Mark Twain And Racism

Want to read the rest of this paper? Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay and over 50,000 other term papers

15% of the United States population. Every
character in the book is racist, even Huckleberry himself. With such lines
as: "Here was this nigger, which I had as good as helped run away, coming
right out flatfooted and saying he would steal his children-children that
belonged to a man I didn't even know; a man that hadn't ever done me no
harm"(Twain, P133), he illustrates this.

Additionally, the character of Jim is not a well-developed
character like Huckleberry or even Aunt Sally, but is flat, and is never
the instigator of actions. Instead, he is acted upon and is often the
center of attention, treated as a problem throughout the book. When he
breaks this pattern, and takes action, his image is not helped. Even when
he tries to help Tom near the end, he is not shown as a human being, but at
best a noble savage who acts without reason.

Finally, Jim's character is a stereotype. He is a black man trying
to find a new home, and buy back his family. He believes in a wealth ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays. Write better papers. Get better grades. Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE: