So here we are---at the end of our time together once again. Good food, good discussions, GREAT blogging! I couldn't be happier! So, with our two weeks of reading and discussion nearly behind us, the last discussion topic should be an easy one!
For the last two weeks, I have posted two questions on the white board every day and have tried to bring our discussions back to these questions that helped to guide us through this very brief unit. Now, I want to see how you answer them.
So, once again, here are the two unit essential questions. Please respond to at least one of the two questions.
1. How does the novel HUCK FINN teach tolerance and equality?
2. In what ways does the novel parallel society today?
If you can reference any of the events from the last section of reading to illustrate your point(s), even better!
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#1. I think that this novel teaches tolerance and equality extremely well. The person who shows the most tolerance would be Huck Finn who is extremely tolerant and fair to Jim, a black slave. During this time most white Americans were not at all tolerant of blacks. Some Northerners were but definitely not Southerners. The way Huck shows compassion for Jim a runaway slave is amazing to me. Not many young kids would even have the idea and guts to help a runaway slave to freedom. Through the journey the reader can see Huck try to teach Jim and always try's to explain things to Jim with a ton of patience when Jim can not understand what he means. Both Jim and Huck originally I don't feel that they had an equal relationship. But, as time went on they began to get on equal grounds and rely equally on each other to get through their crazy adventures. Another example of tolerance in this novel would be when Huck knows that the Duke and the King are frauds but is patient till he can escape with Jim to a safe place. When Tom Sawyer came into play he wanted to come up with an elaborate plan to free Tom. Huck wanted to get Jim out as soon as possible but displayed an immense amount of patience to wait and let things work their way out eventually. Also, both Jim and Huck held things from each other to protect them from what could hurt them and that set them on equal levels together. I think all of these things put together show how this novel portrays a ton of tolerance and equality.
NUMBER 1.
The most obvious portrayal of tolerance in the novel is Huck’s (and partly Tom’s) treatment towards Jim. Basically no one else in the novel regarded Jim on an equal basis, as did Huck. At times, the latter even regarded Jim as a ‘white man inside the body of a black man’. Although this statement dwells on the difference of skin color, it still portrays equality. Huck could have easily exhibited the stereotypical outlook that most whites had towards blacks at the time. Instead, he made a conscious effort to treat the slave with respect. Furthermore, tolerance is notable when observing Jim’s treatment towards Huck! Having been part of an oppressed people, Jim naturally could have been un-accepting towards Huck’s friendly character. Rather, Jim was willing and able to treat Huck simply as another human being. This mutual relationship helps readers understand the importance of being kind to one another, in spite of any potential differences on the surface. Huck’s character portrays tolerance for the king and the duke as well. When Huck sees them being tarred and feathered, he was disgusted! This is so outstanding, for any other individual (and probably readers) would have taken a sort of delight in the act. Rather than thriving off of the vengeful incident, Huck is willing to forgive and forget. In doing so, an immense amount of tolerance is portrayed to readers.
I have been debating numerous ideas of what the theme of Huck Finn really is, and now after finishing the book, I feel as though the main theme is the importance of tolerance and equality. At the beginning of the novel I would have guessed that Twain was in support of slavery, but by the end it is apparent that he is against it. Twain used the growth of his characters to show his opinion. When the adventures began, Huck didn’t have full respect for Jim but by the end he wanted nothing more than to save his best friend. It was extremely uncommon in those times for white people to even think about befriending a black person, but Twain used Huck to defy that stereotype. While Jim wasn’t the most highly educated person, Huck took the time to teach him, which was more than anyone else would do. Not only did Huck learn the importance of equality so did all of the characters around him. Tom definitely used to look down upon Jim, but he eventually grew to respect him, because he saw how much Huck respected him.
This novel was originally intended to be a lesson for people of that time period, but it can also be a lesson to us. Even though we, in America, don’t have to deal with the issue of slavery, people in other countries do, so this book can set a sort of precedent for them. But even here in America we can learn from Huck and Jim’s adventures, because our society is very much like theirs in many ways. Like blacks were back then, we outcast certain people in our society. We look down upon poor and uneducated people and don’t like to give them opportunities to succeed. Like Huck and his father, there are so many dysfunctional families today; although, this book does exaggerate a bit in the fact that running away will not solve all of those problems.
