Do you have ideas or insights regarding issues of slavery in the novel? If so, please share them in a comment. Remember to read the other comments before posting your own so that you can engage with the ideas already put forth. Also, remember to use specific examples from the novel and quotations (with page numbers, of course!) whenever possible.
Here are some questions to get you thinking:
In the first chapters the issue of slavery and also the status of slaves crops up many times. Jim’s status in relation to other slaves (via his special knowledge of Magic) speaks of power and status within slave communities: what does Jim’s status tell us? Also what does Jim’s worry about being sold imply about slavery and the new conditions slaves could expect upon being sold?
Hi, I guess I will be the first to write a comment in response to slavery. When Michael Ditmore was discussing the book, because the book is set in a time of racism and slavery, I assumed that Huck was racist. Reading the book though, it is becoming apparent that quite to the contrary, Huck enjoys the company of Jim. For example, after Huck has faked his own murder and is by himself on Jackson Island, he finds Jim and is excited to see him. He says, “It was Miss Watson’s Jim. I bet I was glad to see him!”(50). Then he basically repeats what he has just said on the next page, showing that Jim really is important to Huck and that he had missed Jim’s company.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, it is necessary to notice that they are living in a time of slavery, where you can get in a lot of trouble for helping an escaped slave. Even though Huck could get into a large amount of trouble for being with Jim while he is running away, he makes sure Jim is hidden in the canoe so he is safe. They both watch out for each other in lots of ways. While they are in the canoe in the river, Huck makes Jim lie down in the canoe and put a blanket over him so nobody sees him: “ I made Jim lay down in the canoe and cover up with the quilt, because if he set up, people could tell he was a nigger a good ways off” (62). There are many examples of Jim looking out for, and taking care of Huck but one is when they are canoeing and they find a house. Jim goes in first and finds a dead man and says, “ ‘Come in, Huck, but doan’ look at his face-it’s too gashly’…Jim throwed some old rags over him”(61). This quote shows how Jim still wants to protect Huck and his innocence.
In response to Ami’s post I would like to comment that Huck did not appreciate Jim at first even though he was glad to see him. The sheer act of escaping into the world without structure or boundaries can be overwhelming and frightening for anyone, especially a teenage boy. Therefore I believe that Huck is glad to see Jim because, no matter what Jim’s status is in society, he is company nonetheless. Huck demonstrates the influence of his racist upbringing when he says to Jim, “I sec it warn’t no use wasting words--you can’t learn a nigger to argue” (98). When Huck says this to Jim he is degrading him and casting Jim as someone less then himself even though Huck is just a teenager. This also represents the beginning of Huck’s uncertainty about if he should help Jim escape slavery. Huck first debates the morality of helping Jim escape when Jim first talks about getting his family back (124), and Huck doubts Jim as a person when he thinks, "Here was this nigger which I had as good as helped to run away, coming right out flat-footed and saying he would steal his children--children that belonged to a man I didn’t even know; a man that hadn’t ever done me no harm. I was sorry to hear Jim say that, it was such a lowering of him" (124). This quote occurs right after the foggy night in which jim and Huck got separated, and they greatly appreciated that moment, but when Huck doubts Jim’s morality because he was going to take his kids back, Huck is doubting their companionship. He is also being racist when he thinks that an African American is not entitled to his children and wife, but, although he does not directly mention it, a white man is entitled to all of their family. Huck continues to doubt jim throughout their trip, until it comes to a head when Jim is sold. Therefore, I believe that Huck does not truly appreciate Jim as a friend and companion until Jim is sold by the Duke of “Bilgewater” and King Louie the VII, and Huck debates whether to send a letter to Miss Watson and turning Jim in with stealing Jim back and continuing their adventure. Huck knows the immensity of what he was about to decide when he says, “I was a trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it” (270). Huck decides to help Jim and that is the true turning point in their friendship, when it becomes truly stable, because after all the turmoil and debating as they went down the river, Huck decides to think of Jim as an equal to him.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to bring up the influence of Jim’s status compared to other slaves and how that affected Huck’s acceptance of Jim. After Tom played a trick of putting Jim’s hat above his head when he was sleeping, Jim took it as a trick of witches and made up a huge story about how the witches had taken him, bewitched him, and rode him all over the world until his back had “saddle-boils”(7). Jim’s story of magic, his five-center piece he wore around his neck that he said the devil gave him, and Jim’s magic hair ball all made him the most popular slave and even Huck went to Jim for advice. When Huck saw his father’s footprint in the snow he ran immediately to Jim to find out his fortune, meaning he had a little connection with Jim and he looked to Jim for advice instead of taking him for granted. Huck says, “I was ever so glad to see Jim. I warn’t lonesome now. I told him I warn’t afraid of him telling the people where I was” (51). This shows that right from the beginning Huck trusted Jim just a little bit, partly because of his status in society and partly because of Jim’s situation. Huck never was outlandishly degrading to Jim, throughout their whole trip down the river and on land, but i believe it helped a great deal that Jim was respected by the other slaves and that he was at the top of the bottom heap on the social ladder in Huck’s community.
In my opinion, the novel characterizes Jim as the most important slave not only because of the relationship he shares with Huck, but also because the hopes he has to be free. Many of the slaves in the novel are only seen working for their masters, but Jim has enough courage to run away from Miss Watson and he attempts to find happiness with Huck and to not be sold down the river. “‘Well, one night I creeps to de do’, pooty late, en de do’ warn’t quite shet, en I hear ole missus tell de widder she gwyne to sell me down to Orleans… de widder she try to git her to say she wouldn’ do it, but I never waited to hear the res. I lit out, mighty quick, I tell you’” (53). Once Jim hears he may be sold, he runs away, believing that his future holds something better for him. Jim’s bravery sets him apart from the other slaves, as well as his perseverance, which is only exceeded by his mental strength.
ReplyDeleteIn another view of slavery, Huck is faced with a decision involving Jim’s freedom: whether he should turn him in to Miss Watson or should help him seek freedom. Throughout the novel, Huck constantly debates whether or not he is doing the right thing and if he is right to take Jim away from a woman who has taken care of him. However, Huck’s conscious is overshadowed by his heart, when he takes Jim with him, soon to find out that the two become great friends, as well as partners. Huck convinces himself that taking Jim away was a sin, but he is willing to sacrifice his life, as well as the morality he felt when he was with Miss Watson. “I would go to work and steal Jim out of slavery again; and if I could think up anything worse, I would do that, too, because as long as I was in, and in for good, I might as well go the whole hog” (271). Although Huck continually is led to this crossroad, he always decides to do what is best for Jim, and inevitably what can be best for him. Huck and Jim soon form a bond that is greater than any kind of bond he has shared with any other member of his family. By saving Jim, he is able to maintain this bond.
Also, to comment on the two previous posts, I think that Huck did not want to like Jim at first because he thought that befriending a slave owned by Miss Watson was morally incorrect in his own mind. However, Jim wanted to take care of Huck (maybe as a way of thanking him) and in return, Huck could not help but to feel like he should treat Jim with as much respect as he could. However, Huck’s beliefs about slaves and many other issues differ from his culture, which proves that he should be able to respect Jim as much as any other character, regardless of his race and status.
I think that Huck feels that Jim is humble, smart, and honest which is just about all he wants out of anybody so he feels that Jim is a good friend. Huck also Feels like Jim cares about him, unlike his real father, but lets him be himself, unlike the widow. To Huck this makes him an ideal companion. After a while Huck feels that he and Jim have been through quite a lot together and he grows to trust Jim just as much as any white man. He also realizes that Jim is just as much a man as everyone else and so feels that The Duke did him wrong by selling him, especially since Huck thinks that The Duke is lower down than Jim anytime.
ReplyDeleteOn the topic Huck’s relationship with Jim and in response to what Zoe said: I think that Huck is not racist and he probably thinks that he and Jim are of the same social class. They are both runaways running from people who would hurt them. When Huck first sees Jim he is alone in a forest and is ready to live as a hermit but still he is happy to see Jim“It was Miss Watson’s Jim. I bet I was glad to see him!”(50) From the beginning of their relationship Jim is Huck’s friend and Huck is Jim’s.
ReplyDeleteWhen Jim tells Huck his idea of stealing his family back Huck thinks that "Here was this nigger which I had as good as helped to run away, coming right out flat-footed and saying he would steal his children--children that belonged to a man I didn’t even know; a man that hadn’t ever done me no harm. I was sorry to hear Jim say that, it was such a lowering of him" (124). Huck had a high opinion of Jim but when Jim said he was going to steal back his family Huck was disappointed in him. To Huck the retaking of Jim’s family is just stealing. Huck steals all the time so why is he uneasy about helping Jim steal back his family? He is uneasy because he thinks that Jim and his family are more important than the items he normally steals. He thinks that Jim and his family are people and that people are valuable in a way that objects can never be. This may seem like an oxymoron that Huck feels that people are important and it is not acceptable to steal them but that slavery is ok. Huck’s does not think the way we would. Helping Jim steal his family is taking the owners source of income.
I think it’s interesting that, even though Huck debates whether or not he should be helping the runaway slave Jim throughout the story, he never seems to doubt in his own mind that what he’s doing is wrong. Even after Huck decides that he’s going to help Jim despite his feelings of remorse, he still considers his actions to be sinful, and feels that he is a thoroughly bad person because of it; “I tried the best I could to kinder soften it up somehow for myself, by saying that I was brung up wicked…but something inside of me kept saying, ‘There was the Sunday School…they’d a learnt you there, that people that acts as I’d been acting about that nigger goes to everlasting fire.’” (269)
ReplyDeleteBut it’s true that this story is set during a time of prominent racism, and it would be almost impossible for Huck to not be somewhat biased, especially since he lives in the deep south. The mere fact that he is friends with Jim is radical in the context of this environment. Huck’s decision to give up his chance at salvation (as taught during that time) for Jim, even after feeling a crisis of faith, would be considered unthinkable.
