Huck and Jim, since they are both traveling down the river together, have built a strong bond during their time on the raft. Even though Jim and Huck are of different races, that doesn't affect their personal friendship. However, slavery remains legal and the treatment of African Americans is horrendous. They both treat each other with mutual respect, as exemplified by the tone that they use during casual conversation and dialogue. Huck and Jim have a friendly debate about Solomon on the boat, both of their viewpoints are valued as both Huck and Jim truly listen to one another. In some instances, Jim is portrayed as a fatherly figure because of the advice he offers to Huck, such as when Huck admitted that "he was mostly always right; he had an uncommon of a head, for a nigger" (86). This shows that Jim’s intuition and intellectual abilities are not limited by his race. Huck lies in order to grant Jim freedom even though it would be easier to turn him in and get the reward instead. Having Huck take the harder route by assisting a fugitive slave displays his sense of companionship for JIm. Their bond is strong enough to surpass Huck’s racial background and the tensions between the two. Huck’s duty to his friend is enough to break the bonds of racial division.
Ginny LI Pg. 100-125 Topics Motifs (recurring element that appears in the novel over and over again.) Topics: Slavery. Freedom Nature Freedom versus slavery The river represents freedom. When they are on the river, Jim and Huck are the same. When they are off the river, they have the fake relationship where Huck is better than Jim even though Jim is the one taking care of Huck. Jim is more of a father figure than a friend. Even Huck said so himself, "Well, I warn't long making him understand I warn't dead. I was ever so glad to see Jim. I warn't lonesome now." Their relationship changed dramatically when they are on the river. On the journey to a free state, they already found freedom and Huck's view on slavery and moral rights shifts as they go deeper into the natural world. Slavery and morality are also topics of Huckleberry Finn. Huck’s own morality that developed and matured in the natural world went against the everything widow Douglas has taught him. This farther more proved the contrast between the corruption of modern society versus Huck's（or anyone’s) pure and innocent nature.
Ginny I love your analysis!! Have you thought that maybe it isn't Huck who is hiding the relationship off the river but Jim, because Jim could of went to Huck but because of the societal norms at the time he waited for him in hiding.
This is so interesting Ginny! I especially liked the nature motif which represents the innate truths of reality--that all men are equal. When Huck and Jim return to nature, this truth becomes even more evident to both of them, as Huck views Jim as a valuable friend, and Jim views himself as a rightfully free man.
YES Ellie and Ginny! I agree, I love Mark Twain's satie in the differences in diction between Huck and Jim. This reflection of the lack of slave education is really interesting. It really helps to highlight Twain's message that a civilized society is not necessarily a just society!
Topics Superstition Pages 100-125 Have you ever opened an umbrella inside and had a friend yell at you for making 7 years of bad luck? Huck Finn would be that friend. Throughout the novel, Huck justifies the events in his life with various superstitions. When Huck and Jim notice their canoe is gone, they see rattlesnake skin nearby and blame the skin for fetching “bad luck – and keep on fetching it, too” (105). In addition to superstitions, Huck and Jim place great faith in spirits. When coasting down the river, the pair hear a raft nearby where people were chatting and laughing. This makes Huck nervous, as being unable to see the people makes him feel uncomfortable, like there are spirits carrying the words through the air. Superstitions are a way for Huck to correlate the tragedy of his life with normalized events, such as seeing rattlesnake skin or hearing people on another boat talking.
This is so interesting!! My initial though when I began reading this book was about Huck's superstitious nature. I think the fact that Huck is so superstitious allows him to become very logical as a character. His tendency to over analyze juxtaposes Tom's overactive imagination which often gets him into trouble. The fact that Huck pays close attention to everything around him also explains his openness to Jim. I think that he uses this trait to explore societies perception of blacks and balances that with his own personal experiences.
Isabella Canani-Topics (200-235) Karma Even though Huck lies a decent amount throughout the novel, he does it out of necessity, unlike the King and the Duke who have no conscience and will scam a homeless man for a mere penny. Huck sees the good in Mary Jane and tries to help her by informing her of the truth and assists in putting the con men in jail. By showing Huck’s kinder attributes in his personality foreshadows the bright future ahead. Karma is the sum of one’s actions, good or bad that ultimately are grounds for one’s fate. By admitting his knowledge to Mary Jane, Huck shows that he has a conscience because he cares for human dignity as he states that it made his ”eyes water a little, to remember her crying there all by herself in the night”(213). The Duke and the King on the other hand will experience the result of their bad karma because of their selfishness and unkindness towards others.
WOW! I think this adds to the reader's growing perception of Huck. As we read the end of the story I think that it is safe to assume that Huck is a moral person and that he finds himself in a pure and ethical way through a friendship with an outcast. Maybe Huck's kind nature is a sign of his maturity as he begins to understand the issues of the world.
Julia Nail Block F Pages 235-300 Topic: Friendship!
“And got to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim… sometimes [in] moonlight, sometimes [in] storms, and we a-floating along, talking, and singing, and laughing.” (238-9)
Jim’s return to slavery was a true test of friendship for Huck. Should he bother trying to save a slave? The passing the ‘true test of friendship’ requires sacrificing something in order to help the other person. Was it worth it for Huck to rescue Jim? Huck’s flashbacks of all the fun memories the duo had together travelling down the Mississippi for freedom reminds Huck that Jim is his best friend. They had grown so close to each other. Huck’s decision to save Jim from slavery shows that Huck prefers Jim as a friend over society’s racial prejudices against black slaves.