#1
The novel Huck Finn has many lessons and morals to be learned in between the covers, but none more important than the lesson of tolerance and equality. There are countless examples of both throughout the story so I will only highlight a few of them that stuck out in my mind.
This story teaches tolerance in a few spots, but I believe the most important example of tolerance is the relationship between Huck and Jim. Tolerance is defined as “a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality differ from one's own.” Which applies perfectly to their relationship. The obvious difference between the two is their race. And because of the time period, this barrier would make a relationship of any kind extremely difficult, and nearly impossible. But race is not the only difference between these two companions. Religion is another one of the many examples. Huck seems to go his own direction all the time without any concern of a higher power, while Jim fills his mind with many superstitions and the idea of witchcraft. They were basically complete opposites, which makes their relationship all the more marvelous.
This story also teaches equality in many places. Equality is defined as “the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability.” The perfect example of this in the novel is when Huck decides that he and Jim are equals. They are both in similar positions in the story, when they both run away, and he decides that in the wilderness, their race is no longer a factor, and that he and Jim were both equals. The relationship between Huck and Jim is a great example of both tolerance and equality because of the hard things that they had to overcome.
In response to Emily...
Great points! I enjoyed reading about your take on Twain. You said that at first you would have thought that Twain was for slavery, but after the book it occured to you that he was in fact against it. I also liked that you talked about how in that time, you NEVER saw a white man and a black men equally befriending each other, and how Twain used Huck to defy that stereotype. Twain used the relationship between Huck and Jim to bridge the gap between races. Good Job!
1)
The novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain, taught tolerance and promoted equality in many ways. These values were mainly taught by Huck Finn and his treatment towards Jim. As well all know, Huck was a young Southern male while Jim was (at first) considered a superstitious and bumbling black slave. At the time when the book was taking place, slavery was still a flourishing institution. The majority of whites in both the North AND the South didn’t think of blacks as equal people. However, the hatred towards blacks that was ingrained in Southern society was washed out of Huck during the adventures he and Jim had while floating down the Mississippi River. During their adventures, Huck eventually thought of Jim as his friend rather than a slave. Equality was also promoted in the book by the relationship Huck and Jim developed. Although it is difficult to classify their relationship, we all can agree that Huck and Jim depend on one another for things. Due to the nature of society when this book was written, there were not many cases of whites who developed deep and meaningful relationships with their black counterparts. The message of tolerance was taught when Huck remained steadfast in trying to explain and teach things to Jim, when others would simply have cast Jim off as an idiot. Tolerance was also shown by characters that chose to help Huck even when they discovered he had lied to them. For example, Judith Loftus shows tolerance towards Huck’s predicament when his disguise as a girl is blown.
2) This novel parallels society in a few distinct ways. Obviously, blacks are now equal to whites in all aspects of life. This is vastly different in their portrayal in the book in which blacks are still considered a dependent and inferior race to whites. However, there still are people who are looked down upon in our society. This group of people may be the poor, illiterate, or still even a minority group. We do not, however, force them into servitude like we did to African Americans.
in response to Emily...
I agree with your idea that some people in our society today are looked down upon! However, I don't think that we intentionally prevent any of these groups from succeeding. At the very least, education is offered to every citizen in the United States. The opportunity for a quality education provides a solid foundation for ones success in life.
