Preview

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2192 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
#1 -Huck has a grim attitude towards Widow Douglas and her sister, Miss Watson.
Huck has a grim attitude toward people he disagrees with or doesn't get along with. Huck tends to alienate himself from those people. He doesn't let it bother him. Unlike most people Huck doesn't try to make his point. When Huck has a certain outlook on things he keep his view. He will not change it for anyone. For instance in Chapter Three when Miss Watson tells Huck that if he prayed he would get everything he wished for. “Huck just shook his head yes and walked away telling Tom that it doesn't work because he has tried it before with fishing line and fishing hooks.” This tells us that Huck is an independent person who doesn't need to rely on other people.
#5 - How is Jim betrayed? How does Huck react? What does this show about his character? How has he changed his mind about Jim at this point?
Jim is very much like a father to Huck. He looks out for Huck and he is respected and looked upon by Huck. This is also more significant because Huckleberry Finn never had a father and he never really had a role model. Jim serves this purpose perfectly. Throughout all of his adventures Jim shows compassion as his most prominent trait. He makes the reader aware of his many superstitions and Jim exhibits gullibility in the sense that he Jim always assumes the other characters in the book will not take advantage of him. One incident proving that Jim acts naive occurs halfway through the novel, when the Duke first comes into the scene “By right I am a duke! Jim’s eyes bugged out when he heard that...” In the novel, Huck Finn, one can legitimately prove that compassion, superstitious and gullibility illustrate Jim’s character perfectly. To begin with, among the many characteristics of Jim, his compassionate nature shows throughout the book. When Huck and Jim come across the floating boathouse, Jim finds a dead man inside. He advises Huck not to look as he says, “It’s a

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Huck and Jim

    • 771 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Huck views Jim as property and an ignorant slave that is below him. I believe that Huck thinks like this not because he is evil but because of the society that surrounds him. The society that surrounds Huck devalues the humanity of slaves. The view that slaves were property to be owned and couldn't think for themselves greatly influences Huck by him looking down on Jim. Furthermore, Huck decides he will just be punished and “go to hell” for helping Jim escape because he values his friendship more than doing what society believes is the right thing to do. So, Huck not only agrees to help Jim get to Cairo, but he also arranges to help Jim escape after the Duke and the King turn Jim in for the monetary reward. Huck’s actions show that he has risen up against society in order to save the friendship with Jim. Huck wants Jim to be able to go back and get his family and he realizes Jim is similar to “white people” because he has feelings and cares about others.…

    • 771 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Huckleberry Finn

    • 1439 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Society establishes their own rules of morality, but would they be accepted in these days? Mark Twain once wrote that Huckleberry Finn is a boy of “sound heart and deformed conscience”. Twain is saying that Huck is a good person, but his society has twisted him so that his conscience gives him bad advice. In the novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck is a young boy torn between what society expects of him and what his heart tells him is right. The overall influence that has deformed Huck's conscience is society and its values. His conscience is focused on what he feels is worthy of his loyalty and attention and instead follows his own moral code. Huck is constantly faced with decisions to make and it is when faced with these decisions that he explores his conscience in order to figure out how to do what is right. The societal, moral codes, and social norms that Huck finds himself in directly influences his conscience.…

    • 1439 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    One of the greatest moments in the book, personally, was when Huck and Jim were together on Jackson’s island, taking turns, keeping lookout. Jim is depicted as a great friend and caring person for the first time when Huck says, “I went to sleep, and Jim didn't call me when it was my turn. He often done that” (23.30).This part in the book really resonated with me and showed me how kind of a person Jim was. Another instance where Jim proves to be a great friend is when he says,"Pooty soon I'll be a-shout'n' for joy, en I'll say, it's all on accounts o' Huck; I's a free man, en I couldn't ever ben free ef it hadn' ben for Huck; Huck done it. Jim won't ever forgit you, Huck; you's de bes' fren' Jim's ever had; en you's de ONLY fren' ole Jim's got now." (16.14) Jim recognizes the great relationship he has with Huck and again, Jim shows his great character and how he is a good friend.…

    • 319 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Jim is the main secondary character in the story, eventually becoming Huck’s best friend. As an African American, Jim adds an otherwise lacking perspective to the story and serves a purpose in furthering Huck’s experiences with racism and oppression. He also functions as a progresser to Huck’s internal conflict. Jim can be argued to be one of the good role models for Huck in the novel, increasing his significance. Adjectives that describe Jim are: Loyal, compassionate, honest, intelligent.…

    • 78 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Plot: The story is all about a young boy named Huck, and a slave named Jim. Huck had faked his death and left town and then met the runaway slave,Jim.The two of them travel on a raft up the Mississippi river and meet and have to overcome many obstacles which bring them closer together as they both learn lessons all the way through to the end.…

    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Finally, Taylor feels, “As unchristian as it may seem to willingly go to hell, Huck’s resolve to be damned before betraying Jim reveals the depth of Huck’s Christlike love for his friend…despite his youthful flaws, Huck learns to love others more than himself.”…

    • 1158 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Huckleberry Finn

    • 400 Words
    • 1 Page

    being executed since he had no family members who could be executed if Huck gave away any…

    • 400 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Huckleberry Finn

    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Is it fair to deprive children of enlightenment and knowledge simply because you are afraid of what they might see? Most schools across the country have banned the book “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain because of this very reason. Our slave filled past may be a sensitive subject, but taking away Twain’s book will not hide it forever. His book does not hold back when describing the culture of the time, so he uses words that may seem offensive now. If schools teach this book it will educate students and give them a chance to form their own opinions. This classic American novel should be encouraged by schools to be taught in classrooms, even with the risk of offense.…

