The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Gender Analysis
July 25, 2013
American Literature II
The Interpretation of Gender in Late 19th Century American Literature
In the late 19th Century, America experienced it’s most "gilded era," so to speak, in non-traditional women's literature encompassing new inquiries into of gender freedom and equality. A common element of several of the works from this time period focused on themes of the Cult of True Womanhood and non-traditional parent-child relationships. The stories also make light of some gruesome social inequalities apparent in this era, or at least bring the double standards to the surface. Two of the best examples of this are Mark Twain’s, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Charlotte Gilman’s, The Yellow Wallpaper. We get differing …show more content…
He addressed his wife as if he was speaking with a very young, ignorant daughter. This is most evident when Gilman writes, “Then he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose,” (Gilman, 794). She even begins to fit into the childish role, as you can see when she says, “I cry at nothing, and cry most of the time.” (Gilman, 796). John’s actions were a consequence to her distressed mental state, but still struck a particular interest in her condition. In this situation the parent-child dynamic is not geared towards a real family, but to the wife, and very demeaning in his approach. She is left nearly no freedoms to recuperate from her condition, which was likely due to post-partum depression as we know it …show more content…
(Twain, 131). His biological father eventually took Huck in, it was a bad situation for him, but was still happier than his time with the Widow Douglas. When Huck finally decides to run away, he meets Jim who is a much better role model, despite being from a different ethnicity at the height of racial discrimination. Jim genuinely cares for Huck, and you can see this most clearly when Jim doesn’t let Huck see his father on the boat, and refuses to tell him who it was. Jim tells Huck, “It’s a dead man. Yes, indeed; naked, too. He’s ben shot in de back. I reck’n he’s ben two er three days. Come in, Huck, but doan’ look at his face –it’s too gashly.” (Twain, 161). Huckleberry also cares for Jim, as you can see when he resolves to buy Jim’s freedom. This seems to be a caring relationship that both Jim and Huck wanted, and it was infinitely better than Huck’s real father situation and the expectant Widow
American Literature II
The Interpretation of Gender in Late 19th Century American Literature
In the late 19th Century, America experienced it’s most "gilded era," so to speak, in non-traditional women's literature encompassing new inquiries into of gender freedom and equality. A common element of several of the works from this time period focused on themes of the Cult of True Womanhood and non-traditional parent-child relationships. The stories also make light of some gruesome social inequalities apparent in this era, or at least bring the double standards to the surface. Two of the best examples of this are Mark Twain’s, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Charlotte Gilman’s, The Yellow Wallpaper. We get differing …show more content…
He addressed his wife as if he was speaking with a very young, ignorant daughter. This is most evident when Gilman writes, “Then he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose,” (Gilman, 794). She even begins to fit into the childish role, as you can see when she says, “I cry at nothing, and cry most of the time.” (Gilman, 796). John’s actions were a consequence to her distressed mental state, but still struck a particular interest in her condition. In this situation the parent-child dynamic is not geared towards a real family, but to the wife, and very demeaning in his approach. She is left nearly no freedoms to recuperate from her condition, which was likely due to post-partum depression as we know it …show more content…
(Twain, 131). His biological father eventually took Huck in, it was a bad situation for him, but was still happier than his time with the Widow Douglas. When Huck finally decides to run away, he meets Jim who is a much better role model, despite being from a different ethnicity at the height of racial discrimination. Jim genuinely cares for Huck, and you can see this most clearly when Jim doesn’t let Huck see his father on the boat, and refuses to tell him who it was. Jim tells Huck, “It’s a dead man. Yes, indeed; naked, too. He’s ben shot in de back. I reck’n he’s ben two er three days. Come in, Huck, but doan’ look at his face –it’s too gashly.” (Twain, 161). Huckleberry also cares for Jim, as you can see when he resolves to buy Jim’s freedom. This seems to be a caring relationship that both Jim and Huck wanted, and it was infinitely better than Huck’s real father situation and the expectant Widow