As Huck first encounters Jim in the forest it becomes clear to the audience what Mark Twain’s purpose is. The developing relationship between the two characters is a clear indication of Huck’s view of Jim as not only a slave, but as a man, unlike the popular view of blacks at the time. As Jim begs Huck not to tell his master of his escape, Huck responds with “blamed if I would, Jim,” and goes on to give Jim his word. He even establishes that fact that many “would call [him] a low down Abolitionist,’ and despite this he continues to support the runaway slave. Twain intends to highlight a relationship with a black man and uses an adolescent to show that slaves are just as whites; capable of forging loving relationships and acting as noble members of society. His goal is to reflect the conditions of slavery at the time, and to uncover the reality of what it means to be a slave in the novel and in the time period. Twain additionally proves that with an open mind, white citizens are able to see that prejudices and stereotypes are false, and that some people at the time were not as racist as others.
Touching on your mentioning of the relationship between a slave and a young adolescent, I also thought it was interesting how the open-mindedness is coming from a child. It makes the toleration of different cultures seem more natural and innately human when coming from a child.
Huck is young and innocent. Had he not grown up in a society with racial prejudice, Huck would not have seen Jim as a "lesser". Huck's open-mindedness that has not yet been corrupted by society allows him to see Jim for the person he really is, and it gives Huck the ability to look past Jim's skin tone.
There is something wonderful about being surrounded by water. Whether it’s the natural sound produced by the waves as you sit on the beach, or the smell of salt as you relax on a boat, it creates a feeling a freedom. This feeling is the very one that motivates Huck through his quest to find himself and to help Jim through his own search for freedom. As the two characters travel downstream through the Mississippi river in hopes of finding Jim’s path to liberation it becomes clear to the audience that Twain writes these chapters in order to express a central theme in the novel. By becoming connected with nature and solitude, one is able to find a sense of self identity. In the novel Huck notes that the idea of freedom makes Jim “trembly and feverish” and soon realizes that Jim “was most free.” The journey that both characters have taken is essentially responsible for this response. After weeks of travel in attempt to find out who they really are, both Huck and Jim are able to ground themselves; Jim through literal freedom, and Huck through individualism.
I love the imagery in your first two sentences, and on that note, I think it is also important to address how the raft that they float down the river on is a symbol of freedom and going with the flow.
Pages 300-325 “I doan’ budge a step out’n dis place, ‘dout a doctor; not if it’s forty year!” (306).
Huck, Tom, and Jim make an escape from an angry mob of white people with guns, one of them who fires a shot that hits Tom. Even though they are in danger if they don’t keep moving, Jim is concerned for Tom’s well-being, so they rest once they reach the island and Jim swears to stay by Tom’s side to watch him while Huck fetches a doctor. Twain uses this ending to exemplify the humanity and altruistic nature that African Americans have, despite the fact that they are enslaved and treated harshly by whites. In effect, Twain is arguing that since slaves had the decency to overcome the misery they went through under slavery only to still care for white people, then anyone can forgive a person who has done them an injustice.
AWWWWWWWWW. I love when Jim is displayed with more emotions causing the audience to see Jim in a way where he is a human and not property. Both care about each other and this doesn't depend on race but on relations
Blog 5 Evidence Ginny Li Page (235-300) Huck was ashamed. In fact, Huck was so ashamed that “ if he ever see anybody from that town again, he’d be ready to get down and lick their boots for shame.” (236) All because he helped “an ungrateful niggor to get his freedom.” (236) If this doesn’t show the evidence of how severe the racism was and how even Huck, who was an uneducated, uncorrupted outsider of the society thinks that low of another race. I don’t know what does. Jim is like the girl that nobody seats with at lunch and if you talk to her, you will suddenly become friendless. But it’s not only Jim who was being taunted and undignified, it was his entire race. Isolating one person is ignorant, isolating one community is racism.
Ginny, your integration of the quote you chose made the language of your analysis, as a whole, flow well. Your concise, direct diction is straight to the point, and I agree with your assertions completely. The juxtapositions of Finn's beliefs and his actions remain a major theme in the novel, and, at its heart, the tale is of the protagonists attempting to reconcile not only their own flawed ideologies, but those of their clashing socioeconomic classes.
