The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain tries to transport the reader into American slavery. But, by the end of his novel, the reader is already following the childish adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. The novel is about a boy growing up in southern societies, just before the American Civil War. Huckleberry, a freed slave, and Jim, a young boy, form a close friendship as they travel together down the Mississippi River. Jim is taken prisoner by Huck at the end of this book. Twain’s protagonist Tom Sawyer is well aware of Jim’s fate. Huck convinces Tom to use his elaborate schemes to “free Jim” for the sakes of the adventure Tom longs for. The story was distracting from the social issues Twain had to address at the beginning of his novel. Many believe Twain’s seamless denunciation of racism is a result of Huck’s moral revelations. The issue of racism is clearly ignored in the novel’s final chapters. Tom Sawyer’s adventures are a distraction and Huck’s growth as a character isn’t finished. Jane Smiley, literary critic, states that “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is lacking in greatness.” There’s more to American history from the canonization of it than canonization (Smiley). There is more to the story than what it is being praised for. While many people praise The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because of its social commentary about 19th-century Southern society’s faults, the glorification of that novel speaks volumes about American ignorance of racism more than Twain.
Huck sees Tom Sawyer as his idol and will do any thing Tom tells him. Huck, even though he changes as a person, reverts to the sidekick Huck was when Tom is reintroduced. Jim, who has already started to appear like Huck’s sidekick becomes even more marginalized in the novel, despite the importance of Jim’s personality to Twain’s messages. Tom’s influence is what the novel’s supporters claim caused Huck to lose his character and halt meaningful plot progress. Huck is forced to make a choice between saving Jim and letting his owner know. Huck tears up the note he meant to send Jim’s creator and says, “Allright, then, we’ll go to Hell” (Twain 228). Defenders of the novel will argue that this is a significant character development for a boy who, having been taught to believe that helping escaped slaves would bring him to eternal damnation in hell, had never had to look after anyone else. Twain could have closed the book at this point. In the next chapters, Twain rewrites everything he has built. Huck made that important decision but it doesn’t mean anything if Huck does not take action. Tom applies pressure to Huck and he caves. Huck did not resolve to play any more jokes on Jim. Huck continues to follow Tom’s lead, creating unnecessary obstacles that cause Jim’s captivity. Huck doesn’t have the ability to advocate for Jim in front a friend. Huck knows Tom is being a nuisance but he is passive. Huck loses everything that made him such a great protagonist. Huck has become a less complex character than the one the reader has come to admire. This apparent character regression is due to society’s perceptions of the novel and its praise for its denial of racism. Huck’s failure to keep his promises to Jim and giving in to society’s expectations is not a good sign for America’s social situation. Jane Smiley says that society believes that Huck should feel positive about Jim and love him. Also, that he thinks of Jim as a man. (Smiley). They think they can congratulate themselves for having a protagonist who can show basic human decency. The opposition loves to glorify this novel and thinks they can take credit for a protagonist who can demonstrate basic human decency. Huck’s development is largely due to his refusal to accept what he’s been told. He learns to think for himself and make choices about right and wrong. Huck, through his friendship with Jim begins to unravel racism in the society. Huck sees Jim’s humanity even though he is beginning to understand it. However, Twain does not do enough to address these issues. Twain also doesn’t deserve praise for his denunciation of racism. Huck did learn to be more compassionate and respectful towards Jim, but Huck’s direction is not right. Huck’s only learning to apply the concept human rights to Jim, and not to other slaves and African Americans. Huck is astonished when Jim speaks about his family. It doesn’t seem natural to me, but it is what I believe” (Twain 177) Huck clearly believes Jim is an exceptional case. Jim is more like “white people” than people who are of color. This is what makes Jim human. Huck learns to be kind to Jim, not as an African American. Huck doesn’t learn respect for people of color even if he did. Huck believes that helping Jim is morally wrong and that Huck is guilty of it. Huck says that Tom offered to save Jim. It was unbelievable to me. “Tom Sawyer is a n ***** thief!” (Twain, 240). Huck has much to learn before he can be a great literary figurehead for racial equality. Twain does not suggest any further learning beyond the novel’s conclusion. Twain does not give Huck’s character any meaningful conclusion. Huck does not win over racism. However, the novel’s admirers will note that this doesn’t negate the importance of these social issues being addressed. The fact that Huck cannot completely change his childhood is more relevant and indicative of the period. Twain fails to mention that Huck was not absolved of his moral obligations. Smiley states that Huck deserves credit for recognizing that all Americans, black or free, have the ability to see the obvious. Huck doesn’t even acknowledge it by the end. The reader is required to respect this novel and ignore Twain’s “revelations”. This perpetuates a misperception of racism.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’s casual readers like critics romanticize Mark Twain’s efforts at understanding the deep-rooted problems of Southern society. Twain’s novel is flawed in many ways. Through Huck’s growth and revelations, Twain attempts to instill realizations about racism on the reader. Twain doesn’t expect readers to learn these moral lessons if Huck is shown to have regressed in his character and is unable use what he learned. Huck still values Tom’s thoughts more than Jim’s wellbeing. Huck cannot respect Jim if Tom views him as more white than African American. Huck just needs to show a minimum of warmth and treat Jim with humanity in order to have society endlessly praise Huck’s progressivism and social insight. Huck’s basic human decency towards Jim shouldn’t be considered the highest point of the country’s response to American slavery. Twain’s flaws in the novel are misrepresented to be revelations and solutions to society’s problems. Perhaps this is why so many people continue to be loyal to a flawed book, despite advances in equality.
