Part A: In chapters 1-13, what evidence exists that shows the way certain characters show misconceptions or use stereotypes against others (i.e. the government, African Americans, the rich vs. the poor, the educated vs. the uneducated?)
Part B: Do these stereotypes warrant the objections to reading this novel?
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Part A:
A perfect example of a stereotypical setting would be how Jim is considered very supersticious. Jim supposedly believes in witchcraft and magical hairballs. He believes Tom's ghost and figure was due to some kind of force. Not all slaves during this era of time were supersticious. Many slaves were devout Christians. They believed heavily in the Lord and prayed to Him for His aid on their situations of slavery.
Part B:
Depending on the opinion of some if anything should cause this book to be banned, then the stereotype issue is up to the reader. Personally, I believe the book should not be objected to for any reason. This specific stereotype of religion should not be a major issue onthe idea of objecting this book. This seems to be only a minor issue, nothing to be necessarily concerned about.
Part A:
A misconception that can be made about a character is Huck Finn's feelings. Huck appears to be a rough and tumble, nature loving, typical trouble making young lad. He seems to be rather rough on the edges and insensitive. But as Mark Twain's novel progresses, and more is revealed about Huck's personality, the reader can see that there is more to him then meets the eye. For instance, when Huck is still with the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson, he realized that he shouldn't say whatever might pop into his mind while he was learning about the bible. Rather, he should hold his tounge and not try to upset the Widow. Another example includes when Huck decided not to turn Jim in. Although it's obvious that part of the reason for this is that Huck didn't want to be discovered himself, this act also showed that Huck has a conscience and did not feel that it would be just to betray Jim in such a way.
Part B:
The particular misconceptions that I addressed do not warrent any objections to reading the novel. A reader that would object to the hidden feelings of a boy would surely be a misled individual. While they may try to say that the language that Huck uses is inappropriate at times, that does not effect the points that I have made. Therefore, there is no reason for said stereotype to warrant any objections to the novel.
In response to Vicki's post on February 27, 2011 at 9:02 AM...
I agree with the idea that Huck is pronounced to be a lower-class person with no values or morals, but he actually has developed into a well-rounded and spirited individual. Huck has been taught etiquette and proper behavior, while at the same time having his history and past of being a ruffian and independent. On the objection matter, this type of misconception develops the book. The reader is to be under the impression that Huck is no cherub, but realize that he is developing into a better human being throughout the book. So in agreement, there is no reason to reject this book on this matter.
Part A:
This book is full of misconceptions/stereotypes! The most obvious seem to be directed toward African-Americans. At least in the beginning of the book, Huck and most of the other white characters view African-Americans as unintelligent, superstitious, child-like and submissive beings. I also noticed that Pap sees the government as being a corrupt institution that is only interested in taking peoples' property and money. He ultimately blames the government for all of his problems. A more subtle stereotype that I noticed was the role of women in society. All of the women in the novel so far have been gentle, obedient, and helpless characters. The ones who are married are completely dependent on their husbands.
Part B:
I definitely don't think that these stereotypes warrant the objections to reading this novel. Just because certain stereotypes exist in the novel does not mean that Twain is endorsing or perpetuating them. By putting these stereotypes on paper, Twain is able to show the reader how silly they really are. Especially in the case of Jim, who throughout the novel challenges these stereotypes. Also, the stereotypes give us a unique historical insight into the viewpoints of many people during the Civil War/Reconstruction era.
Part A:
I think that the biggest stereotype that I saw would be directed at African-Americans. Many of the people in the book look down upon blacks. Obviously this took place during slavery in America, but still to me it is the biggest effect. African-Americans were seen as uneducated and superstitious people. And really the only reason Jim was so superstitious was due to the fact that he was not educated because he was not given the opportunity while being enslaved. Not all slaves were this way and Twain definitely portrayed them all as uneducated superstitious individuals when they were actually educated by going to church.
Part B:
For the stereotypes I listed above I definitely do not believe that any person could object to reading this book. Being superstitious is not a bad thing and being uneducated was just a fact for African-Americans at that time. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are just a way to show and express ideas that some people had during that time.
In response to Sophie...
