Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Huck's mentality (Ch. 31)
In the beginning of chapter 31, Huck "loaded up with joy, and sung out: 'Set her loose, Jim; we're all right now!' but there warn't no answer" (88). Oh no! After realizing that Jim was caught as a runaway nigger, Huck was disappointed after making the long journey. Huck said that Jim will be made a slave again "for forty dirty dollars," realizing that Jim's life is worth more than money's value (contrasting how slaves were viewed as money not men). However, Huck's self reflection reminds him of Sunday school, which would've taught him that his acts, such as helping a nigger, resulted in everlasting fire! Mrs. Watson would've been very disappointed, right? Huck thought so. As a result, Huck turned to prayer (which we haven't seen him do?). After admitting his "sins," Huck claimed that he felt good-- he believed that he saved himself from being lost and going to hell! Should he feel good? Was this the right thing? In the past, Huck implied that hell sounded more fun than Heaven. Whenever he thought about turning Jim in, he realized that Jim was a good man with a good purpose. After all, Jim didn't mean any harm; Jim and Huck were bestfriends who enjoyed talking, singing, and laughing all night long. Since Huck doesn't decide to send Mrs. Watson a letter about Jim, is he doing the wrong thing? Do you guys think Huck will find Jim?
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I do think Huck will find Jim again because I think that at this point in the novel, Huck has realized what a great guy Jim is and now has developed friendship with him. I feel like they have sort of an "unsaid" alliance to each other and they both silently agree that they are on the journey together. You can see this when Jim waits for Huck while he is staying with the Shepherdsons because he could have left if he really wanted to.
ReplyDeleteKelly - I'm glad you brought this up because I thought Ch. 31 was so great and meant a lot to Huck's changing character. I think Twain definitely draws some parallels here, as "the good" of Southern society (returning slaves to their masters) would now be looked upon as evil, and vice versa. This shows how confused and lost this society is, and gives reason to why Huck eventually decides not to follow it anymore (loved the part where he rips up the note). Therefore, I believe Huck definitely does a good thing by becoming "evil" in the eyes of Southern society, and I agree with Madeline that Huck has to find Jim, as it seems they have to be together because they make each other better.
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