Theme Of Superstition In Huckleberry Finn

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, superstition can be defined as a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation. This idea is dealt with several times throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. At the beginning of chapter ten, Twain brings up the idea of superstition. He writes, “Jim was laid up for four days and nights. Then the swelling was all gone and he was around again. I made up my mind I wouldn’t ever take a-holt of a snake-skin again with my hands, now that I see what had come of it. Jim said he reckoned I would believe him next time” (Twain 71). This quote is important for two different reasons- it brings up the recurring idea of superstition among the characters and how it is such a crucial part of who they are, and it shows how superstition allowed the characters to ultimately come
At this point in the novel it is unclear as to whether Jim just has a wild imagination and is very creative, or he is again just being superstitious. With that said, to believe that a necklace can “cure anybody” and “fetch witches”, one must be at least slightly superstitious. It is not explicitly stated as to where Huck and Jim’s belief in superstition comes from. However, the reader can infer that for Huck, part of it is due to his young age and lack of education. Lack of education plays a role in Jim’s belief in superstitions as well. Also, African American slaves in this time period often relied on their superstitions in order to help them deal with the problems they