Preview

Huckleberry Finn Is A Static Character Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1093 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Huckleberry Finn Is A Static Character Essay
Huckleberry Finn is a static character. Throughout the realistic, historical fiction novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the main character Huck travels with a fugitive slave, Jim. Constantly, Huck’s internal conflict between helping a fugitive slave, and turning him in, divides him. Huck ultimately ends up helping Jim, but treating him as subhuman, and taking advantage of his companionship. Huckleberry Finn wavers in his moral ideas, but undergoes no development. He starts to challenge and change his views on his stance of racism, but the book ends with him reverting to his old racist views as he had in the beginning. Furthermore, he does not show development in the sense that he constantly does what society expects of him, as shown in his treatment of Jim.

Some may say that Huck does make developments during his journey, however this is not true.
…show more content…
After spending countless hours with a black man who almost assumes a father figure towards Huck, one would assume that he would start to see black people as valid people, but Huckleberry Finn’s racism doesn’t stop there. Similarly when Jim risks his life to help Tom, one source states that,

Saying Jim “was white inside” is a huge insult to anyone of a different race. Jim did a bold act, one that not many humans would do for someone they did not know well. He risked his life and his freedom to save another person. By doing that, he got a response of “I know he was white inside”?... Huck grew up in a world where being racist was the norm, but what gives white people the right to think they are better than anyone else?

Here, we can see that although Huck cares for Jim, he is still a racist. He blatantly expresses that he thinks white people are better than black people. Also occurring at the end of the book, this example proves Huck’s static

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    -This is a good example of how Jim ad Huck are coming together, and are closing the gap that was put by Jim being black. Jim is very happy to see Huck, and they are becoming more like peers rather than being seperated by race. This explains the major theme of the novel which has to deal with the color of their skin.…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Should Huck Finn Be Free

    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the novel Huckleberry Finn, Huck grew up with a slave, Jim, as his father figure. Since Huck's father was not in the picture, Jim filled that role even though he was a slave. As Huck and Jim ran away, Jim took care of Huck and put Hucks needs first, even if that meant risking his own freedom. These kind acts that Jim showed to Huck lead him into believing that Jim should be free because Huck knew how kind Jim was. However, this idea was not universalized by Huck.…

    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    DEJ Huck Finn

    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Huck is considerably better to slaves than most of the Southerners during this time and thinks of Jim as a good friend. This quote still pokes fun at racism though, showing it’s meaningless but inescapable. Even though Huck is not particularly racist he is still ingrained with the idea that he owns that black man, using the phrase “my nigger”.…

    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    First reason Huck isn’t racist is because Huck helps Jim to freedom. Huck says “‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell’” (p. 214). This shows that Huck made the decision to help Jim escape to freedom after he was caught and sold. When Huck says “‘And that is, there’s a nigger here that I’m a-trying to steal out of slavery…’” (p. 225). when Huck says this it confirms that he is trying to help Jim to freedom.…

    • 397 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn follows Huck as he aids a runaway slave with his quest to find freedom, and despite the fact that Huck is nonetheless helping a black man run away from his master, Huck himself is not without prejudice himself. He just happens to be a little less racist than the other characters. “Here was this nigger, which I had as good as helped to run away, coming right out flat-footed and saying he would steal his children—children that belonged to a man I didn't even know; a man that hadn't ever done me no harm.” (Twain 137) The irony in this statement is that Huck talks about the children being Jim’s, but then he turns right back around and says that they belong to a man whom Huck had never met. Before 1874, children were considered property of their parents (SOURCE RIGHT HERE), and for Huck to say that he thought the children belonged to a man says that he does not consider Jim a man. This is not the only example of Huck not considering Jim a man. Throughout the novel, he makes comments about Jim such as him having “an uncommon level head for a nigger,” (Twain 105) and Huck believing that “cared just as much for his people as white folks does for theirs.” (Twain 226) The funny thing is that Jim is one of the most caring and intelligent characters in the entire book. Huck states that Jim oftentimes does not wake him up to take over the night watch because he wants to make…

