Analysis On Racism In Huck Finn Essay -- essays research papers

In July of 1876, a cosmos by the name of Samuel Clemens began writing one of the most important and powerful works in Americas literary history. Under the pseudonym of Mark straddle, the work was begun as a sequel to pas de deuxs popular boys adventure impertinent, The Adventures of Tom sawyer beetle. As he progressed in the writing of the sequel, Twain, an author already noted for his humor, cynicism, and American loving rebuke, began to lean out-of-door from strictly the boys adventure dah towards a more serious, fine look at society. By the meter Twain had finished writing the novel in 1884, eight geezerhood by and by it was begun, he had produced The Adventures of huckleberry Finn, his great work and possibly on of the greatest works of American literature. With The Adventures of huckleberry Finn, Twain attempted to illustrate his contempt for true aspects of specifically pre-Civil War Confederate society through the eyes of the unimpeachable huckaback Finn. Ho w forever, his focus was not entirely on pre-War Southern society, for criticism of aspects of modern society as a whole was evident, as rise as on aspects of human nature. Although Twain had essential produced a piddling boys adventure novel, its very themes are not characteristic of such(prenominal) a genre. The themes that are developed throughout the novel include that of hypocrisy, racism, violence, and gullibility. These four themes represent the elements of pre-War Southern society that bear Twains main criticisms throughout the pages of the novel. Specifically, much of Twains critical focus landed upon the theme of racism. Racism, in all of its ignorance and crudeness, is present in The Adventures of huckabackleberry Finn, from the Widow Douglas and Miss Watsons attempt to sivilize Huck to Tom Sawyers startling acclamation that Jim was already free. Huck is confronted with example after example of Southern societys innate racism, some of which Huck too has contagious. As Jim and Huck journey down the mighty Mississippi, Huck begins to lose those inborn racist sentiments in his through his uninfluenced manner with Jim. By closely developing the theme of racism through Hucks internal struggle with reality and with societys reality, Twain attempts to illustrate his contempt for the outright injustice of one of societys most disturbing and irrational aspects.As the novel b... ...probes deeper into Jims despair, he discovers that Jim feels wholeheartedly guilty about an incident that occurred in his relationship with his indifferent(p) and dumb daughter. Jims great display of emotion surprises Huck, for he has hereditary the belief that a black man is not capable of such a degree of emotion. He was thinking about his wife and his children, away up yonder, and he was low and homesick because he hadnt ever been away from home before in his life and I do believe that he cared just as much for his nation as pureness folks does theirn. It dont seem natu ral, but I reckon its so. (Twain 23)Societys belief that the black ply was inferior to the black-and-blue race in every way, including emotion, is illustrated in this sentence. Hucks surprise that Jim loves his family just as much as white people do is simply a belief that he has inherited from civilized society. Twain demonstrates the inherent racial prejudice of pre-Civil War Southern society in a satirical manner. The notion that black people do not care for the families as much as white people care for theirs seems utterly ridiculous to the reader. However, in the South, this notion was public and accepted.