Throughout the novel Tom defiantly sees Jim as a friend but he also thinks that Jim is of a lower social class then him. He believes that he is doing the wrong thing by helping Jim escape yet he can't bring himself to tell on Jim. His morals are constantly in conflict, he feels like he is stealing from the widow but he also doesn't want to betray a friend. Tom thinks to himself that he would feel terrible either way, “s'pose I you'd a done right and and give Jim up; would you felt better than what you do now? No, says I, I'd feel bad-I'd feel just the same way I do now.” (127) I am currently on chapter seven-teen which is around where Tom starts having mixed feelings about helping Jim. I will see how he resolves this conflict throughout the novel but he seems unable to turn in Jim because of there friendship.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, Amado buddy, it's Huck not TOM. :]
ReplyDeleteHuck definitely has mixed feelings about Jim but for sure enjoys his company. I thought the same as Amado when I was on chapter 17 that Huck will not turn Jim in because of their friendship. I also had a feeling that Huck will soon become even more mature in his thoughts about Jim and view him as a human than a slave, and I was right. When I was on chapter 23, Huck was listening to Jim's story on when he beat his daughter, Lizabeth. Jim feels horrible for what he had done and Huck seeing Jim in sadness and regret now realizes that Jim loves his family just like a white man would love his family. Us as the readers can now conclude that Huck is becoming more mature on his views of African Americans. Huck hasn't totally reached a full development in change of thoughts but he's getting there. I believe as his adventures continue down the Mississippi with Jim on the raft, Huck's view on slavery and slaves will soon change.
Something that surprised me, as I got further into the book, is that despite Huck’s friendship with Jim his beliefs surrounding slavery do not actually change. Despite the fact that he sees Jim as a friend who he feels bound to keep free from slavery he still does not see other slaves as people instead of property and believes that helping Jim is one of the most wicked things he could do. He says, “I shoved the whole thing out of my head; and said I would take up wickedness again, which was in my line, being brought up to it, and the other warn’t. For a starter, I would go to work and steal Jim out of slavery again; and if I could think up any thing worse, I would do that, too; because as long as I was in, and in for good, I might as well go the whole hog” (271). This shows how wicked he thinks the act of helping a slave to freedom is, even when the slave in question is his closest friend. Notice that Huck says he will “steal” Jim out of slavery, not rescue, showing that despite the fact that they are friends Huck can’t let go of his belief that Jim is property. In short, Huck doesn’t give up his belief that slavery is wrong; he is just able to overcome that belief in order to help Jim.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that Huck is immature when it comes to issues of slavery. He has very real emotions that one wouldn't feel unless they strongly believed it was wrong. Like many have pointed out, they lived in a time where slavery was normal and an everyday thing. However, Huck risked his life to help make Jim a free man, and one could see when reading the novel how genuinely grateful Jim was to Huck, almost indebted to Huck. But then again, if he was, he wouldn't be a free man, would he? I agree with Rose when she said "he is just able to overcome that belief in order to help Jim." Jim becomes Huck's best friend and Huck does everything he can to help him.
ReplyDeleteI would like to highlight the significance of pages 123~127. I believe that these few pages are a major turning point in the story as Huck questions his so-called "conscience" drilled into him by repetitive, didactic lessons from Miss Watson. Huck, at the bottom of page 123, brings into question the morality of aiding Jim to freedom. He says, "Jim said it made him all over trembly and feverish to be so close to freedom. Well, I can tell you it made me all over trembly and feverish, too, to hear him, because I begun to get it through my head that he was most free - and who was to blame for it?"(123). Such thought demonstrates how Huck was taught to view African-Americans in general as objects that belong to specific owners. Because the popular misconception, the belief that African-Americans were in fact, property, was practiced by many and considered as an undeniable truth, Huck belived it to be so as well. Huck’s self-questioning seems quite paradoxical to us, the readers, for he questions the morality of racial equality, but mindlessly accepts a prejudiced conception.
ReplyDeleteAfter Huck makes his stance whether or not to help Jim, Huck tries to decieve Jim and turn Jim in as a run-away slave, because his “conscience” felt pity and compunction for Miss Watson, who indeed cared for him in good-will but also made him accept mistaken notions. Nonetheless, his white lies to the two men indicate that he has closely bonded with Jim as they traveled together and cared for Jim as much as he would for any other of his friends. Indeed he regrets his actions of lying and blames himself for being a morally corrupt reprobate; “I got aboard the raft, feeling bad and low, because I knowed very well I had done wrong, and I see it warn’t no use for me to try to learn to do the right; a body that don’t get started right when he’s little, ain’t got no show – when the pinch comes there ain’t nothing to back him up and keep him to his work, and so he gets beat” (127). Nevertheless, short after, Huck questions the morality of rejecting Jim and turning him in to a depraved society that will most likely lynch Jim as soon as they get the chance; “Then I thought a minute, and says to myself, hold on, - s’pose you’d a done right and give Jim up; would you felt better than what you do now? No, says I, I’d feel bad – I’d feel just the same way I do now. Well, then, says I, what’s the use you learning to do right, when it’s troublesome to do right and ain’t no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?” (127) Huck, through his thought process, takes a revolutionary step towards viewing Jim as an equal. He is yet to realize that his iconoclastic, egalitarian ideas should be made pandemic, however, in this scene, Huck clearly makes efforts in order overcome boundaries imposed by society and break his own prejudiced views.
I actually have a question about something that was mentioned early in the book that's been bugging me. On page 34, Huck’s father is talking about his beliefs about slavery and freed slaves voting. He said, “Why, they couldn’t be sold till he’d been in the State six months, and he hadn’t been there that long yet.” How did that law work? Was it true that if a freed slave was in a ‘slave state’ for six months, he could be sold again as a slave? I am interested in knowing more about how the laws about slavery actually worked in different states.
ReplyDeleteWell Joshua,
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is many free slaves were often captured and returned to the south any way, even if they were legit. There were laws about returning fugitive slaves to their owners, even in free states. The Fugitive Slave Act was one of these laws and set in 1793 and updated in 1850. Even though free slaves were meant to have freedom they were still treated like trash and often forced to work for hardly any money at all.
i hope that kind of answered your question... i had that page underlined too.
--My entry---
Jim's fear of being sold relates to a fear of the unknown that he has. If jim were to be sold he would be put in to a new environment with none of the magical reputation that he has earned in his community. Because of this Jim is willing to risk another unknown for the sake of his freedom. In the beginning of Huck Finn we are introduced to Jim while he is still a slave, his character is powerful and has much respect in the community, many know his name. As soon as Jim leaves though, he looses his power and is at the mercy of Huck for if he is found, he would be powerless and enslaved once again. He must rely on Huck to travel ashore a few times and trusts Huck to not turn him in. At the same time Huck relies on Jim as and adult figure in his life. And risks his own self just by being with an escaped slave. Jim's fear of slavery shows how even a strong and intelligible man like he is powerless in the eyes of slavery.
One of the most important parts of the story is the bond between Huck and Jim because they come from completely different backgrounds but both lust for freedom and that is what keeps them together along with their kindness. Both Huck and Jim risk each others company and struggle to accept that they are in it together. As the book carries on Huck's view on slavery and Jim change. In the beginning of the book Huck payed little respect to Jim and enjoyed playing pranks on him, but when they are matched up (he) is joyous to see him. As they carry on Huck begins to appreciate why Jim lusts for freedom and senses a similarity. The fact that Huck can accept Jim and ignore the fact that he is a criminal and is treated like a mule by society, even after people like his father express their hateful views on slavery, is truly heartwarming.
I agree with Haven that the bond between Huck and Jim is a very important part of the book. Their friendship shows Huck as a non-racist person, in that he didn't turn in Jim even though he knew he was a runaway slave, and instead became his friend and helped him escape to freedom. However, I think that Huck is inherently a racist person, just because of the time he was brought up in. I also think that Jim is kind of shown in a racist light in general, which I think is because of the generally more racist time period that the book was written in. Small comments that Huck makes, like how "Jim was most ruined, for a servant, because he got so stuck up" (8) or "it warn't no use wasting words-you can't learn a nigger to argue" (98) show him as a racist person. Although he is Jim's friend, he doesn't see him as an equal, even though Jim is much older than Huck is. I don't think Huck is trying to be racist, but I think it was almost impossible for him not to be racist, having brought up in a household with slaves, in a time when black people were generally considered inferiors. I think Huck's racism is a dynamic in his friendship with Jim that is always present, to varying degrees.
ReplyDeleteHuck also talks about about turning Jim in a few times for the money. Although he doesn't end up turning him in, the fact that he considers betraying Jim to help himself shows his ingrained feelings of superiority over Jim. I don't think it's Huck's fault-turning in runaway slaves was a respectable thing to do, so naturally Huck would consider it, even against his better judgment. Growing up around generally racist people had an effect on Huck, just like it would have on most other people. Huck says, "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger-but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards" (105). This shows that apologizing to a black man was hard for Huck to do, because he saw himself as Jim's superior. However, the fact that he did apologize to Jim shows his good intentions and his bond with and love for Jim. I believe Jim and Huck have a true friendship, but I also believe Huck sees Jim as his inferior, simply because of the way Huck was brought up.
I believe that Huck is in no way naturally a racist. Although he uses many racist generalizations and racial slurs, this is only because he has been influenced by the society around him, which is practically dystopian when one considers racial equity to be the high ground of any society.
ReplyDeleteIt can be argued, then, that although Huck acts as a racist, this is simply due to the society that he was raised in, and the fact that he is significantly less racist than those around him and does not make his own stereotypes without the assistance of other, more racist people.
It is shown that he wants to treat Jim as an equal when Huck says “People would call me a low-down ablitionist and despise me for keeping mum – but that don’t make no difference. I ain’t going to tell” (53). This shows Huck’s respect for his peer, and states that regardless of the racism within the pair’s society, Huck would remain loyal to his peer and keep his promise to him. This begins to reveal that Huck is a good-minded individual, and does not feel the need to conform to the ways of those around him if they are not morally sound.