Isabella Canani Purpose pages (125-200) Have you ever heard this “joke” that was passed around by ignorant middle schoolers called women's rights. Well I have and women may have as many rights as men in the 21 century, but not in Huck Finn. When the mob of angry mob that practically consisted of all women goes up to Sherburn's porch and don't get taken seriously shows the limited ways that they were seen as. Only the white man were treated with respect and the women were considered “only half a man”(164). Twain is highlighting the social norms at the time between women and men. Its intended to show that even though women were white, they still were treated in a similar manner to slaves, which at one point were three- fifths of a man.
“I put it in the coffin. It was in there when you was crying… I was mighty sorry for you, Miss Mary Jane.” (213) Time and time again, Huck has shown readers that money is not the most important object in the world. Huck once walked away from $6,000 from the treasure he found with Tom Sawyer, and this time, Huck had the opportunity to steal a significant amount of money, but instead, did the right thing and returned it to it’s rightful owner. Huck foiled the plot of the duke and the dauphin when he revealed the scam to Mary Jane, one of the Wilks daughters. Huck helped Mary Jane secure her family’s inheritance, so that it would not be taken from her family by con artists. Twain decided to have Huck return the money to represent that throughout this whole ordeal of travelling down the Mississippi River, Huck was still a young boy. This kind action shows that Huck is becoming more mature, and as he grows up, his sense of morality increases. Huck’s development as a character shows that his good morals and strong values allow him to become more considerate of the people around him.
Huck putting it in the coffin also shows how he is a different individual and has his own mind unlike the Duke who just follows the dauphin. Even though Huck has lied a lot he never harmed others but just to not be noticed.
As Huck first encounters Jim in the forest it becomes clear to the audience what Mark Twain’s purpose is. The developing relationship between the two characters is a clear indication of Huck’s view of Jim as not only a slave, but as a man, unlike the popular view of blacks at the time. As Jim begs Huck not to tell his master of his escape, Huck responds with “blamed if I would, Jim,” and goes on to give Jim his word. He even establishes that fact that many “would call [him] a low down Abolitionist,’ and despite this he continues to support the runaway slave. Twain intends to highlight a relationship with a black man and uses an adolescent to show that slaves are just as whites; capable of forging loving relationships and acting as noble members of society. His goal is to reflect the conditions of slavery at the time, and to uncover the reality of what it means to be a slave in the novel and in the time period. Twain additionally proves that with an open mind, white citizens are able to see that prejudices and stereotypes are false, and that some people at the time were not as racist as others.
ReplyDeleteI love your explanation of Jim and Huck's relationship and how you said that open minds are important in the elimination prejudices and stereotypes.
DeleteTouching on your mentioning of the relationship between a slave and a young adolescent, I also thought it was interesting how the open-mindedness is coming from a child. It makes the toleration of different cultures seem more natural and innately human when coming from a child.
DeleteHuck is young and innocent. Had he not grown up in a society with racial prejudice, Huck would not have seen Jim as a "lesser". Huck's open-mindedness that has not yet been corrupted by society allows him to see Jim for the person he really is, and it gives Huck the ability to look past Jim's skin tone.
DeleteThis quote is on page 70
Delete100-125
ReplyDeleteThere is something wonderful about being surrounded by water. Whether it’s the natural sound produced by the waves as you sit on the beach, or the smell of salt as you relax on a boat, it creates a feeling a freedom. This feeling is the very one that motivates Huck through his quest to find himself and to help Jim through his own search for freedom. As the two characters travel downstream through the Mississippi river in hopes of finding Jim’s path to liberation it becomes clear to the audience that Twain writes these chapters in order to express a central theme in the novel. By becoming connected with nature and solitude, one is able to find a sense of self identity. In the novel Huck notes that the idea of freedom makes Jim “trembly and feverish” and soon realizes that Jim “was most free.” The journey that both characters have taken is essentially responsible for this response. After weeks of travel in attempt to find out who they really are, both Huck and Jim are able to ground themselves; Jim through literal freedom, and Huck through individualism.
This is on page 115
DeleteI love the imagery in your first two sentences, and on that note, I think it is also important to address how the raft that they float down the river on is a symbol of freedom and going with the flow.
DeletePages 300-325
ReplyDelete“I doan’ budge a step out’n dis place, ‘dout a doctor; not if it’s forty year!” (306).
Huck, Tom, and Jim make an escape from an angry mob of white people with guns, one of them who fires a shot that hits Tom. Even though they are in danger if they don’t keep moving, Jim is concerned for Tom’s well-being, so they rest once they reach the island and Jim swears to stay by Tom’s side to watch him while Huck fetches a doctor. Twain uses this ending to exemplify the humanity and altruistic nature that African Americans have, despite the fact that they are enslaved and treated harshly by whites. In effect, Twain is arguing that since slaves had the decency to overcome the misery they went through under slavery only to still care for white people, then anyone can forgive a person who has done them an injustice.
AWWWWWWWWW. I love when Jim is displayed with more emotions causing the audience to see Jim in a way where he is a human and not property. Both care about each other and this doesn't depend on race but on relations
DeleteBlog 5
ReplyDeleteEvidence
Ginny Li Page (235-300)
Huck was ashamed. In fact, Huck was so ashamed that “ if he ever see anybody from that town again, he’d be ready to get down and lick their boots for shame.” (236) All because he helped “an ungrateful niggor to get his freedom.” (236) If this doesn’t show the evidence of how severe the racism was and how even Huck, who was an uneducated, uncorrupted outsider of the society thinks that low of another race. I don’t know what does. Jim is like the girl that nobody seats with at lunch and if you talk to her, you will suddenly become friendless. But it’s not only Jim who was being taunted and undignified, it was his entire race. Isolating one person is ignorant, isolating one community is racism.
Ginny, your integration of the quote you chose made the language of your analysis, as a whole, flow well. Your concise, direct diction is straight to the point, and I agree with your assertions completely. The juxtapositions of Finn's beliefs and his actions remain a major theme in the novel, and, at its heart, the tale is of the protagonists attempting to reconcile not only their own flawed ideologies, but those of their clashing socioeconomic classes.
DeleteIsabella Canani Purpose pages (125-200)
ReplyDeleteHave you ever heard this “joke” that was passed around by ignorant middle schoolers called women's rights. Well I have and women may have as many rights as men in the 21 century, but not in Huck Finn. When the mob of angry mob that practically consisted of all women goes up to Sherburn's porch and don't get taken seriously shows the limited ways that they were seen as. Only the white man were treated with respect and the women were considered “only half a man”(164). Twain is highlighting the social norms at the time between women and men. Its intended to show that even though women were white, they still were treated in a similar manner to slaves, which at one point were three- fifths of a man.
Julia Nail
ReplyDeleteBlock F
Pages 200-235
Purpose
“I put it in the coffin. It was in there when you was crying… I was mighty sorry for you, Miss Mary Jane.” (213)
Time and time again, Huck has shown readers that money is not the most important object in the world. Huck once walked away from $6,000 from the treasure he found with Tom Sawyer, and this time, Huck had the opportunity to steal a significant amount of money, but instead, did the right thing and returned it to it’s rightful owner. Huck foiled the plot of the duke and the dauphin when he revealed the scam to Mary Jane, one of the Wilks daughters. Huck helped Mary Jane secure her family’s inheritance, so that it would not be taken from her family by con artists. Twain decided to have Huck return the money to represent that throughout this whole ordeal of travelling down the Mississippi River, Huck was still a young boy. This kind action shows that Huck is becoming more mature, and as he grows up, his sense of morality increases. Huck’s development as a character shows that his good morals and strong values allow him to become more considerate of the people around him.
Huck putting it in the coffin also shows how he is a different individual and has his own mind unlike the Duke who just follows the dauphin. Even though Huck has lied a lot he never harmed others but just to not be noticed.
Delete