Monday, October 29, 2007

huckleberry finn essay!

This book was banned and critizied because of the racism in the book, and Mark Twain was accused as being racist because of the content of the book, people said that he was using Huck to dictate white greatness. But this is not true, I researched Mark Twain and read about his thoughts and feelings towards racism. When reading it, it showed me he was the opposite as viewed.

Mark Twain he was a true supporter of abolition and emancipation, he would never change his views because he felt so strongly about these subjects. One quote he said was "Lincoln’s Proclamation ... not only set the black slaves free, but set the white man free also." One of the points he argued was that in the United States it wasn't fair for the non-whites. He once said “I have seen Chinamen abused and maltreated in all the mean, cowardly ways possible to the invention of a degraded nature....but I never saw a Chinaman righted in a court of justice for wrongs thus done to him.”

As Russell Baker said, "The people whom Huck and Jim encounter on the Mississippi are drunkards, murderers, bullies, swindlers, lynches, thieves, liars, frauds, child abusers, numbskulls, hypocrites, windbags and traders in human flesh. All are white. The one man of honor in this phantasmagoria is 'Nigger Jim,' as Twain called him to emphasize the irony of a society in which the only true gentleman was held beneath contempt." If you have read this book then you have to agree with this quote. Jim is the only gentleman and a true best friend towards Huck.

Huckleberry Finn is a racist young boy but this is because his views have been shaped by society and he hasn't been exposed to other views so he doesn't know about new views involving racism.

Mark Twain is not speaking through Huckleberry Finn, their views are so opposite. Huck is just a child and his views are influenced by the time period and how he sees racism happening.

No comments: