On Oct. 12, author Percival Everett visited Ohio University as part of OhioUniversity Libraries' visiting authors series.
In 2024, Everett released “James,” a retelling of the American classic “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain. Twain’s original 1885 novel chronicles the adventure of its titular character, Huck Finn, as he escapeshis abusive father and travels down the Mississippi River with a runaway enslaved man named Jim, who seeks freedom.
Unlike “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” which is told from the perspective of Huck, James is told from the perspective of an enslaved man, Jim. In “James,” Jim is a shrewd, intelligent man determined to free himself, his wife and daughter from the shackles of slavery. “James” chronicles Jim’s story, highlighting his wit, deep intellect and determination to be free.
By centering the story through the eyes of James, Everett not only centers Black voices, but offers a relevant and timely critique of society, centering the perspective of those marginalized rather than only showing the perspective of historically privileged people.
Twain’s novel notably satirizes Southern society, shedding light on the hypocrisy of a religious society built on the institution of slavery. While “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” offers a sharp critique of Southern society, James succeeds by centering the voices of the most marginalized in its society: those enslaved.
Twain’s original novel is subject to controversy due to its use of racial slurs, as well as its use of minstrel stereotypes for the character Jim. While some viewed the novel as offering a strong critique of racism and slavery, others felt its consistent use of racial slurs reinforcesthe system the novel is trying to critique.
As a novel, “James” turns the caricatured Jim from “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” into a fully fleshed-out character. A criticism of Twain’s original novel is Jim is a racist stereotype, carrying an image of African Americans as “silly, superstitious, obedient, and passive.” Jim in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” uses a strong Missouri dialect, one Twain aimed for realism and authenticity.
Everett’s novel, on the other hand, rewrites Jim as a wise, calculated and thoughtful man willing to challenge the status quo. In “James,” Jim, as well as other characters, purposely switch their dialect when speaking to white overseers, from a caricature slave dialect to one of standard, “eloquent” English.
This technique reverses the stereotypes present in Twain’s original book, as well as highlights how language, such as who code switches in order to survive, reflects systemic power dynamics. It highlights the power of language, a theme Everett continuously explores throughout the book.
Like “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” “James” is a satirical work, highlighting the injustice of slavery by including absurd and ironic elements. Through dreams, Jim engages in deep philosophical dialogue with Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke and Voltaire, interrogating their prejudiced beliefs about race.
Furthermore, James does not shy away from the horrors of slavery, thus making it a much more potent examination of American society. The human suffering and horrors of slavery are detailed through the perspective of an intelligent, enslaved man, rather than the young, naive, adventure-hungry main character of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” This perspective shift gives Jim agency in his own narrative, centering the experiences of the oppressed rather than making their story a footnote within a larger American story.
Everett’s novel, while being only two years old, has already become a modern American classic.
Ironically, Mark Twain said, “A classic is something that everybody wants to have read, and nobody wants to read.”
“James,” however, is a novel with so much to offer, as Jim’s story gives agency to neglected voices by shedding light on the perspective of the marginalized, cementing it as a modern American classic. Everett is the author of several widely acclaimed books, including his novel “Erasure,” “I am Not Sidney Poitier” and “The Trees.”
David Asamoah is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to David about his column? Email him at da602024@ohio.edu.