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    How Does Huck Finn End

    • 725 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The ending of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is known to leave the readers unsatisfied and confused. Many have questioned why the protagonist of the novel, Huck, regressed into the character he was before his journey to free Jim, a slave. During this expedition, Huck grows into the person he would be without the influence of a racist society. After this journey ends, however, Huck’s character immediately recedes and begins to act out past habits as Tom, his friend, returns to help Huck with a perilous and “adventurous” scheme to determinately free Jim. After their adventure, Tom reveals that Jim was, in fact, free all along. These disheartening regressions in character development and plot are the reasons why the ending of the novel is…

    • 725 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hucks realization that everyone is equal even if there color is different from him or her is a huge change in a person’s character and out look on life. Jim in shock and excitement finally found Huck after thinking he was dead saying “Goodness gracious, is dat you, Huck? En you ain’ dead- you ain’ drowned you’s back again? It’s too good for true, honey, its too good for true” (pg.84). This proves that Huck and Jim have a strong relationship caring for each other just like family. It’s the moment Huck realizes the color of Jim doesn’t effect Hucks feelings for Jim. Huck cries out of love for Jim wanting his forgiveness more then anything “It made me feel so mean I could almost kissed his foot to get him to take it back” (pg.87). This shows that Huck doesn’t want to loose Jim he’s family to Huck. This is a big change to Hucks life because he was scolded from his tricks and childish behavior. Learning lessons…

    • 652 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Huck Finn Racism

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Considering that Mark Twain is a revolutionary writer and must use detail from an era to make the story unique he shouldn’t be considered racist. Their time period is set around the Civil War which was fought for abolishment of slavery. Huck to some people would be the argument for Twain’s racism, but Huck was raised from a boy by people with extreme hatred towards blacks such like Pap and Miss Watson. Even if bigotry was part of Huck’s attitude towards blacks it should be excused. Towards the end of the novel Huck encounters Aunt Sally who makes a remark towards blacks. She remarked that thank god no one was hurt but it was okay if a black person was. This is just a fine example of the extremities that Huck was raised under and the society’s views towards blacks. Twain is merely revealing the harsh truth of society in a subtle tone. It is also important to remember that Mark Twain’s description of Jim was not being racist but honest. Back in their era majority of black slaves were non-educated, ignorant, never allowed independence, and were maltreated. Twain was merely using the historical accuracy to his advantage in the novel for a heightened impact.…

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "Huckleberry Finn" was a novel written two decades after slavery was abolished in the United States, yet it was set back in the time when slavery was abundant in the South. It has many instances of what could be perceived as racism, but the book is mostly against racism, mostly in its portrayal of Jim. "Huckleberry Finn" shows how Huck and Jim become friends throughout the course of the novel, showing that their friendship can transcend race, an idea revolutionary for its time. At a time when racial tensions were running high in the South, Twain's book showed how a friendship between a white teenager and a black adult could be pure and authentic. While most adults in the book had many flaws, Jim is mostly compassionate, loyal and benevolent character. In fact, Jim is seen as more of a father figure to Huck than his own father was. When they undergo their adventure on the raft, Huck and Jim make a connection that was unheard of in those days between black and white men. This connection is shown by the line "I hadn't had a bite to eat since yesterday, so Jim he got out some corn-dodgers and buttermilk, and pork and cabbage and greens-there ain't nothing in the world so good, when it's cooked right- and whilst I eat my supper we talked and had a good time", which shows how much of a strong connection Huck and Jim really made. When Jim asks why a Frenchman can't speak English, he simply mirrors the question of why a black man and a white man couldn't be treated the same: "Is a Frenchman a man?" Huck's change in attitude toward slavery over the course of the novel shows…

    • 731 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The racially charged novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain causes much controversy, yet it still impacts American culture in a way that very few novels do. School districts debate whether the novel should even be a part of high school curriculum because of the controversy surrounding it. Twain’s novel does, in fact, have immense educational value and can contribute very much in shaping the minds and cultural literacy of soon to be young adults in America, through high school curriculum. In such racially charged times it is more important now than ever to reflect on the root of the racial discourse seen today.…

    • 1447 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    How Has Huck Changed