To further the topic on the relationship between Huck and Jim, I'd have to say that though Huck appreciates Jim and enjoys his company, until close to the end of the book he doesn't think of him as a "real person". Huck thinks of Jim almost as a pet, he enjoys talking to him, spending time with him, but he views Jim as a completely different species that is inferior to his own, it's almost as if Jim is an object. In many ways this makes Huck quite racist, but it's an unconscious racism. It's been drilled into him, "Think of me! It would get all around, that Huck Finn helped a nigger to get his freedom; and if I was to ever see anybody from that town again, I'd get ready to lick his boots for shame"(268). Even when he plots to steal Jim back he treats it with the same sort of feelings that we would treat stealing back the favorite pet that you sold to your neighbor . The same sentiment towards slaves is expressed by Aunt Sally when Huck invents a steamboat accident, she asks, "'Good gracious! Anybody hurt? to which he replies, 'No'm. Killed a nigger.' Aunt Sally then says, 'Well, it's lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt'"(279).(note: that quotation is probably grammatically incorrect, help anyone?). This conversation shows that the question is not whether or not Jim and Huck are equals, in the eyes of Huck's society, one is a person and the other an object, the two cannot be compared. Finally though, Huck's opinion about Jim changes, though not his opinion on slaves as a whole. Huck says about Jim, "I knowed he was white inside"(341). Huck is finally beginning to see Jim as a real person, yet to be a real person and not an object in Huck's eyes, and the eyes of the book's society, one must be white . It's not a question of racial equality or class differences, those are modern ideas, in Huck's world, it's the difference between people, and objects.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Theo about how Huck does see Jim as a lower being, but I think that Huck changes more than Theo gives him credit for. For most of the book, Huck does treat Jim as an inferior. On several occasions, he says that Jim is level-headed, “for a nigger”, suggesting that Jim is more intelligent than most blacks but still not as smart as a white person. Huck also regrets his decision to help Jim escape various times throughout the novel. However, as time goes on, Huck begins to realize that he and Jim are not so different. One of the earlier, more powerful scenes that show this occurs on page 105, when Jim scolds Huck for tricking him. Huck immediately regrets having done so: “It made me feel so mean I could almost kissed his foot to get him to take it back.” Huck then apologizes to Jim, and is surprised that he feels good after doing so, since he has always considered blacks inferior and not worthy of such treatment. With this, Huck starts realizing that Jim is just as deserving of courteous behavior as he himself or, for that matter, any other person he might encounter.
ReplyDeleteKnowing that Huckleberry Finn was written during a time of slavery I was prepared to find blacks being enslaved by whites, however I was not prepared to find that blacks were treating other fellow blacks as slaves. We see this play out on page 151 when the Grangerford’s slaves act as Jims slaves. Jim says to Huck, “Dey’s mighty good to me, dese niggers is, en whatever I wants ‘m to do for me, I doan’ ast ‘m twice, honey”(151). Ironically, those same slaves respond the same way to their masters. If Rachel wants a glass of milk her “nigger woman” (134), Betsy, whisks away and makes sure the glass is filled to the rim. And if Buck wanted butter on his toast his “nigger” would be “on the jump” (143) to get it for him. These same slaves act the same way toward Jim, bringing him “ corn dodgers, and buttermilk, and pork and cabbage and greens”(154).
ReplyDeleteThe similarities between Jim and the Grangerford’s slaves are exponential. Both are slaves, uneducated, considered to be property and inferior to whites. Regardless of the similarities Jim appears to be acting as the superior to the other slaves. Disappointed I concluded that, in the novel, slaves aren’t slaves to whites only, but are enslaved by blacks as well.
b. Haven, thanks for your response to my question.
ReplyDeleteI want to add to what Theo, Lev, and Simone are saying about Huck’s relationship with Jim. Huck thinks of Jim as a friend, but he can never really be Jim’s true friend because he thinks of him as (like Theo said) an object, but not just an object, a piece of property that belongs to someone else. Huck says, “Here was this nigger which I had as good as helped to run away, coming right out flat-footed and saying he would steal his children, children that belonged to a man that I didn’t even know; a man that hadn’t ever done me no harm” (124). Later their relationship has grown stronger, but Huck still thinks of Jim and other slaves as property. Huck says “I do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks does for theirn. It don’t seem natural, but I reckon it’s so” (201). In the time period of this book it didn’t seem natural to Huck for black people to care for each other the same way white people did because they were just property.
slavery in this book is a very large and important factor. The small hometown where Huck starts out slavery isn't a very heavy level. the occasional slave is working a field here and there and household servants were more common. this town being in the north it is understandable to see this lacking of slaves. As we gradually go farther and farther south we come across more slavery and such.
ReplyDeleteonce we reach the point where the two rivers merge into one we have reached open slave territory. This makes Huck's life a little harder because he is helping a runaway slave in route. The feelings towards slaves in the south is much more insulting and rude. The southerners all use insulting and crude terms to identify the slaves. Also the in the south people are just in general are much more heartless towards their "property" or their slaves.
Huck Finn starts off being slightly uncomfortable with the fact that Jim is of a different race and that he is a slave. He eases into a relationship with Jim, though, excluding the occasional feeling of guilt for not turning him in: “What had poor Miss Watson done to you, that you could see her n---r go off right under your eyes and never say one single word? What did that poor old woman do to you, that you could treat her so mean?” [p.124]. When he looks deep in his heart, though, it seems that Huck considers Jim just another human being to whom he grows very close. Huck begins to consider Jim to be like a father figure – Huck’s father was a violent drunk who was away most of the time, so Jim is a pleasant change of pace for Huck.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned in my last post about the women in this book, Huck grew up without female friends or companions, so all he has to rely on are men. Women also seem to represent society, social mores, and socialization as a whole, so when Huck considers Jim to be “Miss Watson’s n—r” [p6], he is representing the prevailing social view of the role of blacks in society at that time – that of slaves. But when he thinks as an individual – himself – about an individual – Jim – he grows to see Jim’s generous and kind nature. He understands from this perspective, even though he doesn’t fully realize it, that slavery is wrong. Faced with the opportunity, even with the temptation of money, he cannot bring himself to turn Jim in.
The men in the book seem to represent a ore rebellious faction than the women, although they are mostly rogues and rascals. So in some ways I was surprised by how the King and Duke handled the issue of Jim. Before I read a book, I flip through the pages and when I saw the picture on page 175 of the Duke holding Jim’s wanted poster, I was worried about what kind of conflict would come up. Later, when I read the passage, I was relieved to find out that they were merely trying to help Huck and Jim. But in the long run, they could not resist the temptation of the money that Jim’s sale can bring, even if they do not seem especially dedicated to the idea of slavery. Maybe they represent the idea that much of the basis of slavery is simple greed, with people wanting a large amount of work production without having to pay a worker. Slaves were expensive to purchase, but probably not as expensive as having a worker on a salary.
As a sidelight, it’s interesting that Twain gives these men the titles of King and Duke. We know they are fictitious titles, but maybe he is making a statement about how America thinks it’s different from the “old country” in Europe because it has supposedly discarded the aristocracy when in reality slavery makes that impossible. People were serfs and servants to kings and dukes (whose titles may have been fairly arbitrary in the first place) and in America they are not, but now slaves from Africa have become the ones doing the menial work, while whites, especially in the South, are like the landed gentry.
Also, in some ways, Huck himself feels almost like a runaway slave. He does not want to be socialized, which he regards as a kind of prison. Wearing good clothes, going to church and school, and having certain manners are things that are being imposed on him and are not his own choice. He is leaving all that behind for the life of the river, and the freedom of downstream. Children and slaves are treated similarly in their culture. They are to be seen and not heard, their opinions aren’t valued, and they are supposed to do what they’re told without questioning. They have duties, are supposed to go to church, and be polite to the “grownups”, on whom they are dependent. They can be punished physically and severely, and it may be thought to be for their own good.
I completely agree with Simone in the fact that Huck is to some degree, passively racist. He isn't to the extent of the people around him, but it does show in how he speaks and acts around others. An important quote that addresses this is when Huck is talking to aunt Sally, explaining his tardiness. He starts by saying, "'It warn't the grounding- that didn't keep us back but a little. We blowed out a cylinder head.'
ReplyDelete'Goodness gracious! anybody hurt?'
'No'm. Killed a nigger.'
'Well, it's lucky, because sometimes people do get hurt.' (279)
It is Huck's natural instinct to refer the person who was killed in his excuse as not a person, because of their skin. This shows me, if anything, that Huck is a racist. At least he values his friendship with Jim more than the money he would get for turning him in, but the atmosphere that he lives in is filled with racism, and it has caused him to act this way.
Huck’s feelings about Jim and slavery create a great conflict between what he has been taught about morality and what he feels about Jim, another human being. Both forces are very strong. This struggle is at the heart of Huck’s morality, because what he thinks and feels about Jim as a friend and what he has been told is right, to betray Jim and return him to slavery, feels wrong to him. As ninjaattackyahh said previously, Huck’s moral revolution is pushed when he begins thinking about his own personal feelings in opposition to his moral education. Huck reflects: “s’pose you’d a done right and give Jim up; would you felt better than what you do now? No, says I, I’d feel bad-I’d feet just the same way I do now. Well, then, says I, what’s the use you learning to do right, when it’s troublesome to do right and ain’t no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?” (127) This passage shows many things about both Huck’s relationship to slavery as well as his style of processing. Instead or arguing morals, he considers the issue in terms of his own practical experience. He decides that he is too bad to become good and that doing the “wrong” thing of helping Jim to attain freedom is the most practical and natural path for him to take. This, to me, shows that despite his racist conditioning, Huck as a person is not racist, and that in a pinch his personal sentiment trumps what he is taught.
ReplyDeleteAt first Huck seems racist, he treats Jim and other slaves poorly by playing tricks on them and laughing at them, but once Jim is on the raft with him, floating down the river, Huck seems completely different; he treats Jim a fellow human. Huck’s actions show that he is not racist, but his thoughts do. For most of the novel, Huck does not realize that he is actually helping free a slave, and when he does realize, he feels awful and decides to write a letter telling Jim’s owner where Jim is. Once he does this, he feels instantly better, but the feeling does not last for long before Huck starts thinking about how good Jim is to him and makes a decision that completely changes Huck’s character: “It was a close place. I took it up, and held it in my hand. I was a trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: ‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell’----and tore it up”(270-271). This is where Huck completely stops being racist, and even though Huck thinks that he is going to hell, he knows that he did the right thing. Almost everyone in this time period believed that slaves were not human and freeing them was immoral, and Huck believed this for a long time, until he spent his time with Jim and learned on his own that slavery is immoral and that Jim is a very good human, much better then most that he has met, and deserves freedom.
ReplyDeleteThe portrayal of African Americans in general (rarely non-slaves) is a sharp contrast to what we've grown up with as politically correct. In telling a lie to a stranger, Huck mentions that on his way over there was a malfunction on the steamboat that hurt no one, only "Killed a nigger", to which the woman responded, "well, it's lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt" (279). The shameless disproportionality in the stranger's concern over general wellbeing, and then disregarding the death of an African American, calling it lucky. Huck, though an open-minded and kind character can never completely rid himself the inane cultural standards of extreme inequality amongst everyone, which denies the possibility of meaningful relationships with many of the people he meets, but specifically with Jim, with whom he shares a very heartfelt companionship, yet he still can't shake the era's vernacular. After tricking Jim, Huck feels guilty and recalls that it "was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to humbling myself to a nigger—but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither" (105). We see that Huck genuinely feels that he owes Jim an apology, but at the same time calls it "humbling" himself "to a nigger". Early on, when Huck's father sees a successful African American in town, a college language professor from Ohio, he bitterly states that "there ain't a man in that town that's got as fine clothes as what he had" (33). He goes on to say that the man was a "prowling, thieving, infernal, white-shirted free nigger" (34). In the jealous, resentful admiration of the "white-shirted free nigger"'s success, Pap's envy reveals that he feels threatened by nothing more than this man's presence in town. Furthermore, if Pap is truly threatened by this individual, then he has become more than just a nigger and negates Pap's assumptions, supremely disconcerting and indeed very threatening to his world view. Perhaps the concept of the drunkard's discomfort is Twain's representation of those who winced in the face of a rapidly changing America in regard to slavery. The novel was completed almost twenty years after the abolition of slavery, Twain it seems still found it relevant as a fundamental discussion throughout the book, and today, more than one hundred years later, it still holds special significance because the advent and collapse(?) of slavery mark incredible changes in global identity. As a nation of immigrants, we have attempted to establish dominance in a number of ways, often returning to the victimization, nullification of other immigrant identities. Is Twain's text still significant because of some sort of aftershock, fallout of the emotional impact, or does the shadow of slavery have more substance than we'd like to admit?
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that "Huck is inherently a racist person". From my older post up above I wrote something about how I knew Huck would definatly mature in his thoughts about slavery. In Chapter 31, (my favorite chapter) Huck encounters a big challenge that will break him free from the not sure thoughts of whether helping a slave is a good thing or not. (if that makes any sense). The Duke steals Jim and captures him trying to receive money from the bounty on Jim's head. Just as you thought you couldn't hate the con men even more, one of them does this, raising the hatred level to the maximum level: NOT BRO. Huck is now faced with this challenge and doesn't know what is the right thing to do. Huck finally clears the bridge and decides "All right then, I'll go to hell!" (271) and decides to go and help his friend Jim. This chapter revolves around Huck's maturity starting to grow and his new development in own thoughts and opinions, reaching away from Miss Watson's inflicting teachings brought upon Huck. We all get to enjoy this part of the book seeing Huck do the right thing. 100% BRO.
ReplyDeleteI’ve noticed a very distinguishable pattern in Huck’s understanding of slavery throughout the novel, which as the book progresses goes from regarding slaves, particularly Jim, as nonhuman property to understanding the value of every humans life. In the beginning Huck is shocked to find that Jim ran away and is filled with guilt to be helping him escape. At this period in time, Huck hasn’t yet realized that a slave or someone of color is a person like he is. He regards them as an entirely different variety of human, almost as a different species. As the book progresses and Huck gets to know Jim as a friend and learns his story, he slowly finds that Jim is also a person. As Jim explains to Huck how he misses his wife and children so badly, Huck begins to empathize for the trauma caused by separating Jim’s family, showing that he starts to understand the situation. Though Huck shows signs of understanding early in the book, he still feels guilt for helping Jim and often realizes that he is doing what he considers to be a bad thing. This pattern continues for a while until it reaches a boiling point when Huck realizes that he needs to do the “right” thing and turn Jim in. When Huck paddles his canoe towards shore he runs into a boat looking for escaped slaves, and begins to tell them that he has one on his boat. But before he can tell them that it is a runaway slave he thinks back to Jim telling him that he was the best friend he had ever had and Huck can’t bring himself to turn him in. Huck then decides that he will just stick with doing the bad thing. What Huck doesn’t understand is that he made a choice to do the right thing and that somewhere in his subconscious he finally understands that Jim deserves the same as anyone else. Though he does not explicitly show this, it directs his decisions from this point in the book on.
ReplyDeleteHuck seems to be growing more and more opposed to slavery, eventually overcoming his doubt attack and resolving to free Jim even if he goes to hell (271). He seems to be thinking of Jim as a human, a friend, and an equal.
ReplyDeleteBut then Twain introduces Tom Sawyer to the plot, and as Huck is drawn into Tom's dramatic vision of life, Jim suddenly goes back to being inhuman. This time he is nothing but a plot device. Even though Tom and Huck are working to free him, they keep him trapped and make him suffer to build suspense and satisfy cliches. Certainly, Huck is reluctant in this, but I can't help but wonder if he goes along with Tom's plans because some part of him still wants Jim to be a slave.
And of course the entire prisoner's escape plotline becomes almost horrific when Tom reveals that he knew Jim was free all along.
Just continuing on the subject of Hucks views of Jim and of his views of slaves changing in the novel, I found it interesting that while Huck was completely willing to take Jim with him and hide him from slave hunters fairly early in their travels, it is not until Jim is turned over by the King that he really thinks about what he has been doing and really decides to help Jim out as he would a person who had committed a crime, not just because he didn't have a reason not to. This is also related to his relationship with religion, as he views it as sinful to help Jim, but decides to do it anyway, going against his religious and moral principles. He thinks to himself:
ReplyDeleteI felt good and washed clean of sin....thinking how good it was all this had happened so, and how near I come to being lost and going to hell. And went on thinking. And got to thinking over our trip down the river.... But I couldn't seem to strike no places to harden me against him, but only the other kind....I was a-trembling, because I'd got to decide between two things... and then I says to myself: 'all right, then, I'll go to hell' ” (283)
This is clearly a turning point for Huck, as he decides to help someone for his own reasons, the humanity and kindness he sees in Jim, rather than going along him generally accepted custom, that slaves are hated by God and it is wicked and evil to help them. This is very interesting, because of course in the present the majority of people understand that people from different races are just as human as they are, but in Huck's time it was sacrilege to even entertain such an idea. This shows the bravery of Huck, to stand up against all preconceived social morals and create his own in a way far ahead of his time.
On the other hand Huck Finn’s attitude toward slavery is interesting. He must have found it hard to think against most other white people, and back up Jims right as a free man. But it seems that Huck still regarded what he was doing as sinful and horrible. Also Huck still regards Jim as lover than him on many occasions and thinks of him as a slave on many occasions. Huck said, “Sold him?” “Why he was my nigger, and that was my money. Where is he? – I want my nigger. (273)”. Huck still thinks of Jim as property and wealth, he even knows that he is worth $800, but at the same time there is compassion in what he says. Finn is also emotionally attached to Jim, as a good friend, and the thought of having him be gone makes him want Jim back, for himself. Huck really cares for Jim as a human being much more than an average white person would in that time. Huck seems slightly racist, but this is because of the influence of all the people that surround him. Nobody else in that era would have befriended and tried to help a slave. Huck is an extremely open minded fellow for his time.
ReplyDeleteJim’s worry about being sold is typical for any northern slave during that time. Most slaves in the north were simple folks, having jobs like maids and gardeners. Now down south is where the slaves are treated horribly with bad living conditions, and working long hours. Eventually they were worked to death. Any slave that heard that there was a slight chance of being sold to the south, knew it was the equivalent to being sentence to life in prison or death. So there wasn’t much of a shock when they ran away to a better life.
ReplyDeleteThe Relationship between slaves was like being a part of a big family. They treated each other as equals and helped by sharing food and shelter. Then there is Jim, who call other Slaves the N-word because he believes he is better than them, but he doesn't call his family by the N-word.
In chapter eighteen Jim states that the Grangerford slaves had found him. “Early in de mawnin’ some er de niggers come along gwyne to de fields, en dey tuck me en showed me dis place...” page 150. Why did he call the Grangerford slaves the N-word, was it because he thought he was higher up, being able to talk to spirits? One page 201 he calls his children by their name, but doesn’t use the N-word to them at all.
Jim has the legitimate fear of being sold down to the south. Jim is a slave and by no standard could that be considered easy, Jim admits that he is treated badly and the work is tough but being sold is a whole new story. Being sold down to the south is truly something to be terrified of, more than likely he would be worked to death in beyond horrible conditions. It is obvious that jims knows this and is scared of the possibilities.
ReplyDeleteThe first and most obvious sign that being sold to the south is incredibly frightening is the fact that when the possibility arises that Jim might be sold he runs. Running away is a dangerous and frightening act, it means that Jim will constantly have to live and hide in fear. If he were to be caught nothing good could come of it only horrible repercussions. Jim is willing to put his life on the line in a time when too many his life is only worth how much they could sell him for. The second time that we see a sign of how horrible life can be expected is when Jim talks about miss Watson and how he found out that he might be sold. Miss Watson tells Jim that she wouldn’t sell him even though she might. The fact that she tried to reassure Jim that she wouldn’t sell him shows even further that being sold down to the south could not be good or else why lie about.
Jim has a legitimate fear of being sold from what I know about slavery and the conditions that could be expected I knew that it could be horrible. Jim running away and the way miss Watson acted show how horrifying the conditions could be excepted to be.