I had not noticed your idea of how women have been portrayed. After thinking about it I absolutely agree with you on the idea of women being obedient. They really have not showed up as much as men except for Miss Watson who is definitely portrayed as an extremely obedient and gentle character. I think this connects directly to Republican Motherhood that we have learned about in history. Women were just really only part of keeping the home running, raising the children and educating them. I think that explains the stereotype that you expressed in your response.
Part A:
I feel that the strongest stereotype/misconception in the book was that of African Americans and the uneducated. Jim was obviously both, since he was a slave. Huck Finn and the white people saw many things in Jim that were stereotypical beliefs of African Americans. One of the first things mentioned about Jim was his crazy superstitious beliefs. This continues throughout the book with things such as the hairball, bad luck of the rattlesnake skin, and the unluckiness of looking at the moon over your left shoulder. Huck thought that Jim was a very gullible person, and would often try to play jokes on him. Though unlike the other whites, Huck would feel bad for Jim and his lack of understanding. Huck would try to explain things to him, but would eventually have to give up when Jim just couldn't get it. Overall, this portrayal of stupidity is a stereotype for African Americans and the uneducated. Another example is the "poor" versus the "rich", specifically Pap, who is portrayed as a drunken low-life that abandoned his son and doesn't go to church. The "rich" people, let's take Miss. Watson for example, are very religious and have the proper etiquette that the poor people lack. These rich people are not drunks that cause mischief. This stereotype of "rich" and "poor" was probably true in some cases, but there were also plenty of religious poor people who had good hearts and worked hard to try to support their families.
Part B:
No I do not believe these stereotypes are good reasons to not read this novel, but rather a GOOD reason to. Reading about these stereotypes that were completely the reality of the time period opens ones eyes to the unfairness of it. Reading this novel may change how we view others, and remind us not to judge someone (or something) before they actually know them. We now know that these stereotypes certainly didn't hold true to everybody, so reading this book may be a good dose of the reality of stereotypes, and will make us want to stop them. When reading Huck Finn, this isn't the first thing someone is going to think about. They may not even think about it at all, but it's worth a try. There are only realistic situations in the book, nothing that should be forbidden to read, considering those stereotypes were a true part of history.
Part A:
In the first thirteen chapters of Huck Finn there was a few misconceptions I picked up on as I was reading. The first one was the belief that all African Americans are not smart. This is shown through some of Jim’s actions and at some points how Huck treats Jim throughout the story. At the time this book was published African Americans were not offered to get an education instead they were put to work as slaves therefore getting the stereotype of being stupid. This is shown through Jim’s strict association with superstitions and witch-craft. Stereotyping that he did not know anything about religion and all slaves believed in non-religious ideas.
Part B:
In my own personal opinion none of these stereotypes and misconceptions warrant a valid reason to not read this novel. The way they are used and put in to this story have important historical value. How the character Jim is described through out the story is Mark Twain’s own personal opinion of how he viewed African Americans during the time period he was alive. Having this view of African American’s can be compared with how African American’s are viewed now in our society. For example a African American when Mark Twain was alive was viewed as a dumb slave and now there is one leading our nation. Reading this novel should be a great historical comparison of our maturing nation and should for no reason warrant any objections to reading this novel.
Part A:
Although this book is packed with stereotypes from cover to cover, the most obvious in my eyes is that towards African Americans. Throughout the story, Twain gives the impression that African Americans are inferior to white characters. Especially on an intelligence level. The thing that really brought this stereotype to my attention is the dialogue involving Jim throughout the entire story. The amount of slang and spelling errors in absolutely EVERYTHING that Jim says really speaks to the point that Twain is trying to make. Jim’s beliefs in witchcraft also add to the misconception that African Americans are not at the same intellectual level as Caucasians.
Part B:
In my opinion, these stereotypes do NOT warrant the objectives to reading this novel. I don’t think that a little superstition is enough to keep people away from this classic novel. But this is only my viewpoint, whereas other people may be insulted by the many misconceptions put into this book. Although I believe that most, if not all of the stereotypes have some truth to them, for example, in this time period blacks did not have the same opportunities to become educated as Caucasians did. But at the same time, I’m sure that there are some people who find these stereotypes offensive.
In response to Jacob L...
