After finishing Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, as well as discussing the Reconstruction period in class, I noticed that Twain reflected in his book the social issues that came with this period after the Civil War. Twain finished the book approximately 20 years after the war was over. Slaves were “free” by this time. Yes, they were indeed free (as of the thirteenth amendment). However, I feel like Twain hinted the truth of that time that while by law slaves were free, they still certainly did not have equal rights. Black Americans during the time may have been free in a technical sense, but they did not have the same freedoms; Black codes (defined in Foner as “laws passed by the new Southern governments that attempted to regulate the lives of former slaves”) were enforced, and they could not vote. Twain showed how Tom took advantage of Jim and mistreated him (knowing all along that Jim was actually free). However, in the end, such mistreatment causes other characters to acknowledge Jim as a worthy human being. Reflecting on the entire book, it is evident how Twain portrayed Jim how probably many “free blacks” at the time felt; free in a legal sense, but not necessarily by society’s standards.
Looking at the immense segregation that followed the 13th amendment, clearly blacks were not equal. How do you believe Twain's constructed world, the way Jim is seen by society, parallels the issues that would evolve during the Reconstruction era and the time to follow?
Looking at the immense segregation that followed the 13th amendment, clearly blacks were not equal. How do you believe Twain's constructed world, the way Jim is seen by society, parallels the issues that would evolve during the Reconstruction era and the time to follow?
I think Twain demonstrates the racist attitudes of the time extremely well in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. These attitudes and views continued even after blacks were given freedom from slavery. Society doesn't change immediately and Twain is completely aware of that. I think that's why he choose to satire most of the racist characters in his novel. However, I do think he tries to be as realistic as he can with the ending of the novel. Huck cannot just stop being ignorant for his society influences him way too much and he allows himself to be influenced.
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