Huck Finn’s view towards Jim matures considerably though their journey together down the river, but Huck is never able to fully forget that Jim is a slave. Regardless of the way that many members of the “poor white trash” (391) lost their jobs to unpaid labor, this class was perhaps among the most vehement in their support of slavery. This deep rooted belief in slavery which surrounds Huck Finn for most of his life makes it impossible for him to entirely ignore Jim’s social status, and while he becomes more and more accepting of Jim as a person, even stating “I knowed [Jim] was white inside,” (341) a huge compliment from someone who believes that white people are infinitely superior to Africans, Huck is unable to undergo a complete metamorphosis. Despite this growing admiration for Jim, Huck’s opinion towards other African Americans and towards the institution of slavery in general remains practically unchanged even at the end of the novel, for although his decision to free Jim in spite of his principles is impressive, upon hearing that Tom Sawyer was willing to help he is shocked and “bound to say Tom Sawyer fell considerable in [his] estimation” (284). To me this suggests that Huck’s desire to help speaks towards the strength of the friendship between Huck and Jim rather than his feelings regarding slavery as a whole, and while Huck will never forget that Jim is from what he considers to be a lower class, he is able to ignore these feelings and assist Jim in his time of need.
ReplyDeleteHuck was brought up to believe that slavery was just another piece of life and didn't really understand if it was morally right or not. Huck realizes what had happened to Jim, "'No! That old fool sold him, and never divided with me, and the money's gone.' 'Sold him?' I says, and begun to cry: 'Why, he was my nigger, and that was my money. Where is he?-I want my nigger.'" (273) Huck calls ownership on Jim calling him 'his nigger' showing that Huck doesn't see anything wrong in a human being owning another, but his intention is to get Jim back out of slavery. Huck is too young to understand that slavery is immoral but he feels that it is Jim's right to be a free man.
ReplyDeleteJim’s desire to run away because he is afraid of being sold is stronger than his dear of what would happen if he gets caught. This says a lot about what his expectations are about being sold. Even though Miss Watson, his owner, treats him “pooty rough” (53) he is still worried his conditions would be worse if he were to be sold. He explains to Huck that he is worth eight hundred dollars, an amount that makes him both proud of himself and afraid for his safety. Jim’s to leave as soon as he learns he might be sold comes in part from the fact that, as a slave he does not have any attachments to people or personal belongings. In that way he and Huck are similar. However, Huck still treats Jim in many ways how other white people treat slaves. It seems that Huck has respect for Jim, but he still calls him a “nigger” and frequently underestimates him because he is black. For example, when they are approaching the town of Cairo and trying to decide what to do, Huck thinks to himself, “Jim had a wonderful level head, for a nigger.” (107) Huck is more judgemental and expects less of Jim because of his race. Huck feels superior to Jim in almost every way. It seems that Jim feels the same towards Huck, but he would never express it because of the expected relationship between slave and master. Since Huck lived with Miss Watson it is almost as if he has now become Jim’s owner. Huck even seems to feel guilty that he was the one to help Him escape. When they get close to Cairo Huck feels, “trembly and feverish” (123) that he was to “blame” for Jim’s freedom.
ReplyDeleteI was very interested in the way that slavery was presented in the minds of characters in the book. For these people in the south, slavery was not an issue to be argued over, it was not a concern for anyone, it was a fact of life. People were so used to it, it was so indoctrinated into their culture that they consider slaves property after generations of treating them that way. One of my favorite lines of the book was when Jim, having escaped from his owner, declares himself a rich man. “ en I’s rich now, come to look at it. I owns mysef en I’s wuth eight hund’d dollars” (57) This is a funny line, but it drives home the idea that slaves were property. Even freed, Jim still considers himself property, only now he owns himself. Another case of treating slaves as property that I found eye-raising was when Huck is talking to Tom Sawyer about stealing Jim. “I know what you’ll say. You’ll say it’s dirty low-down business; but what if it is? – I’m low-down; and I’m agoing to steal him” (284) He intends to free Jim, but he phrases it like he’s swiping some bread from a market. I thought this was odd, because Huck had shown himself to be a good friend to Jim throughout the book, but when I thought about it more, it sort of makes sense. Huck is putting it the way adults around him put it, which means their opinions are being fed into Huck. In the South, people venomously hated “nigger-stealers” and so of course, being raised by such people, Huck would naturally think of his actions as low-down and deceitful, when people nowadays would consider him a hero.
ReplyDeleteI just want to add something about racism. I think that although the “N-word” is used a considerable amount throughout the book, it is never really used as a direct insult. It more seems to be used as an identifying word, what the slaves are referred to as. Like what Nick said about slavery being a mostly accepted part of life for characters in the novel, I got the impression that “nigger” is a widely used word that people accept and are used to hearing. Obviously it is an insult, but I feel like the characters don’t always use it as such. I can’t think of a single time in the novel where the word “nigger” is used maliciously or in an especially hurtful way. I don’t know if this was a conscious choice that Twain made when writing, or if it somehow reflects the characters, but I found it interesting.
ReplyDeleteThere are, however, moments that show clear racism by other means. One example that stood out to me was when Huck tells Aunt Sarah that the boat he was on to get there blew a cylinder head and she asks if anybody was hurt. He answers “No’m. Killed a nigger,”(279), to which she replies, “Well, it’s lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt,”(279). This implies that black people are not, in fact, people. Although Huck said this, I can’t help but feel that he thinks differently toward slaves, after having spent so much time with Jim. Like Simone and Stefan said, he was brought up around racism and a particular mindset towards slaves, and therefore cannot necessarily help it. But because his bond with Jim is so strong, I think Huck’s racism seems to be to a lesser degree at times, than that of other people.
As far as slavery goes you have to consider both sides of the situations, one being slavery itself and second being freedom. This book addresses Slavery in different forms. I agree with the other post claiming that Huck thinks of slaves differently than any other people because when Huck says “Jim is a good nigger” he is associating him with a different class of beings. But when you take Huck’s situation into consideration he and Jim are very much alike seeing that they are both on the run to become free. Huck is on the run from his father’s control and terrible methods of discipline. Jim is also running in hopes of gaining his freedom just like Huck but the difference is their form of slavery. What I mean by forms of slavery is the idea of Huck being enslaved and the differences of his situation and Jims. When you think of Slavery as anyone being trapped in a controlling situation many characters are being faced with this in this story but the goal is to reach freedom therefore the story has a main goal that each of the main characters share. Lies have been the way they feel they can keep moving on the path of freedom without being stopped. If the truth was told they would be taken back home where they will return to their lives that they are escaping from. Lies have turned into slavery for them also because now they are being controlled by their lies and the stories and problems that erupt from them. Because lies help them move in secret they have been bound to lives of cover and secrets. This form of control was self inflicted but arguably necessary for them this is another reason they find it best to travel and night which is another form of cover that provides them with safety and security.
ReplyDeleteEven though Huck likes Jim and helps him escape slavery, he decides that this behavior is bad or sinful. Usually, this is not of true concern for Huck, who says "Well then, says I, what's the use you learning to do right when it's troublesome to do right and it ain't no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?" (127). Though he acts according to his feelings for Jim as an individual, his moral sense of "right" and "wrong" are more racist than he typically expresses. The widely held opinions of the era, and his upbringing, are responsible for these notions. Though Huck’s father is not rich or a slave owner he maintains racist sentiment, but because Huck is resentful of his father’s aggressive behavior, he is less inclined to respect these racist views, and instead sees them as belligerent. When Huck goes to live with the widow, who is of higher class, he is encouraged toward racism through another scope: religion.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 31, after Jim has been sold back into slavery (briefly), Huck has a lapse of religious remorse for having helped him escape. He says,
"And at last, when it hit me all of a sudden that here was the plain hand of providence slapping me in the face and letting me know my wickedness was being watched all the time from up there in heaven, whist I was stealing a poor old woman's nigger that hadn't ever done me no harm, and now was agoing to allow no such miserable doings to go only just so fur and no further, I most dropped in my tracks I was so scared" (269). and later goes on to say "...people that acts as I'd been acting about that nigger goes to everlasting fire" (269).
These thoughts trouble Huck considerably, and so he decides to pray. He feels guilty, however, because “You can’t pray a lie” (269). After writing a note to Miss Watson (Jim’s owner), telling her where Jim could be found, he is able to pray because he feels as though he is acting according to his prayers. He never sends the letter, because within minutes of thinking about Jim he comes to say “But somehow I couldn’t seem to strike no places to harden me against him, but only the other kind” (270). He reflects on the kindness and respect Jim has showed him and eventually resolves “All right, then, I’ll go to Hell” (271). Though Huck has an underlying racism in his ideas of morality, he chooses to ignore it. Society, religion, and authority figures dictate racism, but Huck eventually finds that he has little reverence for these commands, even a disdain towards them. He instead chooses to honor Jim as an individual, a good person, and one of the few who has done him right, by resolving then and there to free him once again.
Even though Huck likes Jim and helps him escape slavery, he decides that this behavior is bad or sinful. Usually, this is not of true concern for Huck, who says "Well then, says I, what's the use you learning to do right when it's troublesome to do right and it ain't no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?" (127). Though he acts according to his feelings for Jim as an individual, his moral sense of "right" and "wrong" are more racist than he typically expresses. The widely held opinions of the era, and his upbringing, are responsible for these notions. Though Huck’s father is not rich or a slave owner he maintains racist sentiment, but because Huck is resentful of his father’s aggressive behavior, he is less inclined to respect these racist views, and instead sees them as belligerent. When Huck goes to live with the widow, who is of higher class, he is encouraged toward racism through another scope: religion.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 31, after Jim has been sold back into slavery (briefly), Huck has a lapse of religious remorse for having helped him escape. He says,
"And at last, when it hit me all of a sudden that here was the plain hand of providence slapping me in the face and letting me know my wickedness was being watched all the time from up there in heaven, whist I was stealing a poor old woman's nigger that hadn't ever done me no harm, and now was agoing to allow no such miserable doings to go only just so fur and no further, I most dropped in my tracks I was so scared" (269). and later goes on to say "...people that acts as I'd been acting about that nigger goes to everlasting fire" (269).