Jake, like how you talked about the "No slaves are Christians" superstition. I completely agree with you. The religion stereotype was very strong in this story and I'm glad to see that you pointed it out. However, I don't believe that under any circumstances this book should be banned because of the religion stereotype. Well written Jake.
Part A:
One character who shows an obscene amount of stereotypes is Huck Finns father, Pap. After a night of indulging in one too many drinks, Pap goes on a rant about all of his problems. In this drunken tirade he makes clear that he believes the government to be the source of all his problems. Pap regards the government as a vile and swindling institution whose sole purpose is to infringe upon peoples rights and put them under duress. They achieve this by "taking his son away" and "keeping him off of his own property". Even after making these ridiculous statements, Pap goes one step further and blasts the government for giving blacks the right to vote. He regards a Northern black man visiting the town as a "prowling, thieving, infernal, white-shirted free nigger". This is perhaps the most ignorant and insulting stereotype towards African Americans I've heard.
Part B:
Although these stereotypes and misconceptions made by Pap are risqué, it does not warrant the objections against reading this novel. Pap's statements ARE provocative and ill-conceived, but that does not change the fact that he has the fundamental right to say them. Protesting against things our government does is still allowed in todays society, and should not be a legitimate reason to taboo a book. In addition to that, all of the things characters say accurately represent what many felt during the time period in which this story was to take place. Because of this, it actually strengthens the reasoning behind keeping this book unaltered. It provides us with invaluable discussion topics.
PART A.
The great contrast between African American and White characters so far in the novel has helped exemplify misconceptions/stereotypes. Jim’s individual persona is a strong example, for he has a great deal of confidence in witchcraft/superstition. Such beliefs are non-apparent (for the most part) amongst of white characters in the novel. The role of the government in the novel also follows a stereotype. According to Pap, the government is nothing more than a dishonorable system that steals from its people. Pap’s character helps portray this stereotype, for he never takes initiative to fix his own problems in life, and instead holds the government accountable. Pap’s character also helps exemplify a stereotype, which would be held by the poor, regarding the rich. This is apparent when he chastises his own son for having commenced a sort of formal education. Automatically, Pap viewed a system that was run by the rich (hence contrasting his own life) would be a terrible, useless idea. In reality, Huck probably would have benefitted greatly by continuing his studies. However, Pap’s stereotype prevented any sort of positive progression regarding the matter.
PART B.
I think objections to reading this novel should not be warranted due to these stereotypes. Firstly, the text is merely fictional. Whether or not it portrays certain actualities from the time period in which it was written should not stir up emotions to the point of refusing to read the novel. Readers should be able to recognize that Mark Twain’s goal of creating this novel was not to personally offend/harm any sort of individual through his work. And besides, even if he DID have this imaginary goal in mind, the book was written over a hundred years ago! Why should someone take offense to something that was done so long ago, especially when it was done without the direct intent of harming the individual reading the book now? Essentially, I feel that it comes down to a level of maturity. If people can’t relax over a bunch of words in a book and live their lives, it’s their problem and their loss.
Part A:
Among the many stereotypes portrayed in this book, one that stood out the most was the misconceptions about African Americans. Jim is shown as extremely superstitious and gullible. Although Jim proves that he is not so gullible later on when Huck tries unsuccessfully to fool him, he is definitely firstly portrayed as such. Regarding women, I was a little bit surprised that Judith was shown the way she was. When "Mary Williams" visits her, she quickly picks up on Huck's disguise and can cleverly explain to him how she knew.
Part B:
These stereotypes do not warrant any objections to reading this novel. They are not necessarily the personal opinions of Twain, just the perceptions he chose to use in his novel. These stereotypes can be used to teach a lesson and they make the novel much more realistic.
In response to Sophie...
I agree with your comment on how women were portrayed as obedient and gentle, but not so much with the helpless part. In my opinion, Judith was shown as quite able to survive successfully alone if only for just a little while. She cleverly picked up on Huck's disguise (even if it was extremely flawed). Also, I was given the impression that her husband traveled a lot, but she seemed to be getting along just fine. Other than that, GOOD IDEAS!
