Monday, January 16, 2012

Huck Finn 3

            In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, there are many satirical references.  Most of them are out dated accept, for the allusion to the famous Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet.  Along with the reference to the play, there are also elements of sadness and humor to the section of the book with the Grangerfords’.  When Huck first comes onto Grangerfords land he is immediately questioned about being or knowing the Shepherdsons.  “Now, George Jackson, do you know the Shepherdsons’ (Twain 99).  When Huck is confirmed to not be involved with this family he is treated normal and is even told to stay as long as he would like.  Twain starts to add in the humor of how the two families are always trying to kill each other for no reason.  “‘What did he do to you?’ ‘Him? He never done nothing to me.’  ‘Well, then, what did you want to kill him for?’  ‘Why, nothing—only it’s on account of the feud’” (109).  These two families hate each other and have taught their own kids to hate each other for a reason they can not even say, because they do not know.  Although this is humorous it also is sad that they go on hating each other.

            Along with the humor of the Grangerfords’ there is also the element of sadness and remorse.  One of Buck’s sisters Emmeline, dies at a young age and it hits the family hard.  She was very talented with poetry involving death as among her characteristics.  “If Emmeline Grangerford could make poetry like that before she was fourteen, there aint no telling what she could ‘a’ done by and by” (105).  Emmeline is one of those people who had so much potential, but their life was cut short.  The Grangerfords also keep her room in perfect condition.  “They kept Emmeline’s room trim and nice, and all the things fixed in it just the way she like to have them when she was alive, and nobody ever slept there” (106).  The family can not get over this loss and takes the time to make sure her room is flawless still.

            The biggest allusion with this section of the book is the one of the relation to Romeo and Juliet.  The feud between the two families in the book is a parallelism to the Montagues and the  Caplulets, but the love affair between Sophia Grangerford and Harney Shepherdson is another very evident correlation to the Shakespeare play.  “…Run of to get married to dat young Harney Shepherdson…” (114).  These to two young lovers are going against their families ways exactly how Romeo and Juliet did.  When Buck and another family member from the Shepherdson dies because of the feud, it adds another element of the allusion.  These families are so busy fighting, that they both suffer a loss of their own.  This also brings a main them of what is moral in the novel.  Twain adds these references to make the book more interesting and teach lessons along the way.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Huck Finn #2

            In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, one of the most apparent relationships so far is the one of Jim and Huck.  Throughout the first part of the book the bond between Jim and Huck is a father-son relationship.  Huck has lived a very confusing life without knowing who he really is.  This starts with his a lack of family and because of the absence of a real family he needs someone to guide him.  Although Widow Douglas has been really trying to devote herself to make Huck into a fine young boy, Huck was never happy.  He seems to be much happier in nature, and since Jim and Huck started their journey together at the island Huck feels more relaxed around Jim.  As soon as he feels the absence of his “father” and gets the idea that Jim could be in trouble he does not like it.  “I had got uneasy I couldn’t set still” (Twain 64).  Huck is afraid of losing Jim, which is also unusual because at the time Jim being an African-American and Huck liking him so much and treating him like his own father was crazy.  Huck needs Jim, although he may not know, but Jim needs Huck so he does not look like a runaway slave and even for a friendship.
            Jim is an uneducated runaway slave and Huck does not know how much power and control he has over him.  Jim ultimately needs Huck for the sake of looking like he has not escaped, but it is a deeper matter in which Jim needs Huck.  When he thinks that Huck is in danger, but then Huck comes back he is very grateful.  “It’s too good for true, honey, it’s too good for true.  Lemme look at you chile, lemme feel o’you. No, you ain’ dead” (87)!  At first it seems that Jim is glad to know Huck is ok for sake of his own protection, but his father characteristics come out and he is in awe and joy to know that Huck is ok.  This is exactly what a father would be thinking to know that his son is not harmed.  Jim and Huck’s relationship

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Huck Finn Blog Post 1

In the first 10 chapters of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the narrator, Huck Finn makes a lasting impression on readers.  Huck shows that he is a self-determining, undecided, and juvenile character.  His life is filled with an emotional roller coaster between his abusive, drunk father to Widow Douglas trying to make him into a proper young boy.  As soon as his father comes back into the picture Huck becomes the rebellious replica of his dad.  “Now looky here; you stop that putting on frills.  I won’t have it.  I’ll lay for you, my smarty; and if I catch you about that school I’ll tan you good.  First you know you’ll get religion, too” (Twain 28).  This ironic statement of how his father actually does not want him to go to school or study religion, shows that Huck gets the impression that this is right and what he is supposed to do.  He also has the influence of Tom Sawyer who is always giving him a bad idea.  For example, “I asked her if she reckoned Tom Sawyer would go there, and she said not by a considerable sight.  I was glad about that, because I wanted him and me to be together” (13).  In this instant, Huck is almost a follower of Tom, and always wants to do what Tom is doing. Huck’s influences shape him into someone who is not sure of what the want or who they are. 

Although Huck is sometimes manipulated by his surroundings, he also has developed an independent and self efficient aspect to his personality.  When he floats down to the island, Huck becomes more mature because of being forced to fend for himself.  “I found plenty strawberries, ripe and prime; and green summer grapes, and green razberries, and the grand blackberries was just beginning to show.  They would all come handy by and by, I judged” (46).  He found food for himself and was even talking about storing it for later.  This shows that he has some maturity and realizes what to do in a time of need.  Through his rough upbringing and facing the adventures he has so far, Huck is a character who will continue to grow into a mature and independent character.