Huck Finn's Relationship with Slavery in Mark Twain's, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Rj Rojas
Koenigsdorf
English 11 H/AP
1 April, 2013
Fight Through Slavery
In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, Huck Finn 's relationship with slavery is difficult to understand, and more often than not irreconcilable. In the time period, in he was raised; slavery was a normal thing to see. There was no worse crime that could be done than helping to free a slave. Despite this, he finds himself on the run with Jim, a runaway slave, and doing everything in his power to protect him.
Huck Finn grew up around slavery. His father is a violent racist who launches into rants at the thought of free blacks roaming around the countryside. Miss Watson owns slaves, including Jim, so no matter where he goes, the idea of blacks as slaves is reinforced. The story takes place during the 1840s, at a time when racial tensions were on the rise, as Northern abolitionists tried to stir up trouble in the South. This prompted a backlash from Southerners, which entrenched the institution more than ever. Huck Finn could not be against slavery, because if he were, he would be a traitor to the South and its way of life.
Huck 's first moral dilemma comes when he meets Jim on Jackson Island. Huck 's initial reaction on hearing of Jim 's escape is one of shock; he could not believe someone could run away from their slave master. He cannot believe that Jim would stoop so low as to run away from his master, which he sees as a terrible sin. Huck does promise to keep his secret, however, despite knowing that "people will call him a low-down abolitionist and despise him for keeping mum" (57). Although Huck disagrees vehemently with the idea of runaway slaves, he likes Jim, and so he warns him that dogs are coming on to the island. This shows that Huck 's heart and his intentions are often in stir with one another when it comes to the topic of slavery.
Despite being good friends with Jim, Huck does not hide his spiteful attitude against blacks. Because blacks are
Koenigsdorf
English 11 H/AP
1 April, 2013
Fight Through Slavery
In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, Huck Finn 's relationship with slavery is difficult to understand, and more often than not irreconcilable. In the time period, in he was raised; slavery was a normal thing to see. There was no worse crime that could be done than helping to free a slave. Despite this, he finds himself on the run with Jim, a runaway slave, and doing everything in his power to protect him.
Huck Finn grew up around slavery. His father is a violent racist who launches into rants at the thought of free blacks roaming around the countryside. Miss Watson owns slaves, including Jim, so no matter where he goes, the idea of blacks as slaves is reinforced. The story takes place during the 1840s, at a time when racial tensions were on the rise, as Northern abolitionists tried to stir up trouble in the South. This prompted a backlash from Southerners, which entrenched the institution more than ever. Huck Finn could not be against slavery, because if he were, he would be a traitor to the South and its way of life.
Huck 's first moral dilemma comes when he meets Jim on Jackson Island. Huck 's initial reaction on hearing of Jim 's escape is one of shock; he could not believe someone could run away from their slave master. He cannot believe that Jim would stoop so low as to run away from his master, which he sees as a terrible sin. Huck does promise to keep his secret, however, despite knowing that "people will call him a low-down abolitionist and despise him for keeping mum" (57). Although Huck disagrees vehemently with the idea of runaway slaves, he likes Jim, and so he warns him that dogs are coming on to the island. This shows that Huck 's heart and his intentions are often in stir with one another when it comes to the topic of slavery.
Despite being good friends with Jim, Huck does not hide his spiteful attitude against blacks. Because blacks are
Cited: Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Clayton: Prestwick House, 2005. Print