Huckleberry Finn Research Paper
Brooke A. Andrade
Mrs. Whalen
Honors English III.
27 September 2012
Racism throughout Huckleberry Finn “But I reckon I got to light for the territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before” (Twain 279). In Huckleberry Finn, Huck tires of living in a civilized society, and escapes through the means of a river with a “nigger” named Jim. Although Twain is considered racist by some critics, he truly just reflects the time period including racism, education, and freedom, as evident through various themes and character relationships. However, Huck raised to believe racist thoughts, was able to overcome society and his father’s beliefs, and strike out as his own man. From an early age Huck was brainwashed to conform to society’s beliefs by his father, Pap Finn. Pap Finn was extremely racist and stubborn minded towards change. Pap Finn refused his right to vote just because there was a state in the country that would let “niggers” vote. “Thinks I, what is the country a’ coming to? It was ‘lection day, and I was just about to go and vote myself if I warn’t too drunk to get there; but when they told me there was a state in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out” (Twain 26). Huck, unlike his father, did not adapt to society’s beliefs, but created his own thoughts and opinions (Themes-Education). However, Huck was not the only one to overthrow society’s thoughts. At the end of the novel, The Doctor separated from society’s ideas by supporting Jim saying that he was a good nigger and did not deserve to be treated harshly (Twain 271). “Don’t be no rougher on him then you’re obleeged to, because he ain’t a bad nigger” (Twain 271). At this point the Doctor saw that no race was superior to any other (Rasmussen 203). The Widow Douglas adopted Huck and tried to civilize him to be a proper young boy of society (Twain 1). “The widow Douglas she took me
Mrs. Whalen
Honors English III.
27 September 2012
Racism throughout Huckleberry Finn “But I reckon I got to light for the territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before” (Twain 279). In Huckleberry Finn, Huck tires of living in a civilized society, and escapes through the means of a river with a “nigger” named Jim. Although Twain is considered racist by some critics, he truly just reflects the time period including racism, education, and freedom, as evident through various themes and character relationships. However, Huck raised to believe racist thoughts, was able to overcome society and his father’s beliefs, and strike out as his own man. From an early age Huck was brainwashed to conform to society’s beliefs by his father, Pap Finn. Pap Finn was extremely racist and stubborn minded towards change. Pap Finn refused his right to vote just because there was a state in the country that would let “niggers” vote. “Thinks I, what is the country a’ coming to? It was ‘lection day, and I was just about to go and vote myself if I warn’t too drunk to get there; but when they told me there was a state in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out” (Twain 26). Huck, unlike his father, did not adapt to society’s beliefs, but created his own thoughts and opinions (Themes-Education). However, Huck was not the only one to overthrow society’s thoughts. At the end of the novel, The Doctor separated from society’s ideas by supporting Jim saying that he was a good nigger and did not deserve to be treated harshly (Twain 271). “Don’t be no rougher on him then you’re obleeged to, because he ain’t a bad nigger” (Twain 271). At this point the Doctor saw that no race was superior to any other (Rasmussen 203). The Widow Douglas adopted Huck and tried to civilize him to be a proper young boy of society (Twain 1). “The widow Douglas she took me