So What?

Blog Post #1 - Laura (pg. 1-150)

Huck’s outlook on life is reflected in the ideology that being good is useless unless the doer has something to gain. This is demonstrated in his disbelief in heaven and hell and how often he lies to get what he wants, showing a considerable disregard for doing what is “right.” Huck asks “What’s the use you learning to do right, when it's troublesome to do right and ain’t no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?” (122). Huck’s way of thinking is relevant because it is the same concept which leads to disunity and lack of solidarity shown in white Americans who refuse to stand together in support of other communities in movements such as Black Lives Matter. Huck also states that “You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable, on a raft” (131). Throughout Huckleberry Finn Huck demonstrates his discomfort with civilized living, such as his dislike of religion and school and that he feels most comfortable, most at home, away from people, in nature, or on the raft. This ideology is reflected throughout history in the inequity between the educated and uneducated such as in the French Revolution, which is evidence for the conflicts which can arise from the very socioeconomic differences Huck represents.

Blog Post #2 - Allison (pg. 150-200)

“Your newspapers call you a brave people so much that you think you are braver than any other people--whereas you’re just as brave, and no braver.” (163)

• Would a person want to be considered brave? I sure would take that compliment; being recognized as ‘brave’ shows that you can handle any challenge, endure danger and pain without pulling a sweat! In Huck Finn, the characters in the novel definitely demonstrate strong levels of bravery by getting out of their comfort zone. They put in the energy to go on an adventure, meet unexpected people, keep breaking laws, making stops, getting separated and rediscovering each other aka Jim and Huck. The point is, people need to be brave so one can take on difficult and unexpected tasks. That’s the excitement and adrenaline one needs to live out life!  If that does not show bravery, what the huck is the evidence?

“Why a man’s safe in the hands of ten thousand of your kind--as long as it’s day-time and you’re not behind him.” (163)

• People are most comfortable when they are surrounded with people who have common interests, personality, or basically people in the same friend group as them. In my situation I feel the same, I can be myself when I’m surrounded by people I can rely on and really appreciate my presence...as long as I don’t get on their bad side. For Huck Finn, the main character surrounds himself with people who are like him, they want adventure, their independent, liars and long for danger. The people he generally hangs around him like the sisters and the duke, etc are mischievous and not so trustworthy.  But, when he gets on their bad side, aka are “behind him” conflict will take place. Characters and feelings will get hurt and wedges will be driven between other people. Summing it all up, the moral of the story is to be surrounded by trustworthy people and to not get into trouble with them or else…

Blog Post #3 - Kelly (pg. 200-250)
In these chapters, Twain greatly develops Huck’s character as he begins to mature and act on his conscience for the first time. The first major time Huck shows his growth is when the king and the duke scam the Wilks family saying that they are the “brothers” of the deceased Peter Wilks, order to inherit what he left behind for them. Huck says, “it was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race” (181). This shows that despite all through wrongdoings that Huck has done, there is still an opportunity to grow up and develop into a moral and conscious person. Afterall, who would want to be judged forever for something that they did so far in the past? Mark Twain used Huck’s character as a tool to bring to the surface the problem of morality in the world during the 1800s; although this novel was written during a time of slavery where the United States was universally immoral, Twain’s unsaid argument - humans are inherently immoral - is just as applicable today.

Blog Post #4 - Gaby (pg. 250-300)
Many experts have predicted that by the end of the twenty-first century, individuals of the Caucasian race will become a minority in America. However, the United States of America is a vast “melting pot” that has not fully thawed due to the racial discrimination that still prevails. Mark Twain teaches his audience that in a country full of diversity and opportunity, citizens must treat all races equally. The pigmentation or appearance of an individual will never accurately define the attributes and characteristics of a person. As opposed to focusing on all the cultural and external differences between different ethnicities, individuals of different races should seek to find common ground regarding their personal values and likings. By forming an opinion regarding an individual based off they way he or she acts rather than judging them for their external features, issues such as human trafficking would be diminished immensely. Since whites will eventually be minorities anyways,  everybody needs to learn how to embrace one another already! After all, the vast majority of citizens in the United States once had ancestors that migrated to America in search for a better life. Would you like it if your foreign, beloved great grandmother was mocked for her unusual appearance and thick accent?

Blog Post #5 - Allison (pg. 300-350)

“It ‘uz planned beautiful, en it ‘uz done beautiful; en dey ain’t nobody kin git up a plan dat’s mo’ mixed-up en splendid den what dat one wuz.” (305)

• Although plans may not turn out the way it was planned, it works out in the end. So how can the audience find the beauty and perfection in Huck Finn? Well, in Jim’s perspective he thought he plan worked out just fine; even though he was captured, ran off with a white teen, lost Huck and was eventually rescued, and Tom was shot. Jim is telling us that we need to see the beauty in any successes no matter if there were bumps on the way to get there. Through this plan Jim and Huck enjoyed spending time together and the adventure. But through the conclusion of the plan, Jim had become a free man and Huck settled with Aunt Sally. Although unexpected events may occur, it does not have the overall effect of the plan and the goal.

“He ain’t no bad nigger, gentlemen; that’s what I think about  him.” (317)

• For some teenagers, they judge others by the outside and think of them negatively, but don’t realize that they are good  people once you get to know them. In Huck Finn, people are definitely judged by appearance due to the environment and era the characters grow up in. But, once Huck and Jim go on their adventure and gradually get to know one another, Huck realizes that Jim is not a bad person. He shows his loyalty and kindness when they run from armed farmers and sacrifices his freedom to find a doctor for Tom when he gets shot in the leg. By putting the needs and lives before his own, shows the kindness and loyalty he has to his friends. Instead of running further, Jim made the executive decision to save his friend which resulted in him being captured and eventually getting set free. This tells the audience to never judge a book by its cover and to put the needs of others first.