Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Theme
The most prominent theme in Huckleberry Finn is racism and the fight between right and wrong. This book is set in a time where racism is an acceptable thing. Jim is a slave that runs into Huck after Jim decides he should run away instead of being sold off. Huck decides to stick with Jim even though his conscience kept telling him it was the wrong thing to do. Huck's internal conflict between the rights and wrongs of slavery is evident as they continue their adventure along the river. Huck thought that he could tell, that he'd "go and write [to Jim's] owner and tell him where he was" but Huck couldn't do it(213). In Huck's mind he it's a major sin not to tell a slaves master where his slave is after the slave has ran away.However, Huck decides that Jim's more than just a slave, Jim is Huck's friend and he couldn't turn Jim in, even though he might "go to hell" because of it(214).
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I disagree that the theme of the story is racism. Just because racism was acceptable during this time and was an ordinary thing does not make it the theme. I could partially agree that the theme could be about right from wrong though. Hucks misfortune with his father who neglected him had a major impact on him and could influenced him to do things. through out the story he could be stuggling depicting what is right from wrong.
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