History YMMV / AdventuresOfHuckleberryFinn

* GeniusBonus: Prior to the American Civil War, the United States did not have a unified money supply. As such, cash printed in big cities was more easier to pay with. On his journey, Huck has to pay a person in cash for a favor. It is accepted without a hitch because the cash was printed in New Orleans, and New Orleans is described as having some of the most reliable currency available. Not a strong case of DidDoTheResearch because Twain knew this tidbit first hand.

* FairForItsDay: It's now considered by some to be racist, but is actually a satirical work condemning slavery. Also, we have to understand that back then it was considered highly offensive for a southerner to denounce his society in this way. People cry racism for the outdated terms (n-word being commonly used, whether intended badly or not) but it was radical then. And while Jim is portrayed as being [[BookDumb ignorant]] (being Black at that time, he had not received any sort of formal education; Huck has a hard time explaining how it is that French people don't speak English) he is by no means stupid. In fact, he's generally the smartest guy in the room.

* MagnificentBastard: Tom attempts to [[InvokedTrope invoke]] this trope based on the adventure novels he's read... and [[SmugSnake fails.]]

** Huck mentions at one point that he and Jim are often naked while alone together

* SnicketWarningLabel: See WriterCopOut.

* WriterCopOut: Creator/ErnestHemingway thought so, saying that it was a great book but that "if you read it, you must stop where the Nigger Jim is taken from the boys. That is the real end. The rest is just cheating."

* FairForItsDay: It's now considered by some to be racist, but is actually a satirical work condemning slavery. Also, we have to understand that back then it was considered highly offensive for a southerner to denounce his society in this way. People cry racism for the outdated terms (n-word being commonly used, whether intended badly or not) but it was radical then. And while Jim is portrayed as being ignorant (being Black at that time, he had not received any sort of formal education; Huck has a hard time explaining how it is that French people don't speak English) he is by no means stupid. In fact, he's generally the smartest guy in the room.

* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory: An attempted [[DefiedTrope defiance]] by the author, but it hasn't stopped generations of scholars from analyzing the heck out of this book.

* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: Has come to overshadow the original, ''TheAdventuresOfTomSawyer''.

** The fact that people can't see the forest for the trees is sad. If the racist culture portrayed in it offends you... ''that's a good thing.'' Racism ''should'' offend you. Twain (although no saint) felt that the racist society of his time/place was sick, and wrote a powerful if veiled polemic against it. Would a ''racist'' book really have its IronWoobie, believing that even ''God'' is prejudiced against his black friend, ''renounce all hope of Heaven'' for ThePowerOfFriendship?

** Both unintentionally, as discussed above, and intentionally in regard to Huck's unwillingness to return Jim to slavery. Huck decides to be a CardCarryingVillain, and most of those around him proclaim themselves good and him evil, but it's made apparent that they're not good, and he's a morally righteous rebel, or at worst a NobleDemon.

** The fact that people can't see the forest for the trees is sad. If the racist culture portrayed in it offends you... ''that's a good thing.'' Racism ''should'' offend you. Twain (although no saint) felt that the racist society of his time/place was sick, and wrote a powerful if veiled polemic against it. Would a ''racist'' book really have its IronWoobie, believing that even ''God'' is prejudiced against the colored, ''renounce all hope of Heaven'' for ThePowerOfFriendship?

** The fact that people can't see the forest for the trees is sad. If the racist culture portrayed in it offends you... ''that's a good thing.'' Racism ''should'' offend you. Twain (although no saint) felt that his racist society was sick, and wrote a powerful if veiled polemic against it. Would a ''racist'' book really have its IronWoobie, believing that even ''God'' is prejudiced against the colored, ''renounce all hope of Heaven'' for ThePowerOfFriendship?

* EndingFatigue: The story comes to a grinding halt once Jim gets locked in the smokehouse.

* ComplainingAboutShowsYouDontWatch: Often banned because parents mistakenly believe it is a racist book. They'd know better if they read up to the CMOA.
** Actually, it's been very heavily debated as to whether the book is racist among literary scholars. The major controversy actually relates to the use of language and Jim's portrayal which has been regarded as being a Sambo like characterization, although it has been argued that this is in and of itself a satire.

** And yet some critics have argued that there is some [[RuleOfSymbolism hidden symbolism]] in that Huck and Jim's several arguments [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything are actually about slavery]]. In at least one adaptation, it's made blatantly clear that Jim is playing DevilsAdvocate here to encourage Huck to think more for himself instead of uncritically accepting what other people tell him as fact.

** And yet some critics have argued that there is some [[RuleOfSymbolism hidden symbolism]] in that Huck and Jim's several arguments [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything are actually about slavery]].

** This troper's own English teacher bluntly stated that everyone hates the ending. After reading the book, this troper found that she was right.

* FairForItsDay: It's now considered racist, but is actually a satirical work condemning slavery. Also, we have to understand that back then it was considered highly offensive for a southerner to denounce his society in this way. People cry racism for the outdated terms (n-word being commonly used, whether intended badly or not) but it was radical then. And while Jim is portrayed as being ignorant (being Black at that time, he had not received any sort of formal education; Huck has a hard time explaining how it is that French people don't speak English) he is by no means stupid. In fact, he's generally the smartest guy in the room.

* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: Completely overshadows the original, ''TheAdventuresOfTomSawyer''.

*** Arguably it is also set up to show that Huck and Jim are NotSoDifferent, since even with his education, Huck still is unable to counter Jim's logical (for what he is told) points.

* AngstWhatAngst: Huck's reaction to [[spoiler:finding out his father and Miss Watson had died a while ago was either unmentioned or nonexistent. Granted, his father's death wasn't much of a loss, and he never seemed overly fond of Miss Watson either (at least that this troper recalls). Huck ''did'' show angst when Jim went missing, because he really cared about him.]]

* AngstWhatAngst: Huck's reaction to [[spoiler:finding out his father and Miss Watson had died a while ago was either unmentioned or nonexistent. Granted, his father's death wasn't much of a loss]]
** [[spoiler:To be fair, he never seemed overly fond of Miss Watson either (at least that this troper recalls). Huck ''did'' show angst when Jim went missing, because he really cared about him.]]

* CompleteMonster: Huck's father.

* AlasPoorVillain: This is Huck's reaction to seeing [[spoiler:[[SnakeOilSalesman the Duke and the King]] tarred and feathered]].