In Mark Twain's, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck is basically portrayed as "uncivilized." He doesn't care about religion, school, manners, or following rules. A kid like this wouldn't have good morals right? I think differently. Huck is smarter than he is given credit for and has good moral judgments.
Huck has grown up referring to to african american's as the *N* word. His society has taught him African American's are dumb and illiterate and only good for slavery, nothing else. Huck faces the struggle of following societies view of African Americans and his growing relationship and personal views of Jim.
In chapter 8 when Huck first encounters Jim on the island, he is faced with a societal decision. He could either try to turn Jim in because he is a run away slave and he could get a reward or be a friend and keep his secret. Huck, following his good judgement and disobeying society 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 agoing to tell, and I ain't agoing back there anyways." I think maybe at first he kept Jims secret to protect his own secret from getting out but he also wanted some company.
Huck's decision and realization that Jim has become his friend and not just a slave occurs in chapter 15. Huck decided to have some "fun" and play a trick on Jim because it was so easy to decieve him. To Huck's surprise however, Jim finally figures it out and is very hurt. Huck realizes he hurt his friend. Huck says,
" It made me feel so mean I could almost kissed his foot to get him to take it back. 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, neither." Huck shows us true emotion here. He's not just some bad runaway kid, rather he is a person who cares for his friend.
Even in today's soceity people are always faced with Hucks situation. Society tells us to think a certain way about person's color,race, or religion but deep inside we know how we really think and feel. We have to choose which side we will follor just as Huck chose to follow his true values and be a friend to Jim.
Do you think Huck kept Jim's secret only to secure his own secret, or did Huck see Jim as a potential friend even though he was a slave?
Why do you think Huck kept Jim with him along his Journey?
Posted by ErinManko at October 19, 2004 02:53 PMErin,
You did a good job in your presentation. I liked how you analyzed the relationship between Huck and Jim. I think that Huck believes Jim is his friend, despite the fact that he is a black man. Huck even proves it when he doesn't turn Jim in to those two men who were looking for runaway slaves. Huck just told a madeup story of his family who got smallpox and needed story. He drove the two men away, and they left him with twenty dollars. I think this incident just proves how good friends they are.
-Nabila
Posted by: NabilaUddin at October 21, 2004 02:13 AMWhen Huck and Jim's paths cross because they are both escaping situations they feel are intolerable, their relationship begins its slow transformation. By virtue of fact they are both running and need to avoid detection they must work together on a level that is more equal. Though Jim still defers to Huck's decisions, their relationship evolves as Jim proves his worth and wisdom and Huck grows up spiritually and morally. Jim forces him to reckon with his humanity as an African-American and Huck responds by continually redefining and clarifying his values.
Posted by: Linda Fondrk at October 21, 2004 10:44 AMNabilia,
thanks for the comment! I do agree with you that Huck sees Jim as a friend despite his race.
and
Linda,
I can definately see where Huck and Jim are a team. They both inlfuence each other in positive ways and help each other to grow. Do you think that Jim could be seen as a "father figure" towards Huck?
Hey Erin,
First of all, your presentation was very good and I give you mad props for being able to do it without the use of your blog... Way to go! Ok, now to comment on your ideas. I definitely agree with you that Huck is smarter than he is given credit for, but once I thought about it, is he smart and has good morals or is he just a free spirited person? I think that the reason he befriends Jim is not that he realizes slavery is wrong and he is trying to be an abolitionist, he is merely uses his free will to say he does not care about society and what it says. He likes Jim and thats all he cares about. I think that he kept the secret because he appreciated the fact that Jim was on an adventure like Huck, and he wanted Jim to be successful in his journey. Lastly, I like your point that Huck had a choice to be freinds with Jim or not. We all have choices and we choose to keep our prejudices today, no one is to blame but ourselves.
Trisha :)
Hey, your presentation was good. In school im doing a presentation that has to do with this topic. I just want to ask: do you think Huck really escaped from society? or did he only escape for temporary moments when he was on the river with Jim?
Posted by: Mick at March 21, 2006 01:19 PM