Blog Post #1 - Gaby (pg. 1-150)
Superstition determines fate
“Pretty soon a spider went crawling up my shoulder, and I flipped it off and it lit in the candle; and before I could budge it was all shriveled up. I didn't need anybody to tell me that that was an awful bad sign and would fetch me some bad luck, so I was scared (...). I got up and turned around in my tracks three times and crossed my breast every time; and then I tied up a little lock of my hair with a thread to keep witches away. But I hadn't no confidence. You do that when you've lost a horseshoe that you've found, instead of nailing it up over the door, but I hadn't ever heard anybody say it was any way to keep off bad luck when you'd killed a spider.” (Chapter one).
Although Huck makes it clear he is against religion, early on in the narrative Finn divulges his peculiar superstitions. The mention of bad luck early on the novel foreshadows misfortune.
"Jim had a hairball as big as your fist, which had been took out of the fourth stomach of an ox, and he used to do magic with it. He said there was a spirit inside of it that knowed everything. So I went to him that night.” (Chapter four)
The fact that Huck is more comfortable speaking to a superstitious slave, Jim, regarding his issues as opposed to Widow Douglas reveals his uneasiness conventional religion. Most Christians view superstitions in the same negative manner Huck views religious principles.
“Pretty soon a spider went crawling up my shoulder, and I flipped it off and it lit in the candle; and before I could budge it was all shriveled up. I didn't need anybody to tell me that that was an awful bad sign and would fetch me some bad luck, so I was scared (...). I got up and turned around in my tracks three times and crossed my breast every time; and then I tied up a little lock of my hair with a thread to keep witches away. But I hadn't no confidence. You do that when you've lost a horseshoe that you've found, instead of nailing it up over the door, but I hadn't ever heard anybody say it was any way to keep off bad luck when you'd killed a spider.” (Chapter one).
Although Huck makes it clear he is against religion, early on in the narrative Finn divulges his peculiar superstitions. The mention of bad luck early on the novel foreshadows misfortune.
"Jim had a hairball as big as your fist, which had been took out of the fourth stomach of an ox, and he used to do magic with it. He said there was a spirit inside of it that knowed everything. So I went to him that night.” (Chapter four)
The fact that Huck is more comfortable speaking to a superstitious slave, Jim, regarding his issues as opposed to Widow Douglas reveals his uneasiness conventional religion. Most Christians view superstitions in the same negative manner Huck views religious principles.
Smoking is Wicked
“Pretty soon I wanted to smoke, and asked the widow to let me. But she wouldn't. She said it was a mean practice and wasn't clean, and I must try to not do it any more. That is just the way with some people. They get down on a thing when they don't know nothing about it. Here she was a-bothering about Moses, which was no kin to her, and no use to anybody, being gone, you see, yet finding a power of fault with me for doing a thing that had some good in it. And she took snuff, too; of course that was all right, because she done it herself.”
Although smoking is unhealthy, Widow Douglass makes a hypocrite out of herself by claiming smoking is wicked as she does it herself. (Chapter one)
Although smoking is unhealthy, Widow Douglass makes a hypocrite out of herself by claiming smoking is wicked as she does it herself. (Chapter one)
Widespread Racism
“When they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote again…I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?”
Pap exhibits the common attitude Caucasian southerners had during this era despite the fact that blacks had not done anything wicked to deserve this awful reputation.
Well, he [Jim] was right; he was most always right; he had an uncommon level head, for a nigger.
Huck Finn shows the ignorance Americans possessed regarding blacks during this era. As known now, all Africans have the potential to possess the intellectual capacity that any other race is known for having.
“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. I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make him feel that way."
Despite the fact that Huck is a young boy, he already possesses racial prejudice towards African Americans. However, the fact that he is able to apologize to a black man and recognize his own faults reveals he sees past society’s ignorance. Huck has an independent way of thinking, which is very uncommon during this era; he himself notices the intelligence Jim has, which other white men would never acknowledge.
“When they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote again…I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?”
Pap exhibits the common attitude Caucasian southerners had during this era despite the fact that blacks had not done anything wicked to deserve this awful reputation.
Well, he [Jim] was right; he was most always right; he had an uncommon level head, for a nigger.
Huck Finn shows the ignorance Americans possessed regarding blacks during this era. As known now, all Africans have the potential to possess the intellectual capacity that any other race is known for having.