Part A: Stereotypes are an integral part of this novel, but the characters ability to overcome those stereotypes is just as important. Obviously the biggest misconception is about the stupidity of African Americans. While on their adventures, Huck is able to trick Jim multiple times. Twain also reveals glimpses of Jim’s intelligence though. During the debate about French men vs. English men, Jim’s logic actually made sense. While Jim might seem stupid to us today, he was actually just uneducated and ignorant compared to white people back then. He didn’t have the same knowledge as Huck, but what he did know about, he was very knowledgeable in. We may disagree with superstitions but Jim had his reasoning for everything he believed.
Another misconception
Part B: I see no reasoning behind banning this book just because it stereotypes the characters. We read multiple books in school that stereotype people, we just don’t take notice to it sometimes. Our society is full of misconceptions, but we are also full of people rising above those misconceptions. One of the great things of being stereotyped is getting to prove people wrong, and I feel that with how the story is moving along, by the end, Jim will prove that not all African Americans are stupid. Also it is opening peoples’ eyes to the fact that certain groups of people have been and are still treated unfairly and looked down upon.
In response to Sophie...
You brought up the stereotype of women as helpless innocent creatures. While I agree that most of the women are like that, I think Miss Watson actually defies that stereotype. She was extremely harsh on Huck and was always trying to impose her beliefs and values upon him. She is unmarried and living quite successfully, she even owns her own slaves. I do agree though, that characters such as Widow Douglas portray the typical meekness of a woman. She is gentle and caring, much unlike Miss Watson.
In response to Vicki...
I completely agree with your statement "there is more to him then meets the eye". This is so true because when we first meet Huck he is sneaking out of the house at night and going to secret "robber" meetings. I viewed him as the disobedient, and selfish, rebel child; but we later meet the real Huck. He has emotions, has a conscience, and thinks about other people (well... only sometimes). Huck has really grown through out this novel!
In response to Paige,
I completely agree with your reasoning as to why the stereotypes shouldn't prevent people from reading and enjoying the novel. It's almost as if the book can be used as a weapon against these stereotypes by forcing people to realize how dumb they really are. Most of Mark Twain's targeted audience probably wouldn't have even thought twice about the stereotypes, but simply saw them as a reflection of their own beliefs. I don't think that hiding the fact that these stereotypes existed is going to help get rid of them.
In response to Emily,
I can definitely see what you're saying in regards to Miss Watson. I, however, viewed her as a typical miserable/depressed Old Maid. This might just be another stereotype of women that Twain had put in the novel. Even if they aren't humble or weak, there don't seem to be any particularly likeable or important women in the novel yet.
Part A:
There are two important stereotypes that I think are being perpetuated in Huck Finn. Like many other people have noted, a stereotype of African-Americans is held throughout the book. Blacks are portrayed as uneducated, gullible, and flat out stupid through many of the crazy superstitions Jim believes in. While at the time many of these things were true (because of lack of education and social opportunities), we can still consider this a stereotype.
Another stereotype I noticed is that of the typical southern racist/bigot at the time, primarily portrayed in Pap. He despises blacks and thinks their only role in society should be that of a slave, and he believes the government is an evil institution solely conceived to bring him down. This would be a stereotypical belief of many southern whites during that time period.
Part B:
While I can see how these stereotypes may be offensive to some, I cant see how they would warrant a complete ban on the reading of this book. All aspects of this book should be reviewed and considered carefully, and omitting or skipping over these key, yet abrasive topics is necessary in order to completely comprehend Twain’s full story. I think people old enough to be in high-school should have enough maturity to handle sensitive topics such as these in a mature manenr, and I think these stereotypes DO NOT warrant the popular objections to this book.
In response to Theo...
I completely agree with your statement that you do not believe that the stereotypes you expressed were not a good enough reason to warrant any objection to reading the novel. I love how you really punctuate how this novel was written so long ago. It is completely true that you could not use these arguments because that was a completely different day. I do agree that if you can put the words aside you are going to enjoy a good book and not fret over the small things like a word that is used to express the ways of people during that time.