1. Mark Twain, by writing Huck Finn, created a great tool for teaching about tolerance and equality. At the time the book was written, our country was fresh out of the Civil War and, especially in the South, stereotypes and malice were directed towards African-Americans, even though they were now technically "free." White people were neither used to nor comfortable yet with being on equal grounds with their former slaves. In the novel Huck Finn, we find a strong character in Jim. At the beginning of the book, Jim is portrayed as the stereotypical superstitious, dim-witted slave. It’s almost frustrating to read as Huck and Tom play a trick on Jim. When Huck meets Jim, after he runs away, on Jackson island and they are thrust into numerous adventures together, we start to see a different side of Jim. He converses with Huck in a caring manner, and offers insight into different topics that Huck brings up. A turning point in the book comes when Jim is crying while remembering about his family, and Huck realizes that Jim has the same feelings towards his children and wife that a white person would have. Because of their similar backgrounds, Huck starts to view Jim as his equal and even friend, even though not too long before Jim had been in a lower "class" than Huck in society. This was a revolutionary idea for the time in which the novel was written. Twain also makes a jab at slavery when Mary Jane Wilks complains about the slave family being separated and sold. At the end of the novel, when Tom Sawyer returns and plans a theatrical escape at the mercy of Jim's health, the reader is able to witness a transformation in Huck's character that Jim has brought about. Huck is no longer concerned with playing silly games, but realizes the gravity of saving his newfound friend and equal. The end of the novel sees Jim characterized as a moral, trustworthy person and friend. He almost becomes the main character in the story, as he helps Huck to become a better person. Both Huck and Jim have faults and, throughout their adventures, must learn to accept each other’s strengths and weaknesses as human beings.
2. I think that the novel does parallel society today in many respects. There are obviously still many stereotypes and prejudices held against numerous races/religions/groups of people. But, there are also many “Hucks” in the world who look past our differences to see our commonalities as human beings. There are many truths in the relationships portrayed in the novel as well. There are many children in our country who have abusive/alcoholic parents, there are liars and thieves who will violate what is morally right to make more money, and, absurd as it may sound, there are families who get into feuds over silly things that they cannot even remember. There are religious Miss Watsons in our society as well as outcasts and anti-government Paps. The characters that Twain has created in his novel, and the society in which they live in, are timeless.
In response to the first essential question, I believe that Huck Finn demonstrates amazing characteristics of tolerance and equality through out this book. The first and most obvious example of equality that Huck shows is his friendship with Jim. This book is set in a time period where African Americans were treated with the same rights as pets, sometimes even worse. And if you were caught helping an African American you were giving the same punishment as them for running away. Despite all of these factors Huck was still able to see that Jim was just another person just like him. Instead of giving in to the common belief of an African American at that time Huck was able to find a kind hearted man, a teacher of certain subjects, and most importantly a reliable friend. Another example of equality, aside from the friendship between Huck and Jim, is when the Duke and the King are introduced into the story. He does not think fondly of them at first but he decides to still give them a chance. Huck demonstrates equality very well in this book by giving everyone he comes in contact with a fair and equal start, not singling out or judging anyone. Along with equality Huck shows a great deal of tolerance as well. He demonstrates this through his ability to not get frustrated with Jim. Jim often times does not understand certain things since he is a runaway slave he does not have the same type of knowledge of the world as Huck because slaves were not educated. But this never angers or frustrates Huck, he is always willing to explain things with him. Another example where Huck shows tolerance is once again with the Duke and the King. For a long time Huck supports them in their escapades from town to town. Having a very high tolerance level to their malicious actions. But once they sell Jim, and try to trick a family into getting their money Huck's morals takes over and he abandons them. All in all, this book is enriched with deep messages and I enjoyed reading it a lot.
In response to Sophia...
I love how you explained that white people were not comfortable with being on an equal level with their former slaves. That is such a true statement that is broken by Huck and Jim's relationship. I also like how you said that both Huck and Jim had to figure out how to equal/balance each other with their strengths and weakness. They were both extremely tolerant of the others weakness and they helped each other overcome those weaknesses. Nice observations.
In response to Theo...
I really enjoyed reading your post. One of the things that I found the most beneficial about it was how when you talked about tolerance, you were able to make the connection through Jim's point of view. This is very tough to do since you would never experience anything like this. But you were able to make the connection very well opening up a whole other view on tolerance for me in this book. The view of not only the white to black, but from black to white as well. Very well put Theo!¡!¡
In response to Tricia
Your recognition of Huck's patience towards Jim's occasional inability to grasp certain concepts is well put. I didn't think of how strongly patience and tolerance coincide with each other. This is definitely the case, and therefore Huck is extremely tolerant! Much of the novel wouldn't have even existed (at least not the way it does) had Huck not been such a tolerant young boy. By exhibiting such patience, an entire world of adventures and unique experiences are able to take place involving both Huck himself and Jim.
