In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the main character and protagonist Huckleberry Finn and his black, ex-slave friend Jim work together to escape the south by traveling down the Mississippi river. Their journey takes unexpected twists and turns that show Jim’s true characteristics. Contrary to the views of the period, Jim, a black freed slave, is not a heartless, mindless animal. He is a caring individual, who is just as human as Huck. Over the course of the novel, Huck is affected and changed by Jim, making him see Jim, and the world, in a different light. Instead of a laborer and worker, Jim becomes a friend, a mentor, and most importantly a Father Figure. These characteristics, revealed to Huck over the course of the novel, humanize him, and guide him to maturity. In order to shape Jim into a round and dynamic character, Twain must first dispel the racist stereotypes of the time. To do this he puts the duo through a series of obstacles in order to show the human characteristics of Jim, to Huck. First, in the beginning of the novel, Twain describes Jim thinking about his family and Huck’s reaction too it. The reason for Jim’s escape is his wish to provide for his family. He wants to be able to provide a better life for them. However, he is understandably distraught about leaving them behind. This is the first occurrence that opens Huck’s eyes to the possibility that this man was not just an unfeeling slave. Maybe black people do feel and understand emotion, which confuses Huck. According to the stereotypes of the time, Black people did not understand the concept of family or feeling. Whites believed that they were just animals to be used and could not comprehend complex ideas. The fact that Jim feels for his family begins to change Huck’s View of the world, as he thinks to himself, “and i do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their'n. It don't seem natural, but I reckon it's so" (Twain, 23). Jim’s emotions begin to expand Huck’s view from what he was taught, to what he is experiencing. He is beginning to realize that these people he was taught were below him, actually had emotions as he does. After exposing Jim’s emotional side to Huck, Twain then develops their relationship, Evolving it first from a dominant figure and slave relationship, to an equal friendship, and even farther, to a father-son relationship. As Huck and Jim sail down the river, they happen upon a house floating by. They choose to explore it, and find a dead body, later revealed to be pap, Huck’s father. Instead of letting Huck see his dead father, Jim tells Huck to close his eyes as he takes care of the body. This shows compassion and awareness, traits said to be absent in blacks. As described in the following, "It's a dead man. Yes, indeedy; naked, too. He's ben shot in de back. I reck'n he's ben dead two er three days. Come in, Huck, but doan' look at his face—it's too gashly." (Twain, 9). After this ordeal Huck actually listens to Jim’s advice, and values his opinion. This is the opposite of the social norm of the time. He has begun to change and forget his past teachings and chooses to trust his instincts. He is learning to view people as people, and not judge by ethnicity or race. This is a huge step in humanizing Huck. The final event that totally changes Huck’s view of the world involves a prank he pulls on Jim. In a lapse of maturity and ignoring his experiences prior to this, Huck chooses to pull a prank on Jim. In doing this he reverts back to his immature childish self, and goes back to his old beliefs. Huck decides to convince Jim that he is dreaming, and events that had come to pass weren’t real. Eventually Jim believes that Huck is dead, and then Huck reveals his joke. Jim does not become upset at Huck, mostly as a result of beliefs of the time. However he does express disappointment in Huck, telling him how worried he was and how bad he felt. After
FCA’s Marilyn Taveras 1.At least 1 outside source English Essay 2. 5 Huck Finn Quotes April 26, 2014 3.Clear Precision Ms. Wedegartner 4.Clear Beginning,Middle & End 5.Conventions The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain has become a controversial issue throughout the American education systems. There is much controversy over whether the novel should be taught in American high…
Thomas Andrews American Studies 2/13/14 Essay Prompt 2: Huckleberry Finn What is an ending? C. Joybell C. once said, “Ends are not bad things, they just mean that something else is about to begin. And there are many things that don't really end, anyway, they just begin again in a new way. Ends are not bad and many ends aren't really an ending; some things are never-ending.” The purpose of a novel is to answer a question or explain the reasoning behind something that the author believes is true…
Jims characterization essay Throughout the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the author, Mark Twain introduces the reader with the character Jim, a black runaway slave. He is Hucks (main character) companion as they travel down the river, Jim in search of freedom of course. Although Jim comes off as a naïve person whom is nothing, but superstitious, those superstitions conceal a deep knowledge of the natural world. Mark Twain uses diction, imagery, details, and improper syntax to characterize…
1- huck knows helping Jim escape is breaking the law but Jim is his friend. After thinking Huck decides to help Jim because he believes he will fell even worse if he turns Jim in 2-Tom’s romantic personality often has an influence on Huck’s decision making. Huck, being a realist, often has a more common sense approach to life. He is able to foresee the consequences of his actions unlike Tom. Yet, Tom counters this sensible view with his romanticism, which controls Huck. “Then Tom said he hadn’t…
Maria Nunez Period 2 Huck Finn Synthesis Essay of Argumentation American Literature contains a diverse spectrum of tales that give the modern world a better understanding of American history. Most of these literature works of art contain or are based upon controversial topics that existed in early American history and have had a large impact on the United States today; such as, slavery. Many teachers, parents, and students have argued that these works of literature have no relevance in today's…
Moral Shackles Huck Finn’s individual freedoms and lack thereof The definition of freedom is both relative and rapidly changing; what one thinks makes an individual free could be drastically different from what someone else thinks. Additionally, one’s idea of what freedom is and how it can be attained do not necessarily stay consistent over time. Both Jonathan Bennett and Nomy Arpaly offer their ideas of what it takes for an individual to achieve freedom. For Bennett, a strong intellect is the…
Huckleberry "Huck" Finn is a fictional character created by Mark Twain, who first appeared in the book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and is the protagonist and narrator of its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . He is 12 or 13 years old during the former and a year older at the time of the latter. Huck also narrates Tom Sawyer Abroad and Tom Sawyer, Detective, two shorter sequels to the first two books. Huckleberry Huckleberry "Huck" Finn is the son of the town's vagrant drunkard, "Pap" Finn. Sleeping…
government, society, etc.” Modern examples of satire are South Park and The Colbert Report. Some say that all American satire began with Mark Twain, the author of the fiction novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that was published in 1885. Twain uses the young protagonist, Huckleberry Finn, to satirize society and the tendencies of the mass to believe exactly what it is told, without reflecting or forming individual opinions. Through custody battles, family feuds, and most importantly, slavery and…
Zoe Williamson English III AP, 3rd Hour November 29, 2014 Huckleberry Finn: Good vs. Evil The nineteenth century was a time of major moral conflict for those in the United States. In the years following the Civil War, both the north and the south were conflicted about whether or not their actions were morally just or not. In his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain pointed out both the good and rather unfortunate sides of humankind and showed not only the nation, but the world what…
January 1, 1863. In Mark Twains novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn both Huck and Jim endeavor on an adventure on the mighty Mississippi River to obtain a sense of humanity within themselves. The river they travel on through out the novel symbolizes freedom, comfort, and adventure. In this novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain delineated the question, does the symbols of the river mean as much to Huck as they do to Jim? Huck ponders over the fact (Twain 1): The Widow Douglas she took…