Realism In Huck Finn

Words: 996
Pages: 4

American classic, Huck Finn, written by Mark Twain, tells the story of the time period leading up to the Civil War, a time when slavery was still legal and racial tensions were at their highest. The use of slander is prevalent in the novel as with a child named Huck whose eyes the book is told through and an adventurous child who has decided fake his death and run away. Soon he meets with a slave named Jim he knows who is attempting to escape the bonds or slavery and head north. Huck decides he will help Jim escape, and so their adventure along the Mississippi river begins. Although Huck Finn only shows slavery and the south through the eyes of Huck, a child, it addresses the issue of slavery in a more realistic fashion, adding another layer of realism. Realism and the depiction of the time period is why Huck Finn should be used as a Learning tool and should not be considered trash.
One of Huck Finn's early examples of its accurate depiction of the time period is Huck describing practices of the time. “I see white smoke skirtout of the ferry-boat’s side. You see, they was firing cannon over the water, trying to make my carcass come to the
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I got into my old rags, and my sugar-hogshead again, and was free and satisfied” (Twain 1). Children wanting to wear less than proper clothes is nothing new, this insight into Huck's feelings is the same as many other kids, giving the book a more realistic feeling. Some argue this realism takes away from the books complicated message of slavery. However, using the point of view of a child gives a realistic aspect to the book. Later in the novel, the perspective of a child is useful for exposing slavery through the eyes of an innocent character like Huck and giving the reader someone to relate to through the