The novel teaches equality and tolerance through Huck Finn's character and his interactions with others. As we have previously discussed, Huck's character grows up a lot and gains so much maturity. For having grown up in a slaveholder's household, his willingness to eventually respect Jim is outstanding. Jim is firstly portrayed as the generic slave, superstitious and gullible. When Huck first finds Jim on Jackson Island, his decision to not turn him in is just a continuation of his rebellion towards society. He is looking to do anything just as long as it isn't "civilized". I believe that the turning point for Huck's maturity is when he puts the rattlesnake in Jim's bed. After apologizing he forces himself to start looking at Jim differently, not just as a slave companion.
One could also look at Jim's behavior towards Huck for tolerance. I'm not sure how long Jim worked in Miss Watson's household, but he was bound to have had some previous interactions with Huck pre-runaway. Before their adventures, Huck was a typical rebellious, dirty, immature, and annoying twelve or thirteen year old. Jim must have gotten tired of dealing with him and Tom as well. One example of their immaturity is when they took Jim's hat off while he was napping and blamed it on witchcraft. From the point of meeting Huck on the island, Jim could have just written him off as an immature child, but he chose to befriend him and treat him as an adult. Personally, I'm not sure if I would have had that much patience!
After finishing the novel, I can clearly see that Twain intended to teach the reader a lesson. The concept of equality is taught not only through Huck but also through the people around him.
In response to Nick...
I like how you pointed out that Huck was not judgmental. How true!! It really is amazing how he gave everyone a fair chance to prove themselves to him. In the duke and king's case it was more than one chance! Referring to those two villains, I like how you mentioned that Huck's morals eventually had to take over. Good thoughts, Nick!!
For a novel that most likely was intended to be an easy read about a boy's adventures on the Mississippi River, Huckleberry Finn certainly turned out to be a novel with many deep morals and character traits, whether Twain intended it to or not. As a result, we see a book that not only gives us a fun, often times humorous read, but also lessons that we can apply to our own lives, which still applies today even though the book was penned over 100 years ago. The lessons of equality and tolerance brought forth by the novel, even though in a different context back then, can be adapted to today's society. Probably the most prominent example of tolerance and equality in the book is Huck's decision not to turn in Jim, both initially after they meet on the island, and later on when Huck reverts his decision to write a letter to Miss Watson revealing Jim's location and tears it up. Because of the fact that in the time that the book is set, it was standard to turn in a runaway slave, Huck was going against the status quo of society. He knew in his mind that he should do the socially acceptable thing by turning Jim in, but in his heart, he knew he should do the morally right thing by not turning him in. This idea of going by the morally right as opposed to the lawfully right holds true even today. As an example, if we believe that the government is going against the will of the people, the Declaration of Independence gives us the duty and the right to "throw off such government" in favor of one that will protect the rights and morals of the people.
Huck's tolerance of a different race of people was virtually unheard of back in that time period. The way that Huck and Jim came together in a mutual relationship on the raft shows how even today it is possible for the white man and the African-American to forget their differences and strive to achieve the common goal of equality.
#1. Tolerance and equality is a constant and underlying theme of Huck Finn. We watch as Huck grow as a person going from a young an mostly naive teenager at the onset of his adventure to the end when he has morally matured into something that would resemble a man in my eyes. His ideals have switched from becoming a bandit and cavorting around the country ransacking carriages to a committed companion of Jim, whom we have also gotten to know. A runaway like Huck he will become a friend and a mentor, but perhaps most surprisingly he was and is a black slave. Such a mutual relationship is preposterous and unheard of in the appropriate day and age of the publishing of Mark Twain's book. Not only do we, as the readers, get to see their relationship succeed but also grow through misdeeds and close escapes, that bring the two closer. They also serve as a learning aid for each other's moral decision, such as their choice to break away from the Duke and the King and their conniving and villainous lifestyle. Huck is faced with the dilemma of continuing to defy a social standard, based on his own mismatched feeling about Jim. His feeling are sorted out in the end when he reaches the final revelation of Jim's kind character. It serves as an example to persons, especially children (considering Huck's age), of the value of getting to know someone on the inside, because they could be just like you. Let it be know that this lesson can be applied on a much broader range than combatting the segregation of people by skin color. It can also go the other way, seeing how fun the lifestyles of the Duke and the King were, Huck could have chosen to indulge himself in just such a life.
