Hypocrisy In Huckleberry Finn
“Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, written by Mark Twain, depicts and criticizes American society which was overwhelmed by arrogant racial hypocrisy (Mattisson). The prominent example of it lies in the abusive and racist speeches of Huckleberry's farther who names African Americans “prowling, thieving, infernal, white-shirted free niggers…” Mark Twain wrote his “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” when the society's attitude towards slavery was divided. The whole country was divided into two parts, too: there were the slave states, where the slavery was legal (southern states including Virginia, Georgia, Tennesee, Kentucky, Arkansas, North and South Carolina, Lousiana, Alabama, Mississipi, Texas (in 1845), and others – in total 15 states
by 1861) and the free ones (northern states, such as Pennsylvania, Massachusets, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Mitchigan, - 19 in total by 1961). (1) The issue of slavery was extremely complex and covered not only social, but also geographical, political and economical matters. The border disputes were often raised as the new states emerged. Slavery within territories was entirely within the power on Congress, a majority vote in Congress regulated territories and admitted new states. As each State was represented by two Senators, politicians were more than concerned about the distribution of power in the Senate. Willing to prevent political conflicts, the Senate attempted to keep the balance between the number of slave states and the free ones. The most important agreement between the pro- and anti-slavery factions was The Missouri Compromise in 1820, due to which all the territory south of Louisiana Purchase territory, Missouri' southern boundary, had to be organized as free states. Many historians believe that the slavery was a fundamental cause of the Civil War. According to A. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederate States of America, the slavery was “at the heart of the crisis that plunged the U.S. into a civil war”. (6) The dispute upon the slavery status led to secession, and consequently to the war, as the South fought to gain Southern independence, with its new confederation and its own constitution. (7)
by 1861) and the free ones (northern states, such as Pennsylvania, Massachusets, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Mitchigan, - 19 in total by 1961). (1) The issue of slavery was extremely complex and covered not only social, but also geographical, political and economical matters. The border disputes were often raised as the new states emerged. Slavery within territories was entirely within the power on Congress, a majority vote in Congress regulated territories and admitted new states. As each State was represented by two Senators, politicians were more than concerned about the distribution of power in the Senate. Willing to prevent political conflicts, the Senate attempted to keep the balance between the number of slave states and the free ones. The most important agreement between the pro- and anti-slavery factions was The Missouri Compromise in 1820, due to which all the territory south of Louisiana Purchase territory, Missouri' southern boundary, had to be organized as free states. Many historians believe that the slavery was a fundamental cause of the Civil War. According to A. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederate States of America, the slavery was “at the heart of the crisis that plunged the U.S. into a civil war”. (6) The dispute upon the slavery status led to secession, and consequently to the war, as the South fought to gain Southern independence, with its new confederation and its own constitution. (7)