These thoughts trouble Huck considerably, and so he decides to pray. He feels guilty, however, because “You can’t pray a lie” (269). After writing a note to Miss Watson (Jim’s owner), telling her where Jim could be found, he is able to pray because he feels as though he is acting according to his prayers. He never sends the letter, because within minutes of thinking about Jim he comes to say “But somehow I couldn’t seem to strike no places to harden me against him, but only the other kind” (270). He reflects on the kindness and respect Jim has showed him and eventually resolves “All right, then, I’ll go to Hell” (271). Though Huck has an underlying racism in his ideas of morality, he chooses to ignore it. Society, religion, and authority figures dictate racism, but Huck eventually finds that he has little reverence for these commands, even a disdain towards them. He instead chooses to honor Jim as an individual, a good person, and one of the few who has done him right, by resolving then and there to free him once again.
Even though Huck likes Jim and helps him escape slavery, he decides that this behavior is bad or sinful. Usually, this is not of true concern for Huck, who says "Well then, says I, what's the use you learning to do right when it's troublesome to do right and it ain't no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?" (127). Though he acts according to his feelings for Jim as an individual, his moral sense of "right" and "wrong" are more racist than he typically expresses. The widely held opinions of the era, and his upbringing, are responsible for these notions. Though Huck’s father is not rich or a slave owner he maintains racist sentiment, but because Huck is resentful of his father’s aggressive behavior, he is less inclined to respect these racist views, and instead sees them as belligerent. When Huck goes to live with the widow, who is of higher class, he is encouraged toward racism through another scope: religion.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 31, after Jim has been sold back into slavery (briefly), Huck has a lapse of religious remorse for having helped him escape. He says,
"And at last, when it hit me all of a sudden that here was the plain hand of providence slapping me in the face and letting me know my wickedness was being watched all the time from up there in heaven, whist I was stealing a poor old woman's nigger that hadn't ever done me no harm, and now was agoing to allow no such miserable doings to go only just so fur and no further, I most dropped in my tracks I was so scared" (269). and later goes on to say "...people that acts as I'd been acting about that nigger goes to everlasting fire" (269).
These thoughts trouble Huck considerably, and so he decides to pray. He feels guilty, however, because “You can’t pray a lie” (269). After writing a note to Miss Watson (Jim’s owner), telling her where Jim could be found, he is able to pray because he feels as though he is acting according to his prayers. He never sends the letter, because within minutes of thinking about Jim he comes to say “But somehow I couldn’t seem to strike no places to harden me against him, but only the other kind” (270). He reflects on the kindness and respect Jim has showed him and eventually resolves “All right, then, I’ll go to Hell” (271). Though Huck has an underlying racism in his ideas of morality, he chooses to ignore it. Society, religion, and authority figures dictate racism, but Huck eventually finds that he has little reverence for these commands, even a disdain towards them. He instead chooses to honor Jim as an individual, a good person, and one of the few who has done him right, by resolving then and there to free him once again.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Huck and Jim travel together as companions, Huck still separates Jim from himself as a person. Huck seems to firmly believe that slaves are property and even battles with guilt over what he sees as the theft of Jim from his mistress. This view of slaves as property rather than humans with emotions is universal of almost everyone in the novel, including many slaves. When Tom and Huck set to freeing Jim, Tom treats it almost as a game, not a genuine attempt at saving a life. Tom avoids simple unromantic ways of freeing the prisoner, and instead tries to reenact what he has read in books. Huck remains practical trying to choose the easiest, simplest way to free Jim. This shows some break in the traditional ideas and a genuine affection for Jim. When Huck first realizes Jim has been captured he thinks to turn himself in, but upon deeper thought he finds that the bond between Jim and himself has strengthened. “I couldn’t seem to strike no places to harden me against him but only the other kind--and would always call me honey and pet me and do everything he could think of for me” although Huck is actively racist in the novel and seems to firmly believe there is a difference between slaves and their masters, his morals often lead him the other way.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to bring up Tom's little speech at the end about Jim's right to freedom.
ReplyDeleteTom has proved himself to be a very spirited character throughout the novel. Once he's got his mind set he's going to get it done and he's very easy to stir up. Most of the time he's simply looking for adventure. Being the kind of character who feeds off of conflict and drama it made me wonder if he really meant what he's said in the past about freeing Jim. Especially at the end.
"They hain't no right to shut him up! Shove!—and don;t you lose a minute. Turn him loose!he ain't no slave, he's free as any cretur that walks this earth" (356).
Jim says all of this before he mentions what Miss Watson put in her will, so does that mean that he believes that Jim and other African Americans have as much right to freedom as white people do, or did he just say that to highten the tension? That's a very bold statement for him age and the time and place he lives in. Huck genuinely cares for Jim but has never said anything like that for him.
Even though Tom says this has he treated Jim any better? Tom constantly uses Jim to fuel his own fantasies and games, never thinking of Jim as anything more than a playing piece in a game chess. Even at the very beginning he plays with Jim's head. But in the end he does say that Jim is free and is happy to see that he is.
So I guess my question is do you think Tom actually cares about Jim and is against slavery or did he do it simply for the adventure?
-Char
As Michael Ditmore pointed out, this book was written (1876-1884) at least a decade, maybe closer to 20 years, after slavery was abolished (1865). So why does Mark Twain write about it still being intact? I think that in the aftermath of slavery there was still a lot of bad feeling toward African-Americans, some of it actually worse than it had been under slavery because a lot of white people were 1) very fearful about what freed slaves might do as retribution, 2) resentful that what they had considered their property had been taken away from them, and 3) anxious to put laws in place that would keep African-American people from being free to associate with white society.
ReplyDeleteThe over-arching theme in Huckleberry Finn seems to be that society can be a corrupting influence as easily as it can be a civilizing one. Huck feels constrained by the limitations of society. Jim is constrained by the limitations imposed by slavery. Society has created the system of slavery, a much more exaggerated version of Huck’s limits. It also creates the narrow-mindedness of religion as easily as the uplifting aspects of it. While Twain seems to hold out some hope at the end of the book that society is ultimately accountable to do the right thing, it’s not without a lot of mistakes on the way. Huck is faced with the question of how he is supposed to act in a society that legally enslaves someone who has become your friend, and handle the conflict between his personal and his social obligations.
I think Twain is addressing the fact that the legal abolition of slavery doesn’t change people’s/society’s attitudes overnight. He probably witnessed the backlash in the south, from carpetbaggers to the rise of the KKK. Just as Huck learns what a good person Jim is on the course of their river journey, common people have to learn to change their attitudes over a long period of time and interaction with people they’ve formerly disregarded or despised. In order to justify slavery, people have had to adjust their attitudes to make black people sub-human in their minds, so they can dominate them. Now they have to change their minds again, but it is a slow and difficult process for them. Just as Jim can’t escape slavery completely, neither can the people who participated in it. It changes the oppressors as well as the oppressed.
I agree with what many people have said already. Huck may be racist, but because of the way he was raised. However, being raised racist does not excuse Huck, or any other character in the novel for their racist comments and actions. The fact of the matter is everyone who is racist was most likely raised that way. In my opinion what makes Huck's racism more excusable is the severity of it. Huck becomes very close to Jim in the novel despite their different races. Though Huck will throw out the occasional racist remark, his relationship with Jim demostrates that he can see past his racism. The severity of the racism of other characters in the novel additionally lessens the offense of Hucks racism. For example, on of the most offensive things said in the book is said by Hucks Father "Thinks I, what is this country a–coming to? It was 'lection day, and I was just about to go vote, myself, if I warn't too drunk to git there; but they told me there was a state in this country where they'd let that n***** vote"(34). Hucks Father is addressing Huck in this statement. While getting to know the character of Hucks father it is clear that he is uneducated, and a person of questionable values. It is extremely disturbing that someone like Hucks father is ranked as a being of greater value than another person because he was born with white skin. However what impresses me is that Huck can be exposed to a person and a statement like this and ignore it. What I said before about being raised racist I still believe, but what impresses me is that Huck can be taught incredibly racist values and ignore them and come up with his own values, even if they are still, in my opinion, not ideal.
ReplyDeleteSlavery was depicted in many different forms in this book. The main characters lived very different lives but had to coexist in their travels along the Mississippi. Both of the characters saw the Mississippi as the trail to freedom. Freedom from restrictions and control and it would take them to the Free States. As they travel down the river they find that other towns and locations on the Mississippi bring other problems and bring more “slavery.” Then they realize the problems and issuses of the real world and they learn what they have to do to survive. Huck uses lies as protection and their key to freedom by telling people what they want to hear. Back at home when jim thought or claimed that he was kidnapped by witches he was telling lies for attention and thrill. Thrill was another way of them escaping from slavery which was the base of this story. But as they continued thru the story and they missed the Ohio River which was going to take them to freedom and that really changed the direction of the characters and their plans. The River turned out not to meet Huck’s expectations but as they continued neither did the people they met. Amongst the people they came across they met two frauds: The Duke and The King which pretended to be a king and a duke and they accompanied Jim and Huck on their journey along the river causing them a lot more problem then they already had putting them in a lot off bad situations. They were also unable to leave the two frauds basically making them prisoners/slaves to the king and the duke.
ReplyDeleteA quick response to Luci: Language changes. What may have been only a word as little has 20 years ago can easily become an insult over that time. When one is looking at a scale of at least 250 years, it is unsurprising that many of the words used in the book have different implications and meanings than we are familiar with.
ReplyDeleteNow, my entry:
I know that the relationship and bond between Huck and Jim is the main focus of this book, but what kept on hitting off guard was the casual remarks and dehumanization of the slaves. When Huck is having a lengthy internal debate, we are able to follow his thoughts and thus are prepared for his decision. But when Huck is conversing with others on land, which is often, there are these little snippets of such racism that it shocks me. For example (yes I know that Huck is saying this quote, I forgive him because he is impersonating someone else, namely Tom Sawyer) when Huck describes why he is late, he lies about the blown-out cylinder head and in response to the question “Good gracious! Anybody hurt?” replies “No’m. Killed a nigger.” (279) This was the most shocking moment to me in the book.
One last thought, I wonder if Tom would have helped Huck free Jim if he (Tom) didn’t know that Jim was already free…
Just a thought.
