7 Slavery in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Twain has attempted to express his beliaf that slavery 1s wrong Although, Twain wrote the novel between 1876 and 1883, after the American Civil War (1861-65), the setting for the novel Was pre-war. He echoes profound antisiavery sentiments It is through the eyes of adolescent Huck that Twain presents the issue of slavery. The story is told entirely from Huck’s perspective. His attitude to slavery is revaaled in his internal debates - the conflict between what 's morally ‘ight and what is legally enforced. Huck's description of Miss Watson's big nigger named Jim in the second chapter ‘may imply a racist attitude towards Jim. However, very soon, he develops respect for Jim as he is impressed by Jim's simplicity and humanity. He comments, *..he was more looked up to than any nigger in that country” (Huck Finn 6). Still Huck faces an inner struggle whether to conform to society's expectations and treat black people in the socially accepted manner or to follow his heart and treat all peoale the same sentimental, ‘Twain uses sim, 2 slave, to demonstrate the humanity of slaves. Jim is superstitious and occasion but he is inteligent, practical, and ultimately more of an aduit then anyone else in the novel. Huck and sim form 2 ‘bond through the course of the novel tnat supersedes companionship Jim is protective and caring like a father. Jim makes a far more suitable role model as fether figure than the drunkard Pap. Huck is without prejudice towards his black friend. For instance, in chapter 11 Huck is anxiety to help keep Jim out of danger: “Git up and hump yourself, Jim! There ain't a minute to lose. They're after us!” {Huck Finn 137), resourceful Twain has depicted Jim as smart, loyal, and compassionate. tim shows that, although uneducated, he He tries to shelter Huck from his father's death. He has saved Huck by keeping the raft ready and helping him rowing it downstream. He sees the truth behind the Duke and the King. He also risks his freedom to help Tom. ‘Twain makes white people acknowledge that Jim is human, Twain has Jim freed at the end of the book to get across that slavery is wrong. Throughout the novelits seen that _ appearance as well as skin colour isthe only criti considered by society in ‘allowing citizen rights. 't appears that regardiess of how immoral a white man might be, he stil enjoys more power than that of a highly moral bleck character like Jim. The fact that Pap is awarded custody of Huck illustrates this lack of logic in decisions made by the new judge. The novel continuously presents the reader with these attitudes through the characters of Huck and Jim and their relationship. ‘Twain presents Jim as intelligent, analytical, and highly moral although he is @ black ‘nigger’. He portrays. Jim in such a manner as if he intends that the readers will sympathise Jim. This atttude of Twain is undoubtedly anti- slavery, as Gray explains: “The book is about the historical injustice of slavery, of course, and the social inequity of racism, the human use or denial of human beings” (A History of American Literature 254),Witten during a time in which ratial inequality is widely prevalent, it is quite natural that Huck has racist bias, itis because of his upbringing as a white boy but he feels that he is wrong and values Jim's humanity. While trying to make Jim free he overcames guilt of protecting a runaway slave. He utters with determination “All right, then, Vl go to heli” (Huck Finn 217}. He Is glad when Jim is free: “Now, old Jim, you're a free man again, and | bet you won't ever be a slave ne more” (Huck Finn 277),Racis min The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The Adventures of Huckleber' mee — fee ton ‘of Mark Twain is 2 nove! obsessed with race The adolescent CE cw ip in the South before the Civil War, Lite the other white Amencans he see me Jgro siaves are superstitious, naive and less human than the whites, Whée plas, he plays pranks with Miss Watson's slave Jim, However, he wanscencs cal animosity towar' dds lim on Jackson's island, the site of their frst meeting, Because of the se of ther unusual circumstances, Huck and Ji tuck and lim momentarily turn their white boy/black slave ‘entities upside down, a achievement Twain portrays as deeply desirable, oth are fugitives from the sotiety. Due to his drunken ‘and violent father Huck is homeless. 4m has run away dating to face the persecution of law when his owner was piarming to sel him to the seve traders. Both are intelligent, despite ther lack of formal education; bath question conventional wisdorr ‘and above all, both are good at heart. Because of their mutual alteration from society: Huck and Jim chment and trust. On Jackson's Islan, Jn becomes @ father figure t@ develop 2 bond of mutual atta sgekson’s Isiand decomes Huck, reversing the traditional slave-master relationship. a glorious refuge for them. yre of the polarized, black-and-white world, when he Jearns from the woman Huck overcomes the presst out his failure to turn 1 ghore about hunting down escaped slaves. Although Me feels guilty at ty’, ne protects im and they there ain't a minute 2 on the Jim, Miss Wat leave tne istand: ose. They after son's “stolen prope’ us" (Twain $8) simply by traveling together and relying On ach other, Huck and Ji blur the racial boundaries ison shore. AS hem. They 60 dM sim hastoend pp to look tke onates his frien’ an tne missssinp! Fiver On raft and go through exces ever" tment, The Kingand rme OUKE tie jim wth a P= between t aly sells tothe PhelP> for a fugitive siove- jure subhuman treat ‘the King eventl js face UT ang make hi offensive madman. aunt Sally PRES to SE Jim. rs, Huck impers .d and meets Tom forty doltar in, He also writes ves that helping un avy sim is 2 50 initially, Huck Dee est en vg whereabouts: But finally, Huck gets Ove is white man's EIUIEE towat se saat ight, een, gD 10 Re dy to free sim even though he mignt BE punished so nel He says. “Aight, is ready to free" agtearstne letter uPAs Twain writes Adventures of Huckleberry Finn at the end of the American Civil War from 1865 to 1877, a white boy and a black stave’s trip down the Mississippi river on a raft could not but provoke controversy over racism. 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