Mapping Poverty Rates in Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn with Literary GIS

Author

Abstract

The goal of this project was to determine the socioeconomic issues within the 19^th century. This analysis focuses on the use of Literary GIS to investigate how Mark Twain uses narrative space in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to emphasize socioeconomic issues in 19th-century America. It explores whether fictional novels can reflect the historical conditions surrounding the author’s world. Data was collected using close reading to measure page numbers, character names, and lifestyle indicators, while Topotext was used to locate towns and landmarks. Additionally, a chart was created to rate the characters based on employment, housing, life-sustaining essentials, and criminal history. This scoring system, based on a 1-3 scale, classified characters into different poverty levels to group them based on lifestyle and personal choices. The calculation of the town’s average poverty rate was calculated by categorizing and grading the characters. QGIS was then used to map spatial patterns of significant characters and markable locations, such as St. Petersburg (present-day Hannibal). Measuring narrative space was significant in conducting this research because it helped determine whether Twain devoted more narrative attention to wealthier towns or impoverished areas. The results reveal that Twain prioritized the narrative space and descriptions of wealthier characters in prosperous towns, while offering fewer details about those in poorer areas. Furthermore, this analysis offers new insights into Huckleberry Finn by highlighting societal hierarchies, limited resources, and the ways geography shapes Twain’s depiction of 19th-century America through a Literary GIS work. 

Project: Mapping Poverty Rates in Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn with Literary GIS