Racism and Slavery in Mark Twain’s classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Abstract

               American literature offers a unique view on the world. When tracing the evolution of American literature, people look at themes like the American Dream, coming of age, justice and injustice, the pursuit of happiness and freedom and dignity. Mark Twain’s literary contemporaries include William Dean Howells and Henry James. Both are prominent characters in American literary realism.  Twain’s classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has long been regarded as one of the most essential adventure stories written for students and readers. The purpose of this paper is to describe American literature and highlight the problems faced by Twain’s characters in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has controversial characters and plot. The study discusses characters, cultural issues and satire, which are prevalent throughout the novel.