This paper poses the question why Mark Twain depicts Jim, a black runaway in an
offensive and stereotypical light. It
provides
a strong textual example of Jim being reduced to a fool and an object. The paper discusses Jim and Huck's equal relationship in order to provide a contrast to the rascist example. The paper
provides justification of Twain's
offensive portrayals by arguing that the reason that he portrays Jim as a stereotypic "nigger" when he is in the presence of society is because he wants to show that Jim is buying into the social status that society has imposed on him.