Anti-racism in The Adventures
of Huckleberry Finn
赵千
Huck and Jim
Reevaluation of Blacks
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It is mainly related to Huck’s ever-increasing understanding
about the black slave, Jim. At the beginning he despises and
tricks Jim like any other white people. Then he realizes
gradually Jim is also a man with emotions and feelings like
himself and begins to respect him for his honesty and sincerity.
At this point, white people should learn to reevaluate blacks.
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Huck ever describes “He（Jim） was thinking about his wife
and his children, away up yonder, and he was low and
homesick; because he hadn’t ever been away from home
before in his life; I do believe he cared just as much for his
people as white folks does for their’n.” (chapter 23)
“ I’d see him (Jim) standing my watch on top of his’n, stead
of calling me, so I could go on sleeping; and see him how glad
he was when I come back out of the fog; and when I come to
him again in the swamp, up there where the feud was; and
always call me honey, and pet me, and do everything he could
think of for me and how good he always was.” (chapter 31)
“ ……I was glad it was according to my judgment of him, too;
because I thought he had a good heart in him and was a good
man……” (chapter 42)
Disclosing Social Oppression
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In the novel blacks are controlled by white people not only
physically but also spiritually. They are usually portrayed as
timid, obedient, illiterate and superstitious. It doesn’t mean that
blacks are inferior to white people but shows the humble living
condition of blacks. It is the result of long-term oppression.
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“Afterwards Jim said the witches bewitched him and put him
in a trance, and rode him all over the State……Niggers would
come miles to hear Jim tell about it, and he was more looked
up to than any nigger in that country.” (chapter 2)
“And behind the woman comes a little nigger girl and two
little nigger boys, without anything on but tow-linen shirts,
and they hung onto their mother’s gown, and peeped out from
behind her at me (Huck), bashful, the way they always do.”
(chapter 32)
“Jim he couldn’t see no sense in the most of it, but he allowed
we was white folks and knowed better than him; so he was
satisfied, and said he would do it all just as Tom said.” (chapter
36)
Satire on Prejudices against Blacks
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In the novel blacks are despised by white people, even though
they are friendly, kind-hearted, faithful and honest like Jim.
They are looked on not as human beings, but as goods or
property without emotions and soul. Admittedly, Twain’s acute
and sharp depiction is a powerful attack on such prejudices.
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Huck’s drunkard father ever complains “There was a free
nigger there, from Ohio; a mu-latter most as white as a white
man……they said he was a p’fessor in a college, and could
talk all kinds of language, and knowed everything.……I says
to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and
sold?—that’s what I want to know.” (chapter 6)
The Duke ever asks the King “……and do you reckon a nigger
can run across money and not borrow some of it?” (chapter 26)
When Huck and Aunt Sally talk about the boat explosion, Aunt
Sally says “Good gracious! Anybody hurt?” Then Huck says
“No’m. Killed a nigger.” Aunt Sally answers “Well, it’s lucky;
because sometimes people do get hurt.” (chapter 32)
Pursuit of Freedom
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The journey of Huck and Jim on the raft down Mississippi
River is in fact a process of pursuing freedom. At chapter 8 of
the novel Jim has told he has a dream. As the plot develops,
it’s known that the dream is freedom, not only his own
freedom but also his family’s freedom. It is the dream that
makes Jim begins his rough journey at the risk of his life. The
dream is everything for him and also for all blacks.
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Huck ever asks Jim “What did you do with the ten cents, Jim?”
Jim answers “Well, I’uz gwynw to spen’ it, but I had a dream, en
de dream tole me to give it to a nigger name’ Balum……But he’s
lucky, dey say, en I see I warn’t lucky. De dream say let Balum
inves’ de ten cents en he’d make a raise for me.” (chapter 8)
“Jim said it made him all over trembly and feverish to be so close
to freedom.” and “……the first thing he would do when he got to
a free State he would go to saving up money and never spend a
single cent, and when he got enough he would buy his
wife……and then they would both work to buy the two children,
and if their master wouldn’t sell them, they’d get an Ab’litionist to
go and steal them.” (chapter 16)
Conclusion
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In the novel Mark Twain reveals many realistic problems.
Firstly, white people should learn to reevaluate themselves and
blacks. Besides, he discloses social oppression especially
through the portrait of blacks’ common features. In addition,
he satirizes the prejudices against blacks. Finally, he advocate
blacks’ pursuit of freedom. Therefore, there is no doubt that
the novel is against racism rather than the contrary.
Thank you for your attention!