Huckleberry Finn and Jim were companions on an adventure. Huck Finn was raised in a racist time, but once he got to know Jim, and become his friend, he begun to not conform to society. At first he felt guilt about helping Jim escape. He thought it was the wrong thing to do because Jim was somebody’s property. But on his adventure Huck came to realize that Jim was a person, and a friend. And that Huck was really doing the right thing by helping him escape.
ReplyDeleteBut of course Jim got captured back into slavery. Huck Finn decided he had to get Jim out, and they would continue their adventure together. At the beginning Huck just wanted Jim to be captured so he could get it off his conscience that he was helping a slave escape. Huck was a changed person by the end, when Jim really did get captured, he went and tried to set him free. Because he was a friend, not a slave.
Mark Twain offers us an unique look at racism and the issues surrounding slavery through the young eyes of Huck. Since the novel is narrated by Huck, we are seeing everything from his point of view, whilst also hearing his commentary on the situations. As it has been previously said, Huck was clearly raised in a very racist environment, being served by slaves at Miss Watson's, and listening to drunken, racist rants by his father. There is no doubt that this has influenced his life thus far, yet the journey Huck goes on seems to change these views monumentally. Huck is at a young enough age where his opinions of the world are still being formed and shifted. On the raft, Jim takes the role of guardian over Huck, and for the first time Huck is being taken care of by an African American. One night while thinking about Jim, Huck mentions, "I do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks does for theirn. It don't seem natural, but I reckon it's so" (201). This revelation is very important for Huck, as he realizes that Jim is a human being, with human instincts and feelings. I believe Huck thought of Jim as inferior prior to their journey because of the racist environment he was raised in, yet from the beginning Huck never hated Jim for his race. Huck was truly able to grow from this experience, so much that by the end he was risking his life to save Jim, and there was no doubt in his mind of how important and loving a person Jim was.
ReplyDeleteOne of the strongest aspects in the book to me would happen to be Huck and Jim’s relationship, because it expressed Huck’s genuine feelings as well as his ability to have a bond towards someone who is labeled as bad. When Huck and Jim first meet, the atmosphere felt so right when Huck said “I was ever so glad to see Jim. I wasn’t lonesome now” (51). I felt from that point on the two would work together to survive as they did so throughout the entire journey, which in my opinion gave the book a surplus of excitement.
ReplyDeleteConstantly all through the novel, Huck has Jim’s freedom in his hands which forces Huck to either save his genuine friendship or return him to Miss Watson who helped raise him despite of his strong disliking towards her. Later, Huck ultimately discovers within himself that Jim is his friend not enemy, and even though it was considered a sin to take Jim, Huck loved him so much that he couldn’t destroy a bond that he has never felt with anyone, including within his family. Huck expresses his feelings towards Jim when he says, “I would go to work and steal Jim out of slavery again; and if I could think up anything worse, I would do that, too, because as long as I was in, and in for good, I might as well go the whole hog” (271). In the end by Huck saving Jim, it shows how much he has matured throughout his journey.
Jim disproves the stereotypes that were present in Huckleberry Finn’s time. Because Jim is black and a slave, characters assume that he would act based on stereotypes about his race and about his status as a slave. Yet in the story, Jim shows compassion and vulnerability that disprove these stereotypes. Because of that, Jim is shown as an ambassador for all slaves, through showing that he is human and through refuting the stereotypes about blacks and slaves.
ReplyDeleteWhen Tom, Huck, and Jim are all on the raft, Tom tells of his gunshot wound, and tells the two to ignore him. However, Jim strongly disagrees with him, and says:
“’Well, den, dis is de way it look to me, Huck… would he say, ‘Go on en save me, nemmine’ bout a doctor f’r to save dis one?’… Well den – is Jim gwyne to say it? No, sah – I doan’ budge a step out’n dis place, ‘dout a doctor; not ef it’s forty year!’”(340-341)
Jim’s decision to help Tom instead of leave shows that he is a selfless, caring person. Which strikes Huck, because he says “I knowed he was white inside, and I reckoned he’d say what he did say” (341). In saying that, a stereotype is presented: that only whites would be so caring for others. But his statement also disproves that stereotype, because it shows Jim, a black slave, caring for another like a white man would.
I feel that in many parts of this book, stereotypes were subliminally written to inform readers of the stereotypes of the past. And since these stereotypes were disproved, it can be said that the book is anti-slavery and against the use of stereotypes. As readers of this book, we learn that stereotypes do not describe a person, and that they are not accurate in portraying people.
As many have said before, I believe that Huck’s initial thoughts are racist and what he thinks of as “right” is racist because of when he was brought up. But the actions that he chooses to perform are generally not racist. Where and when he lives, having slaves and considering them inferior was natural, but after he leaves that environment and begins his journey on the raft with Jim his views and opinions begin to shift, “I do believe [Jim] cared just as much for his people as white folks does theirn. It don’t seem natural, but I reckon it’s so” (201). Despite what “seems natural” to Huck he knows the slaves are just as much human as any other. There for he risks his life numerous times to help a run-a-way slave, a majority of the time believing what he is doing is wrong. But he does it because some part of him knows that it is the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 31 Huck must decide whether to steal Jim back out of slavery after the King has sold him. In previous situations Huck only had to lie or simply not turn him in to save Jim but now he must make a conscience effort. As he thinks it over he comes to realize that he truly cares for Jim:
“[I] got over our to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim before me, all the time, in the day, and in the night-time, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms, and we a floating along, talking, and singing, and laughing. But somehow I couldn’t seem to strike no place to harden me against him, but only the other kind. I’d see him standing my watch on top of his’n, stead of calling me—so I could go on sleeping; and see him how glad he was when I come back out of the fog; and when I come to him in the swamp, up there where the feud was; and such-like times; and would always call me honey, and pet me, and do everything he could think of for me, and how good he always was; and at last I struck the time I saved him by telling the men we had small-pox aboard, and he was so grateful, and said I was the best friend Jim ever had in the world, and the only one he’s got now” (270).
This is a major turning point in Jim and Huck’s relationship. Jim has always been by Huck’s side, and cared for him through “the day, and in the night-time, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms”. This is very important to Huck because of adults, such as his parents, failure to do so in the past. Losing Jim forced Huck to realize what he already knew subconsciously. He realizes Jim is worth saving and that he is just as equal and much more reliable and caring than anyone else he has come across in his life. Although he does not verbalize this exactly, perhaps because he is afraid that these thoughts are wrong to think, it still shows that he knows Jim is equal or even more so than some people with lighter skin. I believe that Huck is not the least bit racist. Especially by this point in the novel his thoughts as well as his actions are not at all racist.
One very noticeable aspect of this book is the difference in the way children are perceived and treated. The beating thing many people are aware of, but then children genuinely had to earn respect and the right to be acknowledged. There weren’t any ‘please’ or ‘could you dear’ coddles, just a straight up order to set the table or help out with assorted tasks. In Huck’s case, he was locked inside a tiny cabin for days at a time, and he described his time with Miss Watson as a school like experiencing of business and responsibility. Children were given loads more independence. The modern 8 year old would not walk 4 miles to go to the store or to pick up a friend at the loading docks. There seems to always be something to do on a farm or even in a lazy house by the river, teenagers would never simply spend a day sitting around and thinking about what they want for Christmas or how bored they are in the ravenous heat. Children of this era had less toys, and the wealth was very poorly balanced, as shown by Aunt Sally’s pedantic raves about missing sheets and spoons. A lost spoon or shirt in today’s middle class household could go completely unnoticed. Back then though, everything counted, and this is shown in the through in the way Huck is always active in an arbitrary house activity or another chore.
ReplyDeleteThat said, there no cell phones to confiscate, no Facebook profiles to deactivate. Children then had less to work with every day, and many less luxuries and amenities that their 21st century equivalents. Children were disciplined when a mistake was made, ensuring they learned faster and were able to make more adult decisions. Today, if a toddler does something unsavory, the parent typically won’t yell at the baby and tell them to go feed the family goats. Children thinking like their parents leads to faster and earlier maturity, meaning children ultimately become adults before the modern child does. In short, the 19th century kid is more hardcore, more prepared and more excited possibly about the world at an earlier age.
Through the first half of the book, we learn quite a bit about Huck’s reaction to adults and parental figures. Huck is around many different people considerably older than him, but he still has many different opinions on them. He started off with the widow, whom he at the time liked considerably. But after a while he tired of her ideals of clean clothes and enforcing his attending of school. Her sister also was a disappointment to Huck, her being strict and snappy personality ultimately driving him away from the two. Judge Thatcher is a man who is always there when Huck needs money or other advice. It seems that Huck’s idea of a parent is someone who balances the perfect mix of discipline and loving care. When his father arrived, he beat Huck often, and kidnapped him to a small cabin and locked him in for days at a time, usually having spent the night in jail or gotten very drunk and sleeping on the gutter. His father relearned him how to fish and hunt, and how to wear raggedy clothes and how to survive on his own without school or proper table manners. Huck though, soon grew tired of his father’s alcoholism and violence and overall anger driven control of him and escaped one day through a hole in the wall and staged a crime scene to provoke others into thinking he was murdered. Huck’s seemingly growing independence is apparent when he floats down the river in a small canoe but his immaturity is again realized when he deceives Jim into thinking he was a ghost, although instantly regretting this rudeness was a small reprieve. Huck then begins to grow skeptical to adults. He is ambivalent about the idiocy of the Duke and the King, but admires their whole hearted attempts to get money. He also fakes illness to persuade 2 men to give him money so he can help his sick father (a lie) get help for Scarlett Fever. He sees two more men about to kill the captain of a crashed boat, and is at a loss to understand why they would do such a thing and even risks getting caught. In short, the adults surrounding Huck so far may have prepare adequately for the world around him, but they consistently made a seemingly bad impression on him for one reason or another.
ReplyDeleteHuck however does seem to be that figure for Jim. Jim is a frail person, anxious about his surroundings, often confused and very upset and guilty about leaving his family for a much better life. But Huck talks to Jim, and helps him to understand things and helps him to stay relaxed and just let the river, and indeed life itself, flow past him as nonchalantly as possible. The many times that they have been separated, Jim looks for Huck. And sometimes the opposite.