A big misconception is how the reader sees Huck. Most would see him as a rough, uncivilized boy who would rather get into trouble and go on dangerous adventures than get an education and do something with his life. But there is a deeper side to Huck, which can be seen when he is torn between turning Jim in or not. He made a promise that he wouldn't turn him in, and during that time period that was a serious offense against the law. He could have been severely punished and he knew that, but he showed a more moral side of himself when he vowed to not turn Jim in. This is just one of the instances where Huck proves that he is not just a adventurous trouble-maker.
This would certainly not be a reason to ban the book from schools because it is one of the times where the book shows that it can teach some moral values. Many only see the racial slurs and supersticions that could confuse readers into believing something false. But this show of moral values is something that definitely gives the critics something to consider when they decide if the book is worth banning.
In response to Elliot...
I would have to agree that many southerners during the time the novel is set were really sceptical of the government. They believed that the government was always out to get them. I also agree that the ideas that you stated really are not a good reason to ban the book. I also agree that if you are mature enough you should be able to handle most of the content that is discussed in the novel.
In response to Sophie...
I thouroughly agree with your statements. While reading the book, Twain makes the stereotypes about African-Americans rather apparent; but as the novel continues, the reader sees a more real and true aspect of how Jim really is. I also like that you addressed the stereotype placed on the women of this book. You made an excellent point in your comment! This stereotype is often used by authors in novels, which makes me sad because women are often the backbone of a family; keeping everything in order and running smoothly. Their work is almost always underappreciated. Well done!
In response to Jake L....
I fully agree that the supersticious stereotype is very prominent when discussing Jim. I definitely think that Mark Twain painted a very peculiar picture when he described all of this fool-hardy things that Jim believes in. This is not how many slaves were in this time period and this stereotype could definitely be cause to ban the book.
In response to Kelsey...
Excellent point! You really brought up a key element to the characterization of Huck Finn. Saying that he was faced with a serious delima of whether or not to turn Jim in was a great topic to use for this entry assignment. It does indeed show a much deeper aspect of Huck that the reader would never suspect a boy like him to obtain. This misconception also does not bring up any possible objections. Only a heartless meany would object to this.
Part A:
Throughout the very beginning of the novel I feel that the stereoptype that was used most often would be African Americans against White Americans. Back in the time of the novel, African American's were perceived to be below white Americans. There are plenty of examples throughout the novel where Jim is reguarded as an uneducated fugitive. So far no other character is viewed as poorly as Jim. After Huck disappears people feel that Jim, since he ran away, was involved in Huck's mysterious death. Huck's father, who is a drunk that abandons his son, ultimately seems to be taken off the list of suspects even though he has a history of poor behavior. Also, when Jim encounters witches it is said that African Americans from all around come just to meet Jim and discuss what happened to him. Lastly, even though most African Americans during the time period in which the book is written were not educated, Jim's dialogue is hard to understand and Jim comes across very unintelligent. Again, even Huck's father, who admits to be uneducated, talks better than Jim.
Part B:
I do not think that the stereotypes should stop anyone from reading this classic. Classics are meant to be read and give people a look into the past. Even though the things that are said and done in the book are viewed as wrong, Mark Twain shows the readers how far society has come. This book so far is a great read and better than most vulgar music, television shows, and movies today.
In response to Abigail...
You're point about Judith being cunning and clever was something that never crossed my mind. While reading the novel I was thinking "Huck you better throw like a girl," but I never thought that it was a woman who caught him. Woman are usually viewed as housewives who can't take care of situations like that. Great catch!!
Part A: Through out the book, there are several misconceptions and stereotypes. Unlike most of the posts here, however, I do not believe that the stupidity of African Americans was one of the most striking misconceptions. Although it is highlighted a number of times through out the first 13 chapters in the form of the slave Jim, I do not think that the lack of education for blacks was a misconception, but rather a fact of life at that time. It may not be true now, but during the time of slavery, obviously black people were not as educated as whites, so it’s not really a misconception at all. It could be classified as a stereotype, though, since the majority of blacks were without education, but I’m sure there was a small number of exceptions. It becomes clear that Jim has a very interesting way of thinking and a lot of good points to make (i.e. the Frenchman conversation), but that does not mean he is an educated person, but rather just a naturally astute person. To me, the biggest misconception and stereotype is that of rich vs. poor and their respective life styles. In the book, the rich (i.e. Miss Watson) seem to be portrayed as smart, well-mannered, elegant people while the poor are rude, stupid, and drunk. Although this negative description may fit Huck’s pap perfectly, I think it’s unfair that it gives off the implication that poor people as a whole are just a bunch of low-lifes. I’m sure there were many poor families who were still good, hard-working people.
