Huckleberry Finn: Answer to Prompt (2)

he Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, takes place in the mid 1800s before the Civil War.  The story takes place around the Mississippi River in the Saint Louis and St. Petersburg areas.  The setting plays an important role in this book.

Huckleberry is from an abusive household away from the big city.  When he runs away, he is introduced to a whole new world.  He escapes to the Mississippi River and spends most of his time here.  The Mississippi River is almost always filled with boats, ships, and canoes.  When camping on Jackson Island, he comes across Jim, a run-away slave.  They become travel companions and get the freedom to explore the Mississippi River.  While passing St. Louis, he is amazed at the amount of lights that were in the city.

Back in the mid 1800s, it was common for children to not go to school.  It was also common for children to leave their families at a young age.  During this time, it was unusual for white people to be friends with African American slaves.  Huck and Jim are friends and traveling companions.  African American people were usually treated poorly, but Huck treats him as an equal.  African Americans were commonly called the "n" word back then, but that is definitely  unacceptable today. 

As you can see, the setting is important to this story.  The setting helps shows how Huck's life changes.  In the beginning,  Huck lives in  an abusive and controlling household.  Now he is free to explore the Mississippi River.  It helps contribute to the overall theme of the story that deals with racial segregation.