In response to Abigail...
I found it interesting how you looked at the concept of equality through someone else's eyes other than Huck's, when you mentioned that one can find tolerance in Jim's behavior toward Huck. This opposite perspective was extremely helpful in truly confirming Huck and Jim's mutual relationship, and was something that I didn't even think about. You make an excellent point when you say that Jim could have just dismissed Huck as immature and continued on his own path toward freedom, but chose to stick with the kid in the hopes that their friendship would help them achieve their common goal of freedom. When looking at it this way, you see the true connection between Jim and Huck, and gain a true understanding of the idea of racial tolerance. Great post!
In response to Abi,
I totally agree with your thought that by learning to tolerate and become an equal with Jim, Huck was simply continuing his rebellion against society. He probably wasn't thinking, at least at the beginning of the novel, "I'm going to become an abolitionist because it's the morally right thing to do." I also like how you mentioned that Jim was probably tired of Huck and Tom's antics while he was Miss Watson's slave. I think most people think of it the other way around, that Jim was a hindrance and bothersome to Huck. When they met on the island, Jim definitely could have dismissed Huck as an obstacle or threat to his freedom, but he didn't, and that says something about the message of equality that Twain was trying to convey.
1. Mark Twain's novel does an excellent job teaching about tolerance and equality. Looking at the story itself, Huck Finn is obviously the most changed character. He has learned through his adventures with Jim that this main theme is a crucial part of life. As a southern kid, Huck has grown up around the idea of slavery. The fact that he was able to formulate his own ideas and morals throughout his journey is an amazing feat. I think that Twain wanted his readers to especially notice this, and realize that if a young boy can see past the obvious difference of race and get to know Jim as another human being, then we as a nation, should learn how to do the same. For me, this applies to both the time in which it was written, and also the present day. Our country had just finished the Civil War when this book was released, and I think that this was one of Twain's ways of voicing his opinion on this matter.
On another note, I think that Huck especially showed tolerance when he felt sorry for the duke and dauphin, even after all that they had put him and Jim through. This shows that Huck has learned to be more accepting and tolerant of all different kinds of people. Also, it was mentioned several times by Huck in the novel that men are so cruel to each other. Twain would not have pointed these things out if he didn't want them to have significant meaning to his readers. He obviously was trying to emphasize the fact that we need to change as a society. I think that Twain was probably the kind of person that had the sense to look ahead to future generations. The things that he put into his novel are understandable and applicable not only in the time that this book was written, but also in today's time. Prejudice has not dissapeared and probably will always be present in our society; but we can still work toward a more peaceful and tolerant community. Through all of these things, I think that Mark Twain was successful in communicating the importance of tolerance and equality to his readers.
2. Through his characters and the topics addressed, Twain was able to inadvertantly parallel today's society. First and foremost, the issue of discrimination has unfortunatly remained in our society. However, there are "Huck's" that believe in equality. Also, the prevelence of prejudice in our society has remained. There are people, though, that are like Huck that believe in tolerance and are able to see past the differences that one might have with others. There are also still crazy people like pap; as well as religious people like Miss Watson.
In response to Chris...
Your post was really inciteful and had some great points in it! I especially liked how you brought the element of Huck's decision to do what was morally right, over what was LAWFULLY right. You made a really neat connection with our Declaration of Independence giving us the same sort of liberty with our government. Also, I liked that you said that the lessons taught in the book can be applied to our lives in today's time and not just in the time that it was written. I completely agree with you! Great post!
I think that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn teaches both tolerance and equality. Jim and Huck are two totally different people that go on a string of wild adventures together. Throughout their adventures Huck tries to teach Jim things but Jim struggles to comprehend what Huck is saying. Instead of becoming more and more agitated Huck stays calm and patient with his friend. Huck and Jim weren’t the only relationship that shows tolerance and equality. While Huck lives with Miss Watson she stays patient with Huck and his antