1-100 The novel is a clear reflection of 19th century life and values in America, and focuses heavily on racism. Huck’s relationship with Jim at the beginning of the story begins to develop and challenges the idea that slaves are worthless and barbaric. This willingness to interact with Jim is Mark Twain’s way of writing about blacks and how they do not deserve the treatment they are given. Huck goes as far as to say “Jim, this is nice,” as he refers to hiding out in the forest with the runaway slave. The fact that Huck enjoys Jim’s company means that he does not hold the same disdain for blacks that his guardians have, and that he is willing to bond with someone so looked down upon by society. This reflects the author’s views on the oppression of blacks and highlights the fact that he is not in favor of wrongful treatment of African Americans.
Reading your post made me realize that although at the beginning of the novel, Huck uses the n-word frequently to describe Jim, and plays tricks on him with Tom Sawyer, later in the novel he refers to Jim with the n-word less and less. This also supports Twain's fighting for more equality between blacks and whites.
I think that Twain's objective might not be because he is anti-slavery; instead, Twin might be trying to show the relationship between a young and naive white boy and a black slave. Huck would not treat Jim as lesser or call him the n-word if he had been brought up to treat Jim with respect. Huck is still innocent- he has the ability to see Jim in a different light than that of which society portrays slaves.
Pages 125-200 Throughout this portion of the novel, Twain uses the duke and the dauphin’s immoral, mischievous characters to contradict Huck and Jim’s moral, disciplined personalities. Twain is making a statement to southern society of the time period, showing that even a slave and a child were more ethical than adult white men. Since a lack of education and real-world experience often corresponds with innocence, Twain makes this evident through Huck and Jim’s characters. In the context of society today, Twain is conveying that a person’s upbringing and real-world experience decides the type of person they will be when they grow up, whether they are ethical, crooks, or racist.
Perhaps Finn's maturity and wisdom, which contrasts greatly with the hypocrisy of the adults that surround him (excluding Jim, of course) intimates Twain's belief that a reformation of the "peculiar institution" of the South rests upon the shoulders of the next generation.
I find it really interesting that a person's upbringing can connect with Jim and Huck's feelings towards others. I believe that the author may be trying to send a message to his audience that con-men, thieves, and racists are the worst kinds of people, and that even the child of a drunk and a slave (two individuals intensely looked down upon in their communities) are better than those who see slavery as a good thing, and who dehumanize African Americans. In this case we can see Twain's opinion of slavery through the decisions of his characters despite his disclaimer at the start of the novel.
So What? Ginny Page (200-235) Another recurring theme appear in the chapter of 27 where the treatment of the “Niggers” is so unbearable. “The girls said the hand’t ever dreamed of seeing the family separated or sold away from the town. I can’t even get it out of my memory, the sight of them poor miserable girls re niggers hanging around each other’s necks and crying……” (204) This is also big “so what” because even when Huck says he will never forget the sorrow he had seen, this matter never gets brought up again. At the part of the book, we realize the narrator is only a child. His naive points of view opens up a new perception in the old society. At the moment, Huck resolves to give the money back. “The thing made a big stir in the town, too, and a good many come out flat- fitted and said it was scandalous to separate the mother and the children that way.” It’s ironic the town people are upset about separating a slave family but not concerned at all about enslaving them.
It is definitely ironic that the Wilks sisters are so emotional over the slave family's separation. In this case, Twain is also showing that despite slave culture and racism throughout the South, some white people do not give into societal standards and still have morals.
P. 235-300 Twain, nearing the conclusion of his novel, can again revisit the topic of slavery to evoke a different response in his audience. After his readers have become more acquainted with Jim, and Twain has repeatedly described his innate humanity (94, 100, 174-5). The increasingly positive characterization of Jim causes the readers to become sympathetic toward him, despite of Jim’s race and Twain’s audience being white Americans in the mid-1800s. When Tom suggests they “saw Jim’s leg off” to add to the appeal of Jim’s escape, Finn’s first reaction is “Good land...why, there ain’t no necessity for it” (267) showing how he is opposed to violence toward Jim (267). This casual proposition of harm to Jim also is a rude awakening for Twain’s readers, to realize their poor treatment of their slaves is the poor treatment of actual people. This cruel casuality again appears in Finn’s fabrication of his steamboat which he supposedly used to arrive at the Phelp’s. When asked if the blown-out cylinder-head had hurt anyone, he says no, but mentions it killed an African-American. To add insult to injury, his aunt responds “well, it’s lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt” (246), completely dismissing the death. These harsh contrasts of treatment between whites and blacks, after the readers have examined their interracial similarities and humanity throughout the novel, persuades his readers to equal treatment of blacks during the highly discriminatory Reconstruction Era.
Excellent point about Jim's humanity and Huck's proposition of harm towards him. This could also tie in with slaveowner's belief in paternalist ethos, in which their "care" and "protection" for their slaves is a twisted way of justifying slavery.