Part B: I do not think that the stereotypes made in this book warrant objections to reading the novel. One think to keep in mind is the time when this book was written. It would be stupid to try to take something written over one hundred years ago and apply its stereotypes and misconceptions to our current society. Things have obviously changed and the points made then aren’t really applicable to life today. Also, I believe Mark Twain, as an author, can sneak in any kind of stereotype or misconception he wants to into a fictional book that he’s writing. It’s not like he’s trying to brainwash all of us to believe his misconceptions; he’s just advertising his point of view, and not even doing so bluntly, but rather by weaving his views into the characters of the story.
In response to Kelsey...
You make a very good point! I hadn't even thought of that, and I don't think anyone else did either. It's so true though - there is such a deeper side to Huck that one will never see until they analyze his character fully. For example, if we hadn't talked about Huck's personality, actions, and morals in class, I don't think I would have fully understood how many dimensions he has as a person. I think you're right about how some readers who don't analyze the story may only view Huck as some poor boy who is only seeking thrill and adventure for himself.
Part A:
Because this novel involves characters coming from many different social and economical backgrounds, there are of course going to be your stereotypical characters. And as many of you have said, I'm sure, probably the most profound example of a stereotype in this book is of the African Americans being uneducated and at the bottom of the social ladder. As we meet Jim and we learn of his superstitions and his lack of knowledge and understanding, we really see this stereotype come to life. For example, the whole episode of the rattlesnake skin comes to mind - it shows Jim's "overreaction", perhaps, to something as little as handling the shedded scales of an ordinary creature. This extraordinarily superstitious behavior was a large part of the white man's view of his African American counterpart at that time. The other part of this stereotype was the uneducated part. At the time this book was written, whites believed, basically, that blacks didn't know anything. From this emerges the situation in the novel that Jim is foolish and ignorant. While it is clear that he has some ideas of some basic subjects, the stereotype becomes evident when he struggles to put his mind around the stories that Huck tries to teach him, and doesn't succeed. The idea of African Americans being unintelligible in the book is a stereotype that was prominent in the day.
Part B:
The stereotypes and misconceptions seen in this novel certainly do not warrant the objections of some people to reading this book. At the time, all of these stereotypical characters were perfectly acceptable, from the uneducated slave, to the hospitable, fine-mannered woman, to the town drunk raising hoot about the government. As times have changed, however, some of the stereotypes portrayed in the novel have become less and less acceptable and less like modern society that people have begun to take offense to the way certain characters are played out in the book. Unfortunately, in a society that is becoming more and more politically correct, you are always going to have those types of people. What these people have to understand, however, is that we can't let today's morals and standards on certain topics influence how we read a book written in a time that had completely different social standards. These people need to start having open minds and forget whether or not it's wrong nowadays to think that all African Americans are poorly educated. They need to remember when the book was written, and what society was like at that time. There is no warrant for them to object to reading a novel like this for that reason.
In response to Nick...
I absolutely agree with the point you made in your second part about how the book's stereotype of African Americans can be compared to today's view. You touched on a very good point when you talked about how back then African Americans were considered "dumb", and that now, we have one in the White House. It goes to show how much times change, and that looking back at a novel like Huck Finn written in a completely different time period can show us how much our nation has come along, often times better than a history book can. This is exactly why there should be no reason to want to ban this book from our schools - reading this book can give us excellent historical insight into one of the most complex and trying times for our nation.
In response to Sophie...
I think you brought up a really good point with the idea that women play a really insignificant role in this story. Along with this time period being heavily influenced by slavery this was also the time period where women had very little rights and really weren't thought of as being independent. This aspect is overlooked when compared to slavery in this novel, but you can definitely tell there is an influence in Mark Twain's writing and what was thought of in women during this era.
In response to Alec...
(I wasn't sure if we had to respond again, so I did it anyway.)
I agree with you that the slang and word choice doesn't help Jim seem like an intelligent person. However, even white folks used slang and different jargon (depending on their career). I don't believe Twain purposely made Jim seem like an inferior and unintelligent person through his talk. I believe he did that by telling us his beliefs and personality.
In response to Jacob L.
I do believe that your argument against the African American/slave superstitious stereotype is null and void due to a contradictory remark on the differences between superstitious and religious beliefs. In my opinion superstition and religion are two similar topics, which both fall under the category of faith in an unproven speculation, and why should it matter if that speculation is a magic hairball or an unseen entity that created the universe in six days. This makes the two categories too similar to support a contrast in stereotypes.
Part A
This book is wrought with examples of misconceptions dealing with race and education. To me the most striking example, however not the most apparent, is the attitude of the young boys in Tom’s gang toward the Arabs and the Spaniards. While all in fun, these events show how stereotypes are formed at a young age and prejudiced is deep seeded, even in the hearts of children. This makes Huck’s actions toward Jim all the more noble. Without a doubt Jim is a character who twain uses to manifest all different forms of prejudice, in that his is black, uneducated and poor. But, I think it is interesting that Twain does not paint the extreme opposites, like Judge Thatcher, as bad people either. I feel that Huck’s heroic quality is his ability to transcend ALL stereotypes, and see people for what they are.
Part B
That being said, I do not feel that the stereotypes portrayed In this book warrant banning it. Twain very affectively does not place into stereotypes, and only shows them as projections of others. I think that he has created strong charterers that bash the stereotypes to bits and for that reason I would encourage the reading of this book. Though it is easy to see why so many would protest to this book being allowed, because the hate of some characters is strong.
In response to Sophia.....
Your comment about women blew me away. I absolutely agree. I also love your comment about Twain disproving stereotypes by getting them on paper.
In response to Kelsey……
I loved the spin you took on this. I have to admit that that is how I first saw Huck, but now I see him as person with strong morals who values friendships highly. I also think it’s interesting that out of this initial stereotype, all the other stereotypes are examined in a new light which makes them seem worthless.
In response to Emma............
I strongly agree with your part B. It is often said that you cannot judge history based on modern standards. This idea coincides with your information regarding how times were different when this book was written. I think that for that reason, no one should wish to allow modern customs to interfere with his/her enjoyment of the novel. Also, the book is fiction! As you said, Twain is NOT trying to offend people through his text! It makes no sense to me regarding why people would refuse to read this classic novel. Nice viewpoint you had on the matter.
Part A:
In chapters 1-13 there are multiple examples of stereotypes being used to judge people and their actions. This is especially obvious in the portrayal of Jim as being a dumb African-American slave rather than a normal man. Throughout these chapters everything that Jim does, from his speech to his ridiculous superstitions show his ignorance and help to enforce the stereotypes given to African-Americans at this time. Even Huck, who was always kind to Jim, has to continually be patient and look past what he was bred to think about Jim and the slaves.
Another blatant example of stereotypes affecting peoples’ feelings is in the treatment and feelings about Huck because his father is an alcoholic and they are poor. People always treated Huck like he was nothing more than a dirty animal because of his background. Even after Huck finds the gold and goes to live with the Widow Douglas, he is still treated as if he is inherently stupid and cannot get anything right.
Part B:
I do not believe that the stereotypes in this book warrant schools removing it from the curriculum. This book is one of the best ways that people in the modern era can learn about the suffering and persecution of people who were different, in particular, the African-American slaves. If this book were to be pulled from classrooms, then thousands of kids across the country would lose the opportunity to learn in depth about this particular perspective.
In response to Emma...
Although I disagree with you that black stupidity wasn’t a major stereotype in the book, you make a very interesting point that it could just be the fact that the blacks were not as well educated. It could very well be that blacks were simply seen as uneducated rather than stupid in this time period and we could be diluting what is written with our modern approach to it.
In response to Sophia...
I love the point you made about the stereotypical woman in Adventures of Huck Finn. Back then, and even still today in many parts of the world, women are almost forced into staying at home and tending household chores and the raising of their children. Obviously society has changed exponentially since the time period Huck Finn takes place in, but we can still make many valid references to society in both time periods.
In response to Olivia...
I never really thought about the racial prejudices that the Tom Sawyer gang portrays. I thought that was a really good and unique observation. And I do agree that those beliefs are formed at such a young age and these kids are already displaying those racial prejudices. I guess I never really read into that too much and that the way Huck treats Jim is really unique considering the gang that he used to hang out with. He does play stupid jokes on Jim but he really never shows any prejudices towards Jim about his race, wealth or education.
In response to Sophia:
"Just because certain stereotypes exist in the novel does not mean that Twain is endorsing or perpetuating them."
PERFECT observation!!!
In response to Paige....
"Reading about these stereotypes that were completely the reality of the time period opens ones eyes to the unfairness of it."
An EXCELLENT observation!!! Well done.
In response to Nick...
"Reading this novel should be a great historical comparison of our maturing nation..."
Woah...look at Nick!! A really strong observation. Love it, love it, love it!
PART A:
A. The largest misconception in the first thirteen chapters is easily Twain’s portrayal of the average black man, as virtually everyone else pointed out. And for that reason alone, I will try to shift the focus on other less-recognized stereotypes or misconceptions. First (and this is an accurate stereotype) is the depiction of the lifestyle of a young white boy and his family life. The young boy wants adventure and persistently gets himself into trouble, and feels tied down by his family—specifically his mother figure who teaches him manners and all that jazz. The boy is forced to go to school and he mainly does not like it. Twain paints a pretty similar picture in the novel. The only sketchy aspect of this stereotype is the fact that Huck’s father is the town drunk. It’s not often that a person’s father is a drunk, but then again it is far from unrealistic, especially for that time period. As a whole, I thought this was a pretty accurate stereotype.
The other stereotype I figured would be worth discussing is not really a misconception, but it’s kind of been the basis of the story so far, and this deals with Huck’s actual personality. Most white families in the South were indeed racist families, and most of the time their kids would turn out that way as well—simply because it’s all they knew; not because they were truly racist kids. Huck is the kid that overcomes his background of racism and lets his actions reflect his true character. If this weren’t true about Huck, he would have turned Jim in immediately (just like most any other kid would do), but he didn’t. And that fact has carried the plot so far in my opinion.
PART B:
B. Absolutely not. I find these stereotypes important to gain a full understanding of that time period in the United States, and of the author. Even if they aren’t accurate and may be offensive to some, I don’t think it is worth avoiding the entire novel. In other words, I don’t believe the stereotypes amount to anything that would significantly undermine the benefits of reading the novel.
In response to Alec…
I thought your point about Jim’s slang was very interesting, and I agree that it helps the author portray the black slave Jim. Twain digs deep in stereotypically characterizing Jim so much so that he portrays his tongue. I’m not sure if that is a misleading aspect of the whole African-American stereotype though, because it is probably pretty close to how blacks spoke back then.
In Response to Mitch...
You have a really good point about Huck "overcoming his racist background" and not turning in Jim. I guess you could say that this was even going against a stereotype of a typical white boy of that time period. I like how you mentioned that it isn't the boy's fault, but he simply doesn't know any better, that's just how he was brought up. I agree with all of your ideas and especially your opinion that the book shouldn't be banned. Your mentioning of Huck going against his typical white boy stereotype is the perfect piece of information to support your opinion, because it's yet another example of why people SHOULD read this book. It shows how we should not judge people by stereotypes!
Part A.
Of the most prevalent stereotypes in this book is Jim’s lack of education or, if I may be so blunt, his stupidity. It was not uncommon at the time for slave to lack a formal education or even any education beyond their necessary duties as allotted by their masters. Jim does still exhibit a strong sense of moral education in his personal interactions with Huck, and their “unspoken agreement” to not betray each other. Huck, despite his youth, is obviously the more educated one of the pair he does utilize this to his advantage, though he is startled when Jim knows of the kings.
Part B.
This is major theme in the relationship of Huck and Jim, and yet, in my eyes, it is not more than a minor controversy, which should in no way affect the novel’s publication or use as an educational resource. If this stereotype is still such an issue, it is taken so by a person who is dealing too deeply on the past, who should make a conscious effort to live a more present and proactive life.
Check 3/9/11
sucka my peeen
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