Mock Trial Verdict Reaction

            We were told to go into the trial and set aside any preconceived notions that we may have had. I voted guilty because of the unreliable testimonies by the defense witnesses Huck, the duke, and Mark Twain, the prosecution’s argument of the books effect, and the testimony that Jim gave.

            In his testimony Huck claimed to have not been influenced by society. However, he also said that he only used the word ‘nigger’ because that was all he had ever know. Huck also said that he did not consider Jim to be his property, but on page 209 in the book he refers to Jim as “his”. Similarly, the duke’s testimony was very unreliable. He claimed to not judge anyone based on the color of his skin, but we know him to be a con-man who cannot be trusted, so why should we trust his testimony on Twain’s behalf. Mark Twain’s testimony can also not be taken as fact. In theory he is the only person who can tell us whether or not he is racist, however if he were racist, what reason would he have to tell the truth? Though he was under oath, no one could prove him wrong and he therefore could have said anything about his intent to defend himself.

            Mark Twain was an intelligent man who knew that what he was writing would create controversy. He even admitted to this under oath. The prosecution argued that the books outcome made Mark Twain racist by offending African Americans. They also argued that through the use of the word ‘nigger’ over 200 times in the novel Twain was being racist. By using this derogatory word over 200 times Twain insulted many African Americans and that is racism. Regardless of what Twain said in his testimony his novel is offensive. Satire aside he did intent to bring up a controversial topic and in doing so he was being racist.

            In my opinion the prosecution’s two strongest witnesses were Jim and Pap. Jim told the court that he was discriminated against and although he viewed Huck as a friend, he had to take care of him. Jim’s testimony was reliable because it was backed by evidence from the book. Though Jim is not the protagonist in the novel he is the only main character who is African American. Some might argue that Twain portrayed Jim as intelligent once you get to know him as a way of defending African Americans, however Jim was mistreated regardless of his intelligence or kindness. Huck and Jim were friends, however Twain did not ever portray them as equals in order to make a point. Jim’s characteristics were also defined in the book as “white characteristics”. This shows that both Twain and all of the white characters in the novel defined Jim’s only good qualities as those that would normally belong to a white person. This trial proved that because of the effects of the book Mark Twain is a racist.