Huck+Finn

** Historical Significance of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn  **
 * Nicholas Cockrell **
 * Ms. Moosman **
 * 3 rd Period **
 * 2 May 2013 **
 * Many themes lie within Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that demonstrate the novel’s significance in history. Through the adventures of a young boy, Twain tells a tale that is frozen in time. Historically, the novel portrays a time before slavery was outlawed. It demonstrated a period in the nation’s history when all men were not considered to be created equal. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn took place in a pre-Civil War time period, or antebellum, when African Americans were slaves, and people possessed a completely different mentality than they do today. Through Twain’s writing, one can easily put his novel into historical context, making it an invaluable representation of the past. Using characters, events, and the setting of the story, one can get a good idea of what life was like during Antebellum America. **
 * In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the characters aided in distinguishing the overall setting of the novel. For example even after the civil war, during the time period in which Mark Twain wrote the novel, African Americans were still considered sub-human, a societal perception leftover from the period of slavery. Mark Twain wrote the novel twenty years after the abolition of slavery but Twain’s writing clearly showed the lasting mentality toward the African American population. The treatment of the African American Slaves prior to the Civil War resulted in a long lasting impact on Americans’ mentality toward them. In the novel, this mentality is expressed through the characters’ dialogue and thoughts. During a conversation between Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer’s Aunt Sally, Aunt Sally had asked if anybody was injured during an explosion of a ferry boat and Finn simply replied “Ain’t nobody hurt ‘sept a Nigger”(Twain 307). Though Huckleberry Finn had somewhat of a softer attitude toward African Americans, one can easily view the impact society had on Huckleberry. In response to this statement, Aunt Sally replied “Well it’s lucky, because sometimes people do get hurt” (307). Again, this showed the attitude toward African American people as beings that are less than human. During the birth of the United States as a nation, African Americans were persecuted and taken advantage of. Throughout American history until as recently as the 1970’s, African Americans were treated as “second class” citizens. Of the 250 year history of the United States, African Americans were persecuted for the majority of that time. Mark Twain wrote this novel at a time when African Americans were supposedly free from slavery but nearly all of the African American citizens were still treated as if they were still enslaved. Much of the content in the novel was influenced by the culture that Mark Twain grew up in. Twain, as a child, was raised in an Antebellum America. Twain was born in 1935, thirty years prior to the abolition of slavery (Twain). He grew up on the Mississippi River at a time that the novel is set. Many scholars believe the novel was loosely based on Twain’s experience as a child prior to the Civil War which demonstrated Twain’s moral uncertainty toward slavery and discrimination (Marshall). **
 * In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a majority of the characters have a “White Supremacist” mentality meaning that slaves were considered nothing other than property. Huckleberry Finn’s adventure primarily revolved around getting Jim, a runaway slave, to the safety of the northern states. Finn, in the novel, is different than many of the other characters within the novel. Multiple times, it would have been easier to turn Jim in as a missing slave but his conscience would always get to him and in the end, Finn never betrayed Jim. In the novel, Huckleberry begins to realize that though he has a different skin color, Jim is a person too. “I knowed he was white inside, and I reckon he’d say what he did say- so it was all right now and I told Tom I was going for a doctor”(386). Near the end of the book, Huckleberry confirms Jim’s similarities to white people. Throughout the novel Huck examined Jim’s behavior and came to the conclusion that Jim was a person with emotions just like him and other white people. During one point in the novel, Huckleberry awakens to find Jim crying for his family. This puzzled Huckleberry in that he never thought that African Americans loved their families as white people did. This shows the development of Huckleberry Finn’s character throughout the novel. This portion of the novel is yet another one of the many invaluable historical glimpses that Twain offers in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. There were many people who believed that slavery was immoral and the way Twain portrays Huck’s trouble with following his morals versus the morals of the American Society is very representative of America at the time. America was divided. North and South possessed different ideals and the issue of slavery would end up dividing the United States in the bloodiest war in American history. **
 * In addition to using characters, Twain also uses events within the story to relate his novel to historical events. Events such as the meeting of the Duke and the Dauphin and the act of Jim running away are among the few occurrences that demonstrate aspects of the United States during the early 19 th century. The 19 th century was a different time; many people were willing to cheat in order to get what they needed or desired. The Duke and the Dauphin exhibited this behavior. The Duke and the Dauphin were con artists who took advantage of others’ misfortune. Also, during this time there was an average of 1,500 runaway slaves every year (Clavin). The running away of Ms. Watson’s Jim was very symbolic. Using Jim as a runaway slave, Twain was able to show the great effort that thousands of the abused slaves went through in their fight for freedom. Between the 1820’s and the 1860’s it is estimated that more than 100,000 enslaved African Americans escaped to the northern states (Underground). In The Adventures ofHuckleberry Finn, Jim, a runaway slave, is aided by Finn as he attempted to make it to the north. Mark Twain, in many ways was able to depict the life of a runaway slave with detail using his characters. This novel was written not long after the abolition of slavery and during Twain’s lifetime, the Underground Railroad and runaway slaves were real. Mark Twain was raised in Missouri, a slave state and he was an abolitionist. Twain used common events in his life such as slavery and segregation and he integrated them into his novel. At the time, runaway slaves were frowned upon by the majority of people. This book shows how freedom has not always been guaranteed for people in the U.S. Throughout history; minorities have had to fight in order to get the freedoms that are all promised today. **
 * Mark Twain lived from 1835 to 1910. During his lifetime, he experienced slavery and the abolition of slavery in America. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is set into a time period and it is full of details that provide an exquisite record of the past. The events in the novel that represent life in the 19 th century United States is unparalleled. This novel uses characters, themes, and events accurately representing a different time. Many events in the author’s lifetime influenced him in writing this novel. As an abolitionist, Twain used his adventure story to express his opinion. He was influenced to write about a volatile political issues and a time when many people were still prejudiced against the African Americans. **

** Works Cited  **


 * Clavin, Matthew. "Underground railroad." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2013. Web. 2 May 2013. **


 * Marshall, Donald G. "Huckleberry Finn." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2013. Web. 2 May 2013 **


 * "Twain." Mark Twain. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2013. . **


 * Twain, Mark. Huckleberry Finn. Lexington: Heath, 1959. Print. **


 * "Underground Railroad--History of Slavery, Pictures, Information." National Geographic - Inspiring People to Care About the Planet Since 1888. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2031. . **