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October 31, 2005
Huck Finn
Clemens, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Finish) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
I liked that in chapter 42 they talked about Jim and the fact that he was "worth a thousand dollars - and kind treatment too." He stayed to help Tom Sawyer when he was wounded. Basically what the book is saying is that if he was as bad as black people were made out to be at that time, he would not have given his time to help. I think that this is just another example in the book that shows that the motive behind this book was not racism, but a way of showing the good side of black people in that time period because that was not done very often.
Posted by StacyEstatico at October 31, 2005 09:36 PM
Comments
yes i really liked that part of the book too. I loved that the doctor really stuck up for him and it made Huck happy too. The author definatly did not mean for this to be a racist book and anyone who thinks so obviously hasn't read the book or doesn't understand the humor.
Posted by: michelle koss at November 1, 2005 01:14 AM
Yes, Stacy, I thought when Jim stays to help Tom shows his true character. He doesn't even know Tom,except for what Huck has said about him. I think Jim would have helped Tom even Huck didn't know him. I think Jim's character is down-to-earth and he represents a good-hearted person. What do you think?
Posted by: Ashley Holtzer at November 1, 2005 08:30 AM
I think that it is apparent that Jim was the clear protagonist in the story. Look at the "white folk" in the story though. Pap, the duke, the dauphin, the Phelpses. They were really the antagonists if you had to choose some. I think Twain was really sending a message to the reader, about how individuals are mistreated, and his literature leaves us with a solid and meaningful ending. Great observation of Jim by the way.
Posted by: Jason Pugh at November 1, 2005 11:19 AM
I agree with all of you. It was even more poignant I think, because Tom was so mean to Jim and Jim shows he is the better person. I admire Clemens because most writers would be afraid to make this kind of statement during the time era.
Posted by: Erin at November 1, 2005 01:27 PM
Clemens certainly was ahead of his time. It was daring for him to write a novel that had a strong and successful black character at the time. I wonder if he received some backlash for making Jim such a central character, instead of the stereotypical slave.
Posted by: Vanessa at November 2, 2005 08:04 AM
I agree that Clemens was very ahead of his time. Erin, I also agree that Clemens was very brave to write Jim's character the way that he did considering the time period of the novel.
Posted by: Stacy at November 2, 2005 03:21 PM