    • 301 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the beginning novel, Huck struggles against society and its attempts to civilize himself, which was represented by the Widow Douglas, Miss Watson, and other adults. Later, this conflict gains more focus in Huck’s dealings with Jim, as Huck must decide whether to turn Jim in, as society demands, or to protect and help his friend instead. The most significant way in which Huck changes his attitude is with Jim, by excepting him as a person. Towards the end of chapter 15, Huck plays a trick on Jim when they got separated in the fog. Huck tries to convince Jim that he's been drinking because when they found each other, Huck explains he's never gone anywhere, he's been by his side the whole time. Then Huck goes off saying, “Well, this is too many for me, Jim. I hain't see fog, nor no islands nor no troubles... You couldn't 'a' got drunk in that time, so of course you've been dreaming.” (84) Jim at this point is confused because how can he dream all that in ten minutes. Later on, as Huck realizes that lying to Jim about that whole incident was wrong of him, he apologizes to him. It was quite a thing for a white person to apologize to a black person in that time so it show that he is growing emotions towards Jim. He realizes why lie to him if colored people get taken advantage of all the time, Huck didn’t want to be one of those white people who did. More important, he eventually takes charge and tells the truth no matter what the outcome is, and has changed from a juvenile boy who doesn't care if others are tricked, to a more civilized boy who protects innocent…

    • 301 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Towards the beginning of their adventure, Huck pulls a prank on Jim resulting in a rattle snake biting his leg. Afterward, Huck feels bad about it, but “[He] warn't going to let Jim find out it was all [his] fault, not if [he] could help it.”(53). Even though Huck feels bad about Jim getting hurt by the snake because of the prank he pulled, he would never apologize because he would be sinking himself to such a level of a Negro slave which is seen as an unrighteous notion in his society. However as the book continues, Huck slowly establishes larger acknowledgement and gratitude toward Jim. Later in the novel, Huck pulls another prank on Jim which ended up making him feel very upset and betrayed. Huck and Jim got separated by the fog and strong current. After Huck finally finds Jim, he decides to act as if Jim dreamt the whole thing. Huck then sees how upset Jim is and “It was fifteen minutes before [he] could work [himself] up to go and humble [himself] to a nigger; but [he'd] done it and [he] warn't ever sorry for it afterward”(86). This is a turning point in Huck's development because he is straying away from society's normal and standard expectations by seeing Jim differently than another white man normally would. Huck actually takes into consideration Jims feelings and emotions and realizes that Jim shares many of the same attributes as he…

    • 1479 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Huck Finn Racism

    • 587 Words
    • 3 Pages

    This shows how Huck feels bad for what he thinks is stealing Jim from Miss Watson which shows how Huck feels morally bad about slaves being free. “. . .my wickedness was being watched all the time from up there in heaven whilst I was stealing a poor old woman’s nigger that hadn’t ever done me no harm. . .”(p. 212). Huck feels so strongly about him aiding Jim that he believes that by helping he will down-right face eternal damnation for his actions; Huck’s strong moral standpoints show a favor of the statement that Huck is racist because he believes that abolition is wrong.…

    • 587 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout Mark Twains Adventures Huckleberry Finn, Huck challenges everything society has taught him about racism and eventually forms his own beliefs, based experience. When Huck and Jim first decide to runaway with one another, they form a friendship that is merely based on survival. At the beginning of their companionship, Huck does not recognize that Jim has feelings, so he plays a cruel trick with a snake; he also fails to make an apology. During their journey down the Mississippi River, Jims humanity bewilders Huck. When Huck tells Jim about King Solomon, whom Huck believes to be the wisest of men, Jim takes an interesting perspective and argues it relentlessly; Huck is surprised and claims that he has never seen a nigger do such a thing. As Huck and Jim overcome each obstacle in their journey, particularly when Huck learns to apologize to Jim, their friendship strengthens from one that is founded on survival to a relationship that is built on compassion. Huck then starts to question what society…

    • 818 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Jim is at the mercy of the White man because even when Miss Watson sets him free in her will Tom says he has to scoop out dirt and do other ridiculous things before he’ll let him go. Through the interaction of the main characters in this story it’s easy to see why slavery is cruel and evil. Jim is like a father figure to Huck by sheltering him from some of the disturbing events in the book. As the novel unfolds we learn that Jim is smarter and kinder than any of the other characters and shouldn’t be judged by the color of his skin. Society is wrong for thinking that all black men are inferior to white…

    • 120 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays