In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry- Finn, Mark Twain utilizes the character of Jim, a runaway slave, to remark on society's ignorant attitudes to those that may differ from the masses. The alienation of Jim throughout the story reflects the popular racist beliefs of the mid to late 1800s.
The character of Jim is introduced as a "nigger.".
"Miss Watson's big nigger, named Jim .
was setting in the kitchen door- (P.6).
The word "nigger" itself offends the majority of people in this country. It has become a trademark of racist and inhuman cowards. However, Mark Twain wrote the novel in 1885, when "nigger" was still rather commonplace. Twain didn't use this word because he is a white supremacist or a racist bigot, but because many people were in his lifetime. It is quite obvious that Twain had a problem with such ideas and beliefs.
Growing up in the mid 1800s, Mark Twain's family owned many slaves. In fact, one of the Clemmons Family slaves, better known to our author as "Uncle" Daniel. He was Mark Twain's inspiration for the character of Jim. This is why Twain uses Jim, a black slave, as a symbol of society's racism and ignorance. Growing up, Twain must have experienced racism first- hand directly pertaining to a man he was close enough to, that he could call him "Uncle." .
During Huck's adventure with Jim, Huck realizes much about himself through Jim. At one point in the story, Huck decides to play a mean trick on Jim in which he puts a dead snake in his bed. .
" I found a rattlesnake in there .
I killed it and put it at the foot of Jim's bed-(P.59).
Jim is very upset with Huck after this incident. Soon, Huck realizes that what he did was unkind and wrong. He proceeds to apologize to Jim, showing much strength of Huck's character.
"I made up my mind, I wouldn't take hold .
of a snakeskin ever again with my hands." (P. 59).
This event in the book, shows more than just an apology between two people.
