1) Life along the Mississippi River
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" sheds light on the grim realities of living along the Mississippi River at the time. It doesn’t shy away from such topics as slavery, racism, poverty, lawlessness, injustice, classism, and violence, which Huck encounters frequently throughout his journey, as it often serves to enforce order in the absence of law (e. g. murders, tar and feathering, lynching, …).
Deeply rooted superstition and folklore are prevalent as well, particularly among slaves (e. g. existence of evil witches or the foretelling hairball). Nature is also of importance, as the characters often find safety and solace it in (but cf. the dangers of the Mississippi River).
Another topic explored is the differences between the North and the South (see e. g. the character of Sherburn), as well as the different attitudes towards slavery. Huck often encounters the hypocrisy of white Southerners – they emphasize strong family bonds and hospitality (as Huck experienced firsthand, e. g. at the Phelp’s farm or while staying with the Grangerfords), while simultaneously treating slaves very cruelly – this duality then makes their actions even more shocking.
While general attitudes towards slavery vary throughout the novel (see e. g. the slave catchers vs. the free state of Illinois as the “safe haven”), it is quite interesting to watch how Huck’s own beliefs about slavery and race slowly change.
2) Effects of the narrative
Choosing Huckleberry Finn as the story’s narrator brings a unique perspective to it. As a teenager, he has not yet been fully indoctrinated, which allows him (and us) to view the world with fresh eyes. As the story progresses, Huck encounters new people in different situations, which forces him to confront his values and beliefs. As a result, he grows to understand the people a bit more (see e. g. him meeting Mary Jane or “choosing hell” instead of betraying Jim).
At times, Huck can be quite an unreliable narrator, seeing things differently than they really are, mostly because of his limited understanding of events caused by his upbringing and lack of education – yet we, the readers, know his morals and motivations, while sometimes misguided, are usually heading in the right direction.
The story's distinctive style, with its use of dialects, slang words, onomatopoeia, humor, and so much more reflects Huck's upbringing and makes the character and story seem more authentic.
3) Main heroes
The novel follows the story of two main characters: Huckleberry Finn, a white teenage boy, and Jim, a runaway slave.
Huck is portrayed as a mischievous, curious, somewhat good-hearted, independent, and adventurous boy, who grew up surrounded by social and religious restrictions. Consequently, he is influenced by conservative and straight-up racist people early on. However, Huck likes to challenge these restrictions, often landing himself in trouble as a result. He always craves something bigger, a grand adventure of sorts, that ultimately drives him to set out on a journey with Jim, whom he grows to see as more than someone’s property.
Jim is portrayed as a likeable character, who is willing to take risks to gain his freedom and reunite with his family. He is loyal, grateful, kind, and modest, becoming Huck’s mentor and friend. His depiction in the novel emphasizes the cruel reality of slavery. Jim’s character also develops. We can see this when he decides to stand his ground and prioritize his own needs (e. g. refusing the rattlesnakes that Tom wants to put in his cabin), demonstrating a newly developed sense of independence. Still, he has to be careful and act in a way that doesn’t put him in danger (cf. his status as a slave).