Jim and Huck rely on each other. There isn’t just one main parenting figure, they are a team. This says a lot for both of their maturity that they can coexist and help one another the way they do everyday floating down the Mississippi. Huck and Jim have both found parenting figures; each other.
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ReplyDeleteSince Huck’s story in set in a time where slavery was in practice, I wasn’t surprised to see that the slang and language used was appropriate to that time frame. After Huck escapes from his father and Miss Watson while causing Jim to be blamed for his disappearance; Jim is viewed as more of a criminal then a slave. Even though Jim took good care of Huck and Huck truly cared for Jim, everyone from Huck’s town believed that Jim had caused him some sort of harm. I found it ironic how the doctor that cared for Tom after he was shot stated “…and I never see a nigger that was better nuss or faithfuller, and yet he was resking his freedom to do it, and was all tired out, too, and I see plain enough that he’d been worked main hard, lately. I liked the nigger for that, I tell you, gentlemen, a nigger like that is worth a thousand dollars-and kind treatment too” even though Jim was technically risking the freedom he had already been given. It was also interesting to see that Tom sawyer didn’t grasp how important Jim’s freedom was, and how he viewed the whole scheme of kid-napping him an adventure as opposed to the serious situation it truly was.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Jim’s understanding of magic he has power over the other slaves, not unlike a preacher, which he unwittingly uses to undermine them. Jim’s whole goal in the book is to escape New Orleans, which is an allegory for Hell. While things may be bad where he is, they are nothing compared to the implied horrors of New Orleans; Jim is willing to risk everything just to stay away from that place. But he is also unwittingly lying to the other slaves about his magic; though they all might believe in it he is still taking advantage of them via his magic five-cent piece, “niggers would come from all around there and give Jim anything they had, just for a sight of that five-cent piece” (pg 8.) So Jim is attempting a balancing act between gaining all he can while trying not to lose everything. Later, as he gets closer to New Orleans, he takes more advantage of the other slaves, especially the slave who is supposed to be guarding him. He allows Tom to trick the man about witches multiple times to increase his chances at freedom. In Jim’s case he had to take everything he could get.
ReplyDelete@Joaquin-yeah, I found that there was a definite 'in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king' vibe going on there
ReplyDelete@Kenny-While I agree that Jim disproves many of whites stereotypes of blacks at the time, Twain also strived to make his characters relistic and in a way fell into some of the stereotypes (something that was unavoidable to make a realistic look at mississipan life of the 19the century) such as Jim's accent and beliefs.
@Will-Yes, it makes Jim's character more realistic for him to sacrifice a small amount of his moral values in desperation to escape New Orleans.
@Luci-Hmmm thats very interesting that the N-word is never used as a direct insult. This maybe a result of Mark Twain wishing to censor particularly terrible parts of the reality of slavery.
@Hero-yeah, Huck is afterall 14 and is not completely naive or ignorant of the world. Im pretty sure the naivete that can be found through Huck's narrative is a result of his choice to see the brighter side of things and put a humorous twist on the bad.
@Omar-I laughed quite abit at the NOT BRO part, but Huck does accept some of the religious lessons at the beginning of the book. I think your right that Huck will continue to mature, though perhaps the most important (and enjoyable) part of the character is his childish yet excrutiatingly honest view of the world around him.
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ReplyDeleteOf course, the 8000 pound gorilla in the room when it comes to Huckleberry Finn is its honest perception of slavery and racism that pervaded all aspects of Southern society during the 19th century. The escaped slave Jim and his relationship with young Huckleberry Finn is implemented by Twain as an argument against the ignorance and the blind hatred of many whites even after the end of the Civil War when Twain published the book. Huck Finn frequently has to fight the stereotypes that society and religion have given him about slaves. This is especially evident in many of the difficult encounters that Huck and Jim face on their journey up the Mississippi.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most evident metaphors for racism is Huck's negligent father, Pap Finn, has an unnaturally pale complexion that results from his dissolute life and represents the most virulent white racism. Pap is uneducated and jealous of his son’s wealth and education, already far surpassing his own at Huck’s tender age of 14. Pap spouts his contempt of racial equality, “There was a free nigger there…most white as a white man, and there ain’t a man in town that’s got as fine clothes as what he had…And that ain’t the wust..They said he could vote.” (33-34).
Twain uses Pap as a representation of the backward, racist America. Pap is an unclean, unshaven, bearded menace to his own son and frequently extorts him for money to pay for Pap’s acute alcoholism.
Pap Finn’s hatred, jealousy, greed, and tendency for violence are all allegories for what Twain saw as the evil and bigoted aspects of Americana: racism, greed, ignorance, and envy. Despite Pap’s beatings, Huck never does anything to try to hurt his father or put him down (to go down to his level). Huck indeed feels freer and more content in his father’s care than in Miss Watson’s, saying, “It was kind of lazy and jolly, laying off comfortable, all day smoking fishing, and no books nor study” (30). Twain uses this two represent two things. First, that not combating hatred can slowly poison you into a blissful yet useless state of ignorance and apathy. Second, that despite the fact that a significant portion of the American populace is afflicted with similar flaws of bigotry, hatred, and racism as Pap Finn must still be accepted as ‘part of the family’ and as Huck says “If I never learnt nothing else out of pap, I learnt that the best way to get along with his kind of people is to let them have their own way” (165). With the revelation of Pap’s death at the end of the novel, Twain ‘kills off’ the primary representation of racism and sets his counterpart, the soulful Jim, free.
“And at last, when it hit me all of a sudden that here was the plain hand of Providence slapping me in the face and letting me know my wickedness was being watched all the time from up there in heaven, whilst I was stealing a poor old woman’s niger that hadn’t ever done me no harm(190)”Although Huck knows that helping an African American man out of slavery is low, shameful, and degrading, the powerful bond of Jim’s and Huck’s friendship motivates him to help Jim down the river to freedom. As Huck faces the chaos in each town, the bond of Jim’s friendships strengthens, “It was Jim’s voice-nothing ever sounded so good before. I run along the bank a piece and got abroad, and Jim he grabbed me and hugged me, he was so glad to see me.(104)” At the beginning of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck did not realize that consequences of slavery. But by being around Jim, Huck is more educated and aware of the impact slavery has on African Americans and Caucasians.
ReplyDeleteAt the heart of the issues and beliefs regarding slavery seems to be a moral paradox between knowing an African American as an individual and as a human who is deserving of dignity, while at the same time believing in the right to own slaves. Of course some of this belief may be due to the fact that this book takes place in the south where it is practically unknown to be an abolitionist, and it is drilled into children that African Americans are inferior. Huck doubts this, whether he is fully able to admit it to himself or not. However, despite the influence of society, Huck is able to connect with Jim on a personal level, even drawing comparisons with him and whites, and realizing that there is none. Huck goes through a long and difficult journey to ensure Jim’s freedom, and it is because he has formed a friendship with him and was able to think of him as human. This passage of Huck’s opinion of Jim, along with others who have gotten to know Jim, describes the aforementioned paradox. “…I thought he had a good heart in him and was a good man, the first time I see him. Then they all agreed that Jim had acted very well, and was deserving to have some notice took of it, and reward. So every one of them promised… that they wouldn’t cuss him no more”(301). They are able to see Jim as a good person, yet the best they can do is treat him with more respect, though at the same time they must also keep him as a captive. I am curious about what would happen if he had the revelation that the humanness he sees in Jim is not specific to Jim, and how that might effect his general opinion of slavery.
ReplyDeleteThe people who believe in the right to own slaves also deserve examination. While Huck is held captive, Pap goes on a racist rant that begins with “Oh yes, this is a wonderful government, wonderful. Why, looky here. There was a free nigger there, from Ohio; a mulatter, most as white as a white man”(37). Pap is a very good illustration of the general beliefs of the South, and the reader gets a good picture of what Huck is up against. Pap is offended by seeing an African American being dignified, yet he himself is the picture of slovenly ways. I would think that since it seems that Pap truly believes in the superiority of whites over African Americans, he would behave as a more dignified member of society, yet he manifests his “superiority” in aggression.
I also wanted to look at how it is that Huck was able to form such a strong bond with Jim, despite his race. Huck is a character who starts off the book living a restricted life with Miss Watson where he must act a certain way and follow orders. Later, he is a captive of Paps. He is set free from Pap’s cabin in the same general space of time as Jim. Huck also thinks of himself as kind of a low-life and inferior, and of course does not recognize his own heroic act. Maybe Huck identified with Jim’s situation in life, and he himself felt like a captive and that allowed him to more readily connect with Jim.
In the time that Huck was born and brought up, slavery was a simple, unquestioned truth.¬ Though Huck may have born no ill will towards a slave, it was understood that slaves were not only intellectually inferior, but rightfully belonged to their white “owners.” This aspect of Huck’s upbringing makes itself clear whenever Huck complements Jim: “Well, he was right; he was most always right; he had an uncommon level head, for a n--”. This sort of statement shows the contrast between Huck’s respect and admiration for Jim, and his ingrained belief that African Americans were naturally inferior to whites. As ninjaattackyahh and Sophie say, this contrast is also brought out in pages 123-127, when is faced with the decision of whether or not to turn Jim in. On the one hand is what he sees as the “morally right” course of action: to turn Jim in and have him returned to his “rightful owner,” Miss Watson. On the other hand is the affection that he has gained for Jim, and the knowledge that life would be unpleasant without him, to say the least. Despite the upbringing that taught Huck to believe that Jim was as much a piece of property as a cow or a bench, Jim is the only positive male role model that Hick has ever had, and his best friend in the world. This is why Huck realizes: “s’pose you’d a done right and give Jim up; would you felt better than what you do now? No, says I, I’d feel bad-I’d feet just the same way I do now. Well, then, says I, what’s the use you learning to do right, when it’s troublesome to do right and ain’t no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?” Instead of doing what he was conditioned to believe was right, Huck decides to do what is best for the individual who he had come to care for more than anyone.
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