When Jim leaves society, he finally gains his individuality. But once Jim returns to civilization, he is immediately marginalized once again, representing the effect of society on the portrayal of Jim. The development of Jim from a caricature to a real person throughout the novel conveys the oppression of African Americans and their struggle to show their true identity in antebellum America. In the beginning of the book, Twain portrays Jim as a caricature with limited individuality, demonstrating the dehumanization of slaves. When Tom and Huck first come across Ms. Watson’s slave Jim, the boys treat Jim like an object: “Tom whispered to me and wanted to tie Jim to a tree for fun” (Twain 19). Tom’s desire to tie Jim up represents his disrespect for Jim. By Tom wanting to play with him, Jim mirrors a toy that is for amusement. Tom’s action conveys white societies lack of concern and regard for Jim, as a slave, since Tom is an educated white boy. However, Huck responds to Jim that he does not want to and instead Tom hangs his hat above Jim’s head. Jim thinks witches visited him and “was monstrous proud about it, and he got so he wouldn’t hardly notice the other niggers” (19). At this point in the book, readers only know Jim as Ms. Watson’s superstitious slave, who lacks a true identity. By Tom playing a trick on Jim and Jim being “proud about it,” Twain seems to mock Jim since readers know it was just Tom. In addition, Twains use of the word “nigger,” represents the trivialization of Jim. Similar to Jim, in Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s poem We Wear the Mask, the speaker conveys his struggle as a minstrel man and his need to “wear the mask (Dunbar 1). Dunbar writes, “This debt we pay to human guile; with torn and bleeding hearts we smile” ... ... middle of paper ... ...“I knowed he was white inside” (279). Even though Huck seemed to make progress in his perceptions of African Americans in the novel, Huck still remains to confine to societies belief that whites are superior. Huck believes that because Jim was compassionate and helped Tom that he is white, thus portraying the belief that skin color is enough to discriminate against. Eventually, Tom says that “ Old Miss Watson dies two months ago…and she set him free in her will” (369), which means Tom always knew Jim was free, but continued to use his captivity as a game. Because Tom hid the secret of Jim’s freedom, he conveys his lack of knowledge in Jim’s struggle. Jim could have been saved from time in chains but instead had to suffer through Tom’s need for adventure. Therefore, Tom selfishness as a white child resulted in the discomfort and suffering of Jim as a slave.
While staying with a farming family, Huck’s partner, known as “The King,” sold off some slaves that he swindled away from the family. While the slaves were crying and saying goodbye to each other, Huck thinks that “I couldn’t a stood it all but would a had to bust...if I hadn’t knowed the sale warn’t no account and the niggers would be back home in a week or two”(Clemens, 234-235). While traveling with Jim down the Mississippi, Huck’s transformation on his outlook on slaves is drastic. He no longer sees Jim as “Miss Watson’s big nigger,”(Clemens, 22) but as a
	Huck’s attitude for Jim is racist which is seen when he decides to play a trick on Jim during their voyage. After Huck plays his trick his attitude toward Jim begins to change, "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterward, neither" (Twain 72). The dialogue throughout the book between Huck and Jim illustrates that Jim is more than property and that he is a human being with feelings, and hopes for a better future.
Mark Twain tells the story of Huckleberry Finn, and his maturity that is developed through a series of events. This maturity is encouraged through the developing relationship between Huck and Jim, as well as the strong influence Jim has on Huck. Jim's influence not only effects Huck's maturity, but his moral reasoning; and the influence society has on Huck. Jim is Huck's role model; even though Huck would not admit it. At first Jim seems to portray a Black stereotypical role with his superstitions and ignorance, although his true identity and maternal role begins to shine through as his interactions with Huck progress.
Growing up in civilization, Huck had recognized owning a slave as a societal norm. He slowly begins to realize the impact of society, on slaves and slaveholders. The more analyzation of the situation, the less comprehensible slavery became, and light was shown on the evils around it. Moral confusion ensues as those who seem to be kind and heaven bound, such as Miss. Watson and Sally Phelps, are oblivious to the inhumane injustice done to Jim and all of those enslaved. In this instance, Huck Finn has a more sound idea of morality than the adults in his life. During Huck’s impersonation of Tom, he is asked why he was delayed replying that a cylinder on a steamboat had blown up. When asked if anyone had been hurt, he comments that a “ni**er” has been killed. Sally then disregards this as a human life, and responds “Well
Jim’s anticipation for freedom grew higher as he expressed his future dreams and aspirations. Jim began saying things that “niggers” wouldn’t normally dare say. Jim was speaking like a white man, not like someone’s property, a slave. This attitude began to lower Huck’s vision of Jim, and his conscience grew even hotter. Huck had never been exposed to a slave who spoke this way. It was his inadequate education that told him this was wrong.