Huck and Jim, since they are both traveling down the river together, have built a strong bond during their time on the raft. Even though Jim and Huck are of different races, that doesn't affect their personal friendship. However, slavery remains legal and the treatment of African Americans is horrendous. They both treat each other with mutual respect, as exemplified by the tone that they use during casual conversation and dialogue. Huck and Jim have a friendly debate about Solomon on the boat, both of their viewpoints are valued as both Huck and Jim truly listen to one another. In some instances, Jim is portrayed as a fatherly figure because of the advice he offers to Huck, such as when Huck admitted that "he was mostly always right; he had an uncommon of a head, for a nigger" (86). This shows that Jim’s intuition and intellectual abilities are not limited by his race. Huck lies in order to grant Jim freedom even though it would be easier to turn him in and get the reward instead. Having Huck take the harder route by assisting a fugitive slave displays his sense of companionship for JIm. Their bond is strong enough to surpass Huck’s racial background and the tensions between the two. Huck’s duty to his friend is enough to break the bonds of racial division.
ReplyDeleteGinny LI
ReplyDeletePg. 100-125 Topics
Motifs (recurring element that appears in the novel over and over again.)
Topics: Slavery.
Freedom
Nature
Freedom versus slavery
The river represents freedom. When they are on the river, Jim and Huck are the same. When they are off the river, they have the fake relationship where Huck is better than Jim even though Jim is the one taking care of Huck. Jim is more of a father figure than a friend. Even Huck said so himself, "Well, I warn't long making him understand I warn't dead. I was ever so glad to see Jim. I warn't lonesome now." Their relationship changed dramatically when they are on the river. On the journey to a free state, they already found freedom and Huck's view on slavery and moral rights shifts as they go deeper into the natural world. Slavery and morality are also topics of Huckleberry Finn. Huck’s own morality that developed and matured in the natural world went against the everything widow Douglas has taught him. This farther more proved the contrast between the corruption of modern society versus Huck's（or anyone’s) pure and innocent nature.
Ginny I love your analysis!! Have you thought that maybe it isn't Huck who is hiding the relationship off the river but Jim, because Jim could of went to Huck but because of the societal norms at the time he waited for him in hiding.
DeleteThis is so interesting Ginny! I especially liked the nature motif which represents the innate truths of reality--that all men are equal. When Huck and Jim return to nature, this truth becomes even more evident to both of them, as Huck views Jim as a valuable friend, and Jim views himself as a rightfully free man.
DeleteYES Ellie and Ginny! I agree, I love Mark Twain's satie in the differences in diction between Huck and Jim. This reflection of the lack of slave education is really interesting. It really helps to highlight Twain's message that a civilized society is not necessarily a just society!
DeleteCaitlin Lee
ReplyDeleteTopics
Superstition Pages 100-125
Have you ever opened an umbrella inside and had a friend yell at you for making 7 years of bad luck? Huck Finn would be that friend. Throughout the novel, Huck justifies the events in his life with various superstitions. When Huck and Jim notice their canoe is gone, they see rattlesnake skin nearby and blame the skin for fetching “bad luck – and keep on fetching it, too” (105). In addition to superstitions, Huck and Jim place great faith in spirits. When coasting down the river, the pair hear a raft nearby where people were chatting and laughing. This makes Huck nervous, as being unable to see the people makes him feel uncomfortable, like there are spirits carrying the words through the air. Superstitions are a way for Huck to correlate the tragedy of his life with normalized events, such as seeing rattlesnake skin or hearing people on another boat talking.
This is so interesting!! My initial though when I began reading this book was about Huck's superstitious nature. I think the fact that Huck is so superstitious allows him to become very logical as a character. His tendency to over analyze juxtaposes Tom's overactive imagination which often gets him into trouble. The fact that Huck pays close attention to everything around him also explains his openness to Jim. I think that he uses this trait to explore societies perception of blacks and balances that with his own personal experiences.
DeleteIsabella Canani-Topics (200-235)
ReplyDeleteKarma
Even though Huck lies a decent amount throughout the novel, he does it out of necessity, unlike the King and the Duke who have no conscience and will scam a homeless man for a mere penny. Huck sees the good in Mary Jane and tries to help her by informing her of the truth and assists in putting the con men in jail. By showing Huck’s kinder attributes in his personality foreshadows the bright future ahead. Karma is the sum of one’s actions, good or bad that ultimately are grounds for one’s fate. By admitting his knowledge to Mary Jane, Huck shows that he has a conscience because he cares for human dignity as he states that it made his ”eyes water a little, to remember her crying there all by herself in the night”(213). The Duke and the King on the other hand will experience the result of their bad karma because of their selfishness and unkindness towards others.
WOW! I think this adds to the reader's growing perception of Huck. As we read the end of the story I think that it is safe to assume that Huck is a moral person and that he finds himself in a pure and ethical way through a friendship with an outcast. Maybe Huck's kind nature is a sign of his maturity as he begins to understand the issues of the world.
DeleteJulia Nail
ReplyDeleteBlock F
Pages 235-300
Topic: Friendship!
“And got to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim… sometimes [in] moonlight, sometimes [in] storms, and we a-floating along, talking, and singing, and laughing.” (238-9)
Jim’s return to slavery was a true test of friendship for Huck. Should he bother trying to save a slave? The passing the ‘true test of friendship’ requires sacrificing something in order to help the other person. Was it worth it for Huck to rescue Jim? Huck’s flashbacks of all the fun memories the duo had together travelling down the Mississippi for freedom reminds Huck that Jim is his best friend. They had grown so close to each other. Huck’s decision to save Jim from slavery shows that Huck prefers Jim as a friend over society’s racial prejudices against black slaves.