Racism In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain’s novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, follows the adventure of a young boy and a runaway slave on the Mississippi River who encounter constant obstacles on the way to a free state. Through out the novel, Twain implies the ubiquitous racist attitudes during the antebellum period. Many critics and readers insist on the racist aspects of Twain’s writings, however Twain proves to be anything but a racist in this novel. Many literary scholars note the much used irony of Twain’s writing to enlighten readers of the truth behind Huckleberry Finn. The countess uses of satire, irony, and contradictions allow Twain to inscribe an anti-racist message against the constant racism of American society. The writing, though seemingly racist, in fact, offers powerful ironies throughout the novel. While traveling, Huck reveals that a cylinder-head “killed a nigger” to which Aunt Sally replies “it’s lucky; because sometimes people
The social conventions taught to Huck, though conceived to be proper, actually involves racism due to the acceptance of slavery during his time. Throughout Huck and Jim’s adventure, Huck’s new found morality challenges the civilized beliefs taught to him. Huck’s defiance to the proper social morals of the south reveals to be one of the many ways Twain uses irony to mock and chastise society. Huck’s moral development shoes when Jim declares Huck “de on'y white genlman dat ever kep' his promise to ole Jim” (Twain 92). Though taught to be civil and kind throughout the South, Huck proves to be the only respectable person to Jim. Twain’s use of irony in this instance displays his “anti-racist discourse” that challenges the racism of his time and even the twenty-first century (Trites). Twain’s application of irony displays the many ways he opposes the racist morals imbedded into the people of the