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October 27, 2005
Raft or Shore?
Smith, H.N. ''Introduction to AHF" (pp 323-344) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
The introduction by Henry Nash Smith was interesting to read because it noted things I have not thought of while reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In particular, the idea that caught my eye started on page 329, where he talks about the raft of Jim and Huck being a sign of "freedom, security, happiness, and harmony" and the society of the towns along the shore demonstrating "vulgarity and malice and fraud and greed". I didn't think of the raft being like a safe zone for Huck and Jim because it kept them always moving and in a reasonable distance from the shore. It was also interesting he talked about how Huck is drawn to the shore repeatedly and also repeatedly is drawn back to the raft (329). I think Huck is torn between the two and can't decide what he likes better, the shore where there is structure and there are people who will take care of him, or living in the wild on the raft where there is freedom with Jim.
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at October 27, 2005 08:07 AM
Comments
I agree I think that Huck feels like he is not sure if he wants to live free with Jim, or be taken care of by someone else. I think he knows that he doesn't want to go back to his old life though.
Posted by: Stacy at October 27, 2005 09:15 AM