Huckleberry Finn Synthesis Essay

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is widely considered an American classic. The author, Mark Twain, holds strong control over the language he uses in his stories. This is a talent he uses in order to develop his characters, plot, and satirize issues of his time. A particular example of this is the quote “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a n***** - but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither” written by Twain in the titular character’s point of view (Twain 65). In this one sentence, Twain is able to use both language and satire to characterize the narrator, Huckleberry Finn, as a southern boy with societal ideals and a young child with a need for a parental figure. The aforementioned

For instance, the word “warn’t” is very distinctly improper English. Huck has only had very basic literacy lessons which is embodied in his use of this single word. This also demonstrates an accent within Huck’s speech. He was raised in Missouri which gave him a strong southern accent. Another example of this is the use of the phrase “humble myself.” Twain intends to paint Huck as the picture of a southern gentleman. However, Twain also attempts to demonstrate that these ‘southern gentlemen’ are not all charm and chivalry, and neither is Huckleberry. Huck uses the n word in reference to his friend and the man he has just wronged. Despite his guilt and regret at hurting this man, Huck uses a heavily derogatory racial slur. By using this word, Finn exposes the influence society has had on him. During modern times, the n-word is considered one of the most if not the most offensive word in the English language. This is all due to the meaning it held during Twain’s time and before. Huck is using this word toward someone he almost

Once again, the use of the n-word is relevant. This word explains Huck’s ingrained opinion of black people. He considers them inferior to the point of near inhumanity. While these ideas are mostly subconscious, this hereditary opinion proves just how desperate Huck is to have a father or simply a friend. Huck’s mother died, his father abused him, and his caretaker, the Widow, forced him to be something he was not. Huck’s loneliness is further intensified by the staging of his own death. At this point in the story, Huck truly has no friends who know he is alive and does not expect to see them again. Thus, Huck turns to Jim. This is proven by the entire meaning of this sentence which is that Huck apologizes for hurting Jim. Both the hesitation and the use of the n-word demonstrate Huck’s poor opinion of Jim but he apologizes all the same. Jim is the only person left to Huck and no matter how the boy feels about his companion, he strives to remain on good terms with Jim. This constant desire to please Jim demonstrates Huck’s loneliness true childhood. Twain includes this relationship to demonstrate to readers that, no matter how many adventures he goes on or how many fights he is in, Huck is still just a little boy. Like any other boy, he just wants love and attention. Since Jim is the only one to provide this, Huck must overcome his discriminatory opinions of his elder in order to meet his own needs. As