“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. I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make him feel that way."
Despite the fact that Huck is a young boy, he already possesses racial prejudice towards African Americans. However, the fact that he is able to apologize to a black man and recognize his own faults reveals he sees past society’s ignorance. Huck has an independent way of thinking, which is very uncommon during this era; he himself notices the intelligence Jim has, which other white men would never acknowledge.
Blog Post #2 - Laura (pg. 150-200)
Huck describes a drunk white man as someone who “never hurt nobody, drunk nor sober” (158). This claim is evidence that there were different sets of standards for white and black men and demonstrates the idea that society favored whites to black, and behavior which would implicate blacks failed to affect whites. At the circus and in reference to the beautiful, wealthy people Huck sees there he claims, “I never seen anything so lovely” (165). Huck’s life has been lived rather modestly, economically speaking and he recognizes this in his descriptions of the people he admires. Huck’s evidence for this claim is that every man looked “tall and airy and straight” while the women resembled “parasols” (165).
Blog Post #3 - Allison (pg. 200-250)
“I had to skip around a bit, and jump up crack my heels a few times, I couldn’t help it; but about the third crack I noticed a sound that I knowed mighty well -- and held my breath and listened and waited --- and sure enough, when the next flash busted out over the water, here they come!” (228-229)
- Fate comes in all shapes and sizes along with coming at the most unexpected times, for example: a Mayfield student forgot to bring lunch, but turns out that her friend offered her money to buy lunch or when a teenager is having a stressful day due to tons of homework, but her friends surprise her with puppies to cheer her up, etc. The point is, Huck and Jim received ‘fate’ due to a “flash” on the “water” (229). This fate brought Duke and Dauphin on a “boat” (229) to rescue Huck and Jim from a mob of people on the mystery of the cash found in the coffin. In conclusion, the novel assertions demonstrates that fate comes to people who least expect and they have to wait and listen to recieve it. This persuades the audience to be open minded and present so they can receive luck. This also makes the audience believe in destiny when Huck was rescued on a boat. Keep in mind when a bad event or incident happens, hopefully fate will resolve all the problems :))
“I was letting on to give up sin, but away inside of me I was holding on to the biggest one of all..but deep down in me I knowed it was a lie -- and He knowed it...you can’t pray a lie.” (237)
- For teenagers in modern society, they tend to get distracted by the media which make them lose hope and not focus on God. Don’t worry, I’m 10/10 in that situation. Logically speaking people are losing their faith due to distractions and negativity which puts so much weight on their shoulders. But in Huck’s situation he feels that God is punishing him because he is helping a runaway slave, which is the “lie”. Along with that, why should he blame himself if he’s doing Jim a favor? He’s literally helping the guy out on his journey to freedom and that is considered a sin!? But to express his quote on quote lie he asks God for forgiveness and writes to Jim’s slave owner aka Miss Watson and writes her a letter to make him feel “good” and “washed clean” (238) from his sin, then he “tears the letter” (239) and throws those thoughts away to forgive himself. By doing this it persuades the audience, lol us, to accept the decisions and sins cause God will always come back to forgive. It also convinces the audience that the lie/being around Jim is not bad! Props to Huck!
Blog Post #4 - Bethany (pg. 250-300)
- Claim: As Huck’s father, Pap, is an alcoholic, Huck has to act like an adult and take care of himself, and his father. Huck is tired of his life with Pap, for good reason, and gives him the initial idea of faking his death, and running away.
- Evidence: “While I was cooking supper the old man took a swig or two and got sort of warmed up, and went to ripping again.”
- Claim: Though Huck has run away and was unhappy living with the widow, he still looks to her for approval, and wants to prove to her that he is civil.
- “I wish the widow knowed about it. I judged she would be so proud of me for helping”
- Claim: Lying is alright to do, and is civil, but only when it helps others, especially friends. This also shows the growth of Huck, as he sees Jim as a friend, and not as a black man.
- Evidence: “...tie Jim’s hand and foot with a rope… show this handful and say we captured him...”
Blog Post #5 - Christine (pg. 300-350)
“‘Why, dog my cats, they must a ben a house-full o’ niggers in there every night for four weeks, to a done all that work, Sister Phelps. Look at that shirt - every last inch of it kivered over with secret African writ’n done with blood!’”
