of high moral virtue. This is seen in his actions- which though they may not have been approved by church going ladies and school teachers- prove him to be responsible, fair and a champion of equality.

Whites have most of the power which is used in the most negative way to put down slaves but they can also be considered as victims in society. Douglass argues the fact that slavery is not good and it should be nonexistent. Fredrick Douglass proclaims “nature made us friends and slavery made us enemy’s.” The disturbing nature disrupts what should be to something that is not proclaimed to be. Through all aspects of slavery, dehumanization and pinpointing the victims allows Douglass to reflect on what has occurred and how he has become someone that everyone reads

In South, torn between the economic benefits of slavery and the moral and constitutional issues raised, and white Southerners grew more and more defensive. They argued that black people were incapable of caring for themselves. They said that slavery was a benevolent institution that kept them fed, clothed, and occupied. Most Northerners did not doubt that black people being inferior to whites, but they did doubt the benevolence of slavery. The Civil War changed the future of the United States.

That would be best. Like a man without a name. Or, to be more precise, a man whose name has been stolen.” (1.2.191-193) reinforces Cesaire’s post-colonial perspective and his endorsement of negritude. Caliban finds himself continuously ill-treated; he has it the worst of all of Prospero’s slaves. The conditions of hard-labour that were subjected to black people by white supercilious people during colonization are mentioned by Cesaire were Prospero “forgives” Ferdinand and excuses him from his afore imposed state of slavery on the basis that they are of the same race and rank and the manual labour that was intended for Ferdinand is passed on to Caliban.

In Ernest J. Gaines novel A Lesson Before Dying , the complex relationship between Grant Wiggins and Jefferson and their relationships between those in the black community and facing the oppression by the white citizens. Gaines wants the readers to learn from his novel that people do not have accept the way things are and make a better role for themselves in life even in the hardest circumstances. The relationship between Jefferson and Grant was a negative relationship that slowly transformed into a positive one, on both sides. Both men come from different backgrounds in the same black community and both feel the oppression by the white community. The relationship starts out with both Grant and Jefferson disagreeing with each other when they first meet but eventually coming to understand one another in the hardest of times.

Those times were harsh for blacks, they had no respect. Read on to find out. The Jim Crow laws were laws for African-Americans and the punishments for when the step out of line. Jim Crow was more than a series of rigid anti-Black laws (Pilgrim 1). In those times, Blacks were known as a “Second Class Citizens’’.

Fitzhugh attempts to weave a dishonest and malicious narrative about the benefits of slavery and the negatives of freedom. He spouts logical fallacies that further show his lack of understanding and his weak argument base. How can a system of equality and liberty be less prosperous and beneficial than Fitzhugh’s system of dominance, control and subjugation? It cannot be. Through Fitzhugh's System people are kept in mental darkness and treated no better than cattle, and in most cases worse.

Mark Twain’s main argument of racism and slavery is apparent in the citation, being the crowd is discriminating and treating Jim harshly solely based on his color and without knowing, or taking consideration any information the Doctor is about to exclaim about the righteous act Jim did in order to save Tom Sawyer’s life. Not to mention, Twain’s argument of racism is evident in the Doctor’s exclamation, being he stated to not treat Jim any more harshly than you're “obliged” to, thus reveals, the natural racism and tendency to discriminate against African Americans based on their race during the time period in the novel. Furthermore, Twain’s argument of slavery and racism is apparent in the Doctor’s perception toward Jim by stating although he

While there were exceptions of individuals fighting for more than equality by law for African Americans, such as John D. Baldwin who argued “a question concerning human rights” (Frederickson 379), there were racist ideals held that transcended political parties and regional affiliations alike. Radical democrats sought the most resistance with political leaders such as Representative James Brooks who preached in opposition to integration by claiming “the negro is not the equal of the white man, much less his master” (Frederickson 379). Arguments of black inferiority became based upon the false ethnology presented by Josiah Nott that physically and mentally ranked the black race below other races. Even radical republicans became contradictory in their views claiming African Americans were different due to their inability to conquer and dominate like white people had; insinuating that white domination could not be challenged. Although there was a period following the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 and 1868 in which former slaves were granted citizenship, their involvement in politics became rendered by the lack of education previously provided to slaves and inability of “withstanding the economic, political, and paramilitary opposition of the white majority” (Frederickson 382).

In the novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, societies boundaries and expectations are pushed to their limits not only by the actions of the main character, Huck, but in Twain’s controversial writing style. Though the book is often claimed to be offensive, it was actually a parody of the times. Mark Twain was ridiculing the racist tendencies of mid-1800s society and their views of the poor/lower classes. Through reading “Huck Finn”, it is apparent Twain is challenging the reader to rethink society’s rules. To start with, Huck was highly against racism, despite his adoptive family owning slaves and his father being immensely hateful toward them.

As the grandma states “ Francis, what the hell are you mean?, just what I aid , grandma says it’s enough he lets you all run wild, but now he’s turned out a nigger lover well never walk the streets of Maycomb”(83). This evidence supports that everyone could turn against you only because you are talking to a colored person. As Harper Lee states “it’s hard to explain-ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves” (108). It’s important because there started to call them more badly and been ruder to colored people. It’s important because they are making it a big deal about helping a colored person.