A review by sidharthvardhan
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

4.0

"Hain't we got all the fools in town on our side? And hain't that a big enough majority in any town?”

I knew Twain could be funny, I didn’t knew he could be this good in questioning prejudice.

Strange that it should be one of most challenged books on racist grounds. It is actually quite anti-racist.

The criticism comes because of language. There is frequent use of big 'N' word and Jim is often referred to as if he is a sort of property.. but both were commonly use words in Finn's time, the monster won't go away if I shut my eyes. And Finn lacks sophistication or education to check the language he picks up.

What makes it more special to me is that he makes a white and a black kid best friends in Jim and Finn. Finn’s difficult childhood makes it easier for him to relate to Jim. He is not above apologizing to Jim, or breaking law in order to rescue him. Given Finn’s upbringing away from secure white environment, his dialect came to be a mix of dialects spoken by Black and White people. Twain manages to do all this without making a big noise about how big a thing he is doing.

And this was years before Conrad was doubting black people's ‘humanity’ (Heart of Darkness).

Even Twain’s stated theme has to do nothing with racism. It is supposed to be development of one’s moral values. Finn’s moral sense was developed away from school and religion. “A sound heart” Twain once said about the book, “is a surer guide than an ill trained conscience.” While Finn is not able to do away with socially imposed values, he rather chooses to go along with his heart.

“All right, then, I’ll go to the hell.”

Twain repeatedly questions the established social beliefs. First, he makes you feel sorry for a white kid and emotionally support his escape from an abusive parent, then he throws at you a similar escape of a black kid from slavery which is supposed to be illegal. Despite Finn’s love for his friend, Tom, Finn think that later would consider helping Jim's escape as wrong – given his educational and religious upbringing.

“I know what you’ll say. You’ll say it’s dirty, low down business; but what if it is? I’m low down; and I’m a-going to steal him, and I want you keep mum and not let on. Will you?”

His eyes lit up and he says: “I’ll HELP you steal him!”