    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a timeless American classic which set the tone for all other American literature to follow. The story opens up a window into the life of the American People before the Civil War. The lessons that this book presents can give the reader a deeper understanding of what existence was like along the Mississippi River over two hundred years ago. This is a novel which is full of thrilling adventure; personally, I enjoy adventure, which is the reason why I chose this book. Throughout the story there is constant exciting activity, there simply is never a dull moment in this book. Friendship, honesty, deceitfulness, and racism are all main issues all through this book. The characters face problems with ethics and morals along with the stereotypes of their society. The complex connections between race, culture, politics, and morality are made vivid in this story.…

    • 2416 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn touches upon controversial racial issues that many people believe are not appropriate for young children. Understanding the novel’s satirical aspects requires a certain amount of intellectual maturity. Students below this level of aptitude may misconstrue the novel’s vulgar comments as racist, rather than an ironic portrayal of slavery. Some people feel that the elementary and secondary school students that read the book will only recognize the prominent issues of the novel and will overlook Mark Twain’s depiction that slavery is morally wrong. It is a fallacy that junior high students would be blind to Twain’s underlying references. The renowned literary work should be used as a way to educate students about the cruelty that occurred in our nation’s past. Confronting these deep racial issues could enlighten students and ease existing race relations. Huckleberry Finn should be read in schools prior to high school to familiarize students with important social issues.…

    • 2486 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Have you ever heard of the great Mark Twain? Many people have and recognize his novels by name; especially his most famous book called Huckleberry Finn. The great thing about Huck is that it was meant to be a simple book, but ended up deemed a classic. The reason for this is that it contains many great american themes and motifs. Many American novels, books and movies also contain these themes and motifs, making it very easy to compare Huckleberry Finn to Pleasantville. Although very different "stories", in comparison Huck and Pleasantville have the same motifs. Both the movie and the book have the motifs of going west, rebel vs. the establishment and Jim Crow/Shaman. This essay will compare these common American motifs. The "go west" motif is about the characters running away or escaping from where they previously were (this doesn't necessarily have to include a trip west). In Huck Finn the river is the tool used to help Huck and Jim escape from their life. The river helps to take Huck and Jim away from civilization and reunite them with nature. The river also helps to free them from "slavery", Huck being a "slave" to the Widow Douglas and Jim actually being Miss Watson's slave. In Pleasantville a life in colour is how the townspeople are allowed to "go west". When they are in black and white they have the perfect life, meaning that nothing can ever go wrong, therefore they can never learn from their mistakes. When David introduces the thought of thinking for themselves to the teenagers of Pleasantville they begin to notice that there are other places in the world, this begins to change things from black and white to colour. Both stories contain the motif of going west. Another motif in these two works is the Rebel vs. the Establishment motif. In Huck the rebel would be Huck and one of the establishments would be the "civilized" people in the book. Huck refuses to believe that people can be so shallow and religious, and also believes that this comes from being…

    • 661 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is said to be one of the most important pieces of American Literature. It is the story of the adventures of an adolescent boy, but more deeply a story that addressed many problems of America during the time. One such example is the theme of companionship. Twain uses the theme to express not only the benefits of companionship, but the out right need for it. William Bridges says that Huck will always be a loaner in society because it would allow them to instill values and demand that he meets cultural needs. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in an excellent account of the need for companionship, especially the male-bonding relationship.…

    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    To begin with, among the many characteristics of Jim, his compassionate nature shows throughout the book. When Huck and Jim come across the floating boathouse, Jim finds a dead man inside. He advises Huck not to look as he says, “It’s a dead man... dead two er three days... come in Huck, but doan’ look at his face.” At the end of the book the reader finds out that the dead man turns out as Huck’s father. Further on down the river, Huck and Jim engage in a deep conversation. Jim speaks of the family he feels he has left behind. Jim tries hard to save up all his money in hopes of buying back his wife and children when he becomes a free man. He expresses that he feels terrible for leaving behind his family and misses them very much. As a result, Huck feels responsible and guilty for ruining Jim’s freedom. Huck decides that he wants to reveal the truth, that Jim really isn’t a free man. His conscience tells him not to and instead he finds himself helping Jim rather than giving him up. Jim feels so thankful to Huck when he says ". . .it’s all on account of Huck, I’s a free man, ... you’s the best friend Jim’s ever had...” Even further along, Huck becomes separated from Jim and living at the Grangerford’s. Huck doesn’t know if he’ll ever see Jim again. He also doesn’t…

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Huck's loyalty to Jim, although perhaps out of reciprocity, is demonstrated best through Huck's decision to withhold Jim's location from the Widow Douglas and his efforts to free Jim from the Phelps family. Huck's ability to…

    • 880 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The most interesting question asked in our discussion to me, is: Why does Huck play tricks on Jim? Doesn’t he think it will affect their relationship? I find this question very interesting as it gives us an entry into Huck’s mind and his thoughts on Jim. At the same time he is dependent on Jim: “Well, I warn't long making him understand I warn't dead. I was ever so glad to see Jim. I warn't lonesome now. I told him I warn't afraid of HIM telling the people where I was. I talked along, but he only set there and looked at me; never said nothing.” (100), but on the other he is driving him away by playing these tricks, despite knowing the effect it will have on Jim.…

    • 1505 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays