The Theme Of Racism In The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

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Holy Names students should read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, because it teaches students of the ideals of American society in the 1840s. In this novel, students will learn how people in society lived, how their religious system was structured, their senses of right and wrong, racism, and old forgotten traditions. Though this book is known to be controversial for its demeaning language and ideals, it should not be forgotten. Rather than letting the issues surrounding the book be ignored , they should become known. Students should be aware of the problems in history, not hidden from it.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn takes place in the St. Petersburg Missouri, around 1845. St. Petersburg is a very rural town and the people of the town …show more content…

Though it may be received as controversial as to why Mark Twain presented so much racism, it can also be seen as a way to put the reality of racism in the eyes of others. Most white people in the 1880s supported the establishment of slavery and saw it as acceptable to say the N-word. Mark Twain wanted these attitudes to change, and his book furthered this mission. In today, many of these beliefs have changed, and people now realize how wrong slavery was. Though the establishment may be gone, many stereotypical thoughts have yet to be diminished. In chapter 26, the duke says; "Because Mary Jane 'll be in mourning from this out; and first you know the nigger that does up the rooms will get an order to box these duds up and put 'em away; and do you reckon a nigger can run across money and not borrow some of it?" (Twain 26) The duke basically tells Huck that all black men are thieves, even though he is a thief himself. Many people in today’s society fear black people, and often accuse them of crimes they did not commit. We can see this today through the cops who continue to shoot and kill innocent, unarmed black men. The book without even knowing it, offers us proof as to why certain things are believed today. People back then thought of back people as thieves, and this has yet to …show more content…

In this book, one is given insights on the ideals of society, different beliefs, the origins of stereotypes, and so much more. The book can be seen as a peek into forgotten history, containing facts about how people lived in the 1840 that most people do not know about. Though it is agreed that the novel contains way too much racism and offensive language, such aspects of American history should not be hidden. Whether people want to believe it or not, the 1840s was a racist era in history when racism was accepted. Mark Twain was an abolitionist, but even he was imperfect. He lived as a white male in the 1800s after all, but he was active against the establishments of slavery. He wrote his book to teach others, like HNHS students about the reality of slavery and

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