Racial attitudes in Melvilles 'Benito Cereno' and Twains 'Huckleberry Finn'

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Focusing on the portrayal of slavery in American literature, this examination thesis analyzes Herman Melville's "Benito Cereno" and Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Both novels, set before the abolition of slavery, tackle themes of race and freedom through a slave revolt and the journey of a runaway slave, respectively. The thesis critiques claims of inherent racism in these works, arguing that such interpretations stem from misunderstandings. It seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of the racial attitudes presented in these significant literary contributions.