Huck Finn Racism Analysis
In the beginning of the novel Huck lives with a widow and her sister, Miss Watson, who gives Huck a Southern lifestyle through an education, pushing religion on him, and living with a slave. Huck states, “All I wanted was to go somewhere; all I wanted was a change, I warn’t particular” (15). Huck doesn’t like the lifestyle that Miss Watson is giving him and this hints that Huck already has his own beliefs. It is clear in the beginning that Huck is made to appear racist as he refers to Jim as, “Miss Watson’s big nigger” (Twain 18). Although he uses the word, Huck is young and uses the word without much context since he is just a 14-year-old boy living in the south. Huck makes it clear that he feels comfortable around Jim when he approaches
…show more content…
him after he finds out his dad is near. Huck questions, “what he was going to do, and was he going to stay” (Twain 29).
Not only is Huck contradicting the father-son relationship by not having trust in his dad, but also more importantly is contradicting the white and black relationship by going to a slave for advice. Huck seems to be more comfortable around Jim the slave than he is with his dad. When Huck and his father are living in the cabin, Huck again is seen with having his own beliefs. Pap who is portrayed to be the most racist character in the novel goes on a drunken rant about a free black man having the right to vote. This rant doesn’t seem to have an affect on Huck because once Pap finishes Huck says, “That was always his word. I judged he would be blind drunk in about an hour, and then I would steal the key, or saw myself out” (Twain 41). Once Huck escapes the cabin and makes his way towards Jackson’s Island he meets Jim again. Unlike an expected reaction from a “racist” Huck greats Jim and says, “I was ever so glad to see Jim” (Twain 53). This reaction of happiness shows that Huck is not like his father and Tom and doesn’t believe Jim should be killed or turned in. Huck gains a sense of comfort when he sees Jim and now “warn’t lonesome” (Twain 53). At this point of Huck’s adventure he welcomes Jim as a friend and this friendship will only grow stronger the longer they are
together.
him after he finds out his dad is near. Huck questions, “what he was going to do, and was he going to stay” (Twain 29).
Not only is Huck contradicting the father-son relationship by not having trust in his dad, but also more importantly is contradicting the white and black relationship by going to a slave for advice. Huck seems to be more comfortable around Jim the slave than he is with his dad. When Huck and his father are living in the cabin, Huck again is seen with having his own beliefs. Pap who is portrayed to be the most racist character in the novel goes on a drunken rant about a free black man having the right to vote. This rant doesn’t seem to have an affect on Huck because once Pap finishes Huck says, “That was always his word. I judged he would be blind drunk in about an hour, and then I would steal the key, or saw myself out” (Twain 41). Once Huck escapes the cabin and makes his way towards Jackson’s Island he meets Jim again. Unlike an expected reaction from a “racist” Huck greats Jim and says, “I was ever so glad to see Jim” (Twain 53). This reaction of happiness shows that Huck is not like his father and Tom and doesn’t believe Jim should be killed or turned in. Huck gains a sense of comfort when he sees Jim and now “warn’t lonesome” (Twain 53). At this point of Huck’s adventure he welcomes Jim as a friend and this friendship will only grow stronger the longer they are
together.