1-100
ReplyDeleteThe novel is a clear reflection of 19th century life and values in America, and focuses heavily on racism. Huck’s relationship with Jim at the beginning of the story begins to develop and challenges the idea that slaves are worthless and barbaric. This willingness to interact with Jim is Mark Twain’s way of writing about blacks and how they do not deserve the treatment they are given. Huck goes as far as to say “Jim, this is nice,” as he refers to hiding out in the forest with the runaway slave. The fact that Huck enjoys Jim’s company means that he does not hold the same disdain for blacks that his guardians have, and that he is willing to bond with someone so looked down upon by society. This reflects the author’s views on the oppression of blacks and highlights the fact that he is not in favor of wrongful treatment of African Americans.
Reading your post made me realize that although at the beginning of the novel, Huck uses the n-word frequently to describe Jim, and plays tricks on him with Tom Sawyer, later in the novel he refers to Jim with the n-word less and less. This also supports Twain's fighting for more equality between blacks and whites.
DeleteI think that Twain's objective might not be because he is anti-slavery; instead, Twin might be trying to show the relationship between a young and naive white boy and a black slave. Huck would not treat Jim as lesser or call him the n-word if he had been brought up to treat Jim with respect. Huck is still innocent- he has the ability to see Jim in a different light than that of which society portrays slaves.
Deletethis quote is on page 89
DeletePages 125-200
ReplyDeleteThroughout this portion of the novel, Twain uses the duke and the dauphin’s immoral, mischievous characters to contradict Huck and Jim’s moral, disciplined personalities. Twain is making a statement to southern society of the time period, showing that even a slave and a child were more ethical than adult white men. Since a lack of education and real-world experience often corresponds with innocence, Twain makes this evident through Huck and Jim’s characters. In the context of society today, Twain is conveying that a person’s upbringing and real-world experience decides the type of person they will be when they grow up, whether they are ethical, crooks, or racist.
Perhaps Finn's maturity and wisdom, which contrasts greatly with the hypocrisy of the adults that surround him (excluding Jim, of course) intimates Twain's belief that a reformation of the "peculiar institution" of the South rests upon the shoulders of the next generation.
DeleteI find it really interesting that a person's upbringing can connect with Jim and Huck's feelings towards others. I believe that the author may be trying to send a message to his audience that con-men, thieves, and racists are the worst kinds of people, and that even the child of a drunk and a slave (two individuals intensely looked down upon in their communities) are better than those who see slavery as a good thing, and who dehumanize African Americans. In this case we can see Twain's opinion of slavery through the decisions of his characters despite his disclaimer at the start of the novel.
ReplyDeleteSo What?
ReplyDeleteGinny Page (200-235)
Another recurring theme appear in the chapter of 27 where the treatment of the “Niggers” is so unbearable. “The girls said the hand’t ever dreamed of seeing the family separated or sold away from the town. I can’t even get it out of my memory, the sight of them poor miserable girls re niggers hanging around each other’s necks and crying……” (204) This is also big “so what” because even when Huck says he will never forget the sorrow he had seen, this matter never gets brought up again. At the part of the book, we realize the narrator is only a child. His naive points of view opens up a new perception in the old society. At the moment, Huck resolves to give the money back. “The thing made a big stir in the town, too, and a good many come out flat- fitted and said it was scandalous to separate the mother and the children that way.” It’s ironic the town people are upset about separating a slave family but not concerned at all about enslaving them.
It is definitely ironic that the Wilks sisters are so emotional over the slave family's separation. In this case, Twain is also showing that despite slave culture and racism throughout the South, some white people do not give into societal standards and still have morals.
DeleteP. 235-300
ReplyDeleteTwain, nearing the conclusion of his novel, can again revisit the topic of slavery to evoke a different response in his audience. After his readers have become more acquainted with Jim, and Twain has repeatedly described his innate humanity (94, 100, 174-5). The increasingly positive characterization of Jim causes the readers to become sympathetic toward him, despite of Jim’s race and Twain’s audience being white Americans in the mid-1800s. When Tom suggests they “saw Jim’s leg off” to add to the appeal of Jim’s escape, Finn’s first reaction is “Good land...why, there ain’t no necessity for it” (267) showing how he is opposed to violence toward Jim (267). This casual proposition of harm to Jim also is a rude awakening for Twain’s readers, to realize their poor treatment of their slaves is the poor treatment of actual people. This cruel casuality again appears in Finn’s fabrication of his steamboat which he supposedly used to arrive at the Phelp’s. When asked if the blown-out cylinder-head had hurt anyone, he says no, but mentions it killed an African-American. To add insult to injury, his aunt responds “well, it’s lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt” (246), completely dismissing the death. These harsh contrasts of treatment between whites and blacks, after the readers have examined their interracial similarities and humanity throughout the novel, persuades his readers to equal treatment of blacks during the highly discriminatory Reconstruction Era.
Excellent point about Jim's humanity and Huck's proposition of harm towards him. This could also tie in with slaveowner's belief in paternalist ethos, in which their "care" and "protection" for their slaves is a twisted way of justifying slavery.
Delete