Parry Grimm's Research

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as an African American Road Narrative

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was written by Mark Twain and first published in 1885. By focusing on Jim's experiences as a runaway slave on the road to freedom, "Huck Finn" can be examined as an African American road narrative. In Twain's novel, the river and raft represent the means of mobility for Huck and Jim. Twain uses the destinations and towns along the river to comment on the African American role in society during the 19th century. By organizing the novel around specific symbolic settings, Twain expresses a social commentary. He also defines the values of 19th century American culture and manipulates the river to symbolize escape, freedom, safetly, and an idealized America.