While traveling together down the river Huck and Jim, accompanied by the king and duke, came to a stop after passing their original destination, Cairo, during the night. While at the stop Huck overheard the king and duke put out a reward for Jim. Huck knows that if Miss Watson finds the reward notice, he will return back with Miss Watson.Therefore she will sell him elsewhere. When faced with this difficult situation Huck decided to write a letter to Miss Watson, however, after finishing his final sentence he realizes how Jim contains similar emotions and feelings as him and other caucasians. Huck yells after tearing up the letter “All right then, I’ll go to Hell” (Twain 31). This action supports the individual's right to think differently from mankind and express their free will or ability to choose how they interact with others. Huck treats a person of color equally when Jim discusses his relationship with his family and his past. While listening to Jim talk about his family, Huck understands that Jim cares about his family as much as a white person does and so he says “I knowed he was white inside” (Twain 30). This interaction between Huck and Jim signifies that Huck sees Jim as equal despite the racial bias set forth by mankind's stigma around different races. This scenario accurately supports Twain's idea of equality and fair treatment for all
Ransomed? Whats that???.. it means that we keep them till they're dead (10). This dialogue reflects Twains witty personality. Mark Twain, a great American novelist, exploits his humor, realism, and satire in his unique writing style in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain, born in 1835, wrote numerous books throughout his lifetime. Many of his books include humor; they also contain deep cynicism and satire on society. Mark Twain, the author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, exemplifies his aspects of writing humor, realism, and satire throughout the characters and situations in his great American novel.
Another theme that is dealt with in this book is slavery. In fact, slavery is one of the main topics that has been frequently debated in regards to Huckleberry Finn since it was first published. Twain himself was vehemently anti-slavery and Huckleberry Finn can in many ways be seen as an allegory for why slavery is wrong. Twain uses Jim, a slave who is one of the main characters, as a way of showing the human side of a slave. Everything about Jim is presented through emotions: Jim runs away because Miss Watson was going to sell him South and separate him from his family; Jim is trying to become free so he can buy his family's freedom; and Jim takes care of Huck and protects him on their journey downriver in a very materialistic manner.
Jim is one perfect example of the message that Twain is trying to convey. As Jim’s character builds, his english is broken, and at times, is difficult to read. Twain has done this on purpose, to emphasize Jim’s lack of an education and the treatment he gets as a slave. In the beginning chapters of the book, Jim hears a sound and says “say-who is you? Whar is you? Dog my cats ef i didn’ hear sumf’n…” When reading Jim’s dialogue, the reader must have some reflection on the way his speaking is a result of slavery and the purposeful withholding of education.
During times of slavery, every African American in the south was either a slave or a free African American. “She treated me with respect” (Twain 5). Jim said when he was asked about how the Widow Douglass treats him. This shows that the life of Jim was not that bad, he had everything a slave at that time could want, and his owner did not disrespect him. Also most slaves were abused and almost beaten to death. Twain tries to represent the hardships of slaves on a daily basis when he doesn’t portray Jim’s life to be much difficult “Even though Jim was a slave, he was treated like a family member” (Ralph 6). Jim was a house slave and did not have to do hard work in the fields for long hours. In page 3 in Ralph’s Article, he says “Jim had to no motive to leave, he wanted freedom but it would be harder for him because he wouldn’t have all the amenities he had when he was a slave” (Ralph 4).
Many words the book contains are full of vivid disgust towards black slaves. Every single line talks about how white people despise and refuse to accept the black race. Answering Aunt Sally's question about whether or not anyone is hurt Huck answers, "no mum, just killed a nigger."(Twain 213) This is the one and only acceptable way to talk about black people in the "white" society. In addition to this, not only is the black people treated differently from the white, they are also considered to be one's property. "He is the only property I have," (Twain 122) Huck is perforce to say in order to save Jim. This is the only way to get through without the essence of suspicions. Though Huck shows racism in public as society teaches him, deep inside he understands that Jim is a great person. Through the eyes of Huck Finn, Mark Twain shows that there is more to people then looks and race, showing the importance of beliefs and character.
Charles Nilon, In his essay “The Ending of Huckleberry Finn, ‘Freeing the Free Negro’” (1992) argues that the final chapters of Huckleberry Finn “show figuratively, and pass judgment on, this process of ‘freeing the free negro’ that Twain became increasingly aware of after 1880” (Nilon 62). Nilon portrays the treatment of Jim between Tom and Huck as a matter of class. For Tom, who Nilon argues represents the higher class of the south, thinks that “black people were ‘niggers.’ They were inferior, and freedom for them was necessarily different from what freedom was for white people.” (Nilon 66). Huck, on the other hand, who is argued to represent the lower, more morally-conscious class of southerner, becomes increasingly more ethical in his decisions, (For example, when Huck decides they must free Jim from capture, as opposed to leaving him). Nilon brings up another example of contrast between the two boys, and therefore the two classes, when Huck and Tom enter Jim’s holding area, and are confronted by another slave who is keeping watch. Tom does not want the guard to view them as “equals” and bullies the slave into confusion and submission. Huck, once again on the other side of the spectrum, makes
... he now realizes that stealing property is bad. Since Huck and Tom, although in a drawn-out manner, free Jim it is implied that he regards Jim as a fellow human being, not a slave. Showing Huck this equality and fostering a friendship between him and Jim could only be done by this kind of physical journey, as the idea of equality was only in its infancy at the time and had not taken root with any southerner.
Jim 's human-like behavior explains that he is actually human, Huck and Jim 's bond reveals that it 's possible to be separate from the beliefs one is born into, and Tom 's foolish plans relate to southerns actions mimicking that of Tom 's. Twain 's message of equality is that is possible to separate from the racist beliefs that one is born into and decide what and what not to believe in. By publishing this book, Twain allowed southerns to make a choice and let African-Americans speak up and have a
Mark Twain’s The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn is one of the most classic American Literature Book. It consists of historical backgrounds, universality, and timelessness. But one of the most outstanding chapters of the book is chapter 27 and 28.In the two chapters, Twain’s use of the literary device – Characterization builds the character of Huckleberry Finn and show the different aspects of his character.