- Huck goes back home with Aunt Sally and finds the place filled with farmers and their wives talking about the strange contents of Jim’s shed and the hole, which was all conducted by no other than Tom Sawyer. Almost immediately, one woman claims some other slaves helped this “runaway slave” make his escape. Soon it is said that is not that case; other slaves did not pull off a ploy to escape, it was all thanks to Tom for making a scene, typical. Pinning situations on a minority is obviously stereotyping and pointing figures, which is quite ridiculous for grown adults to be childish about another's race, gender, and social class.
In blog post #1, I loved your "themes" because they very spot on and give a great overview about what the book is all about. I especially loved, "Superstition determines fate." Most chapters show how prominent superstition was during the time period; it is ridiculous to read that killing a spider is bad luck. Today, we definitely would all be doomed. Superstition ruled their daily lives.This is just one big example of the universal ignorance of the people at the time. Huck Finn, being so young, (like Gaby said) already has such a strong, demeaning prejudice towards African Americans. These 3 claims give some of the most dominant themes of the novel.
ReplyDeleteI agree Kelly. When you said that ,"Superstition ruled their daily lives", it reminded me of the Puritans. Though it was a different time, superstition and beliefs like predestination ruled the way the Puritans lived their lives. Huck had his own superstitions regarding Jim because of everything his father had implanted into his mind, yet those superstitions were overridden by friendship.
DeleteIn post #1, the "Smoking is Wicked" theme is really interesting. I interpreted it differently: where you take a very literal approach in stating because Huck smokes and the widow rejects smoking, smoking is therefore equal. This idea, while logical to an extent, fails to take into account the perspective from which the book is narrated -- Huck's -- and the perspective from which the book was written -- Twain's. In Huck's smoking Twain isn't saying the habit is wicked. Rather, he's connecting Huck to his peers in the 19th century South, exemplifying the extent of Huck's lack of faith and demonstrating his distaste in living a life the widow -- and society -- would look upon as honorable.The widow doesn't reject smoking itself; she rejects what it represents. The life she wants Huck to have does not include his exploits with Tom -- or his father. Smoking is a remnant of his sinful past, and she fears, his sinful future as well. Smoking isn't inherently wicked, but sin is, and in the widow's mind they become the same, similar in their ties to Huck's salvation.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting analysis, Laura. It is fascinating to see the symbolism that lies within the book and the characters personalities, in this case, the significance of smoking. Similar to the widow's view on smoking, in the sense that it is not the act of smoking itself but what it represents, is the study of linguistics and the opposition today and throughout history over "black language". Laura, you press the same argument as James Baldwin: people do not oppose black language because of perhaps, its informal or what can be seen as "inappropriate" slang, but the experiences that are represented by the choice of words. Similar to black language, it is clear that in the novel smoking represents sin, causing any smoker to be viewed as incoherently evil.
DeleteYour hypothesis is evocative not only of black language in society, but of black culture and its appropriation. The same fashion critics, stylists, celebrities, and even average people, who mock or criticize traditionally black hairstyles, music and clothing, often praise the same when worn or produced by white people, which demonstrates an inherent distaste not in black culture, but in black people, indicative of widespread racial bias.
DeleteI completely agree with your points on black language being both a language and a culture, Laura. This reminds me of the article we had to read for class, "If Black Language If Isn't A Language..." by James Baldwin. Both writings explain a vast and beautiful culture that goes past that of Americas.
DeleteTo post #5 - It is so interesting how to white investigators of the shed assumed it was black people that helped Jim escape. It never occurred to any of the inspectors that a white man could have helped Jim, much less two kids such as Tom and Huck
ReplyDeleteI know, Gaby! Thinking that white people could support African Americans is a foreign thought in this time. It is funny that through the years, there have been phases of the American culture that have criticized certain groups. Obviously, at this time, it was African Americans; they were completely targeted and discriminated by Americans. During the 80s, it was the homosexual/AIDS epidemic that caused more opinions than requested. It is interesting to analyze the tendencies of the American culture and how there is always some group of people who are targeted for being different.
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ReplyDeleteI felt a very strong connection with the second quotes, in specifically the,"you cannot pray a lie," ending. Huck can not be forced to believe in a religion he feels nothing for, even if he is forced to practice it. Often as a teenager, students begin to form their own opinions and ideas, but have to submit to their parents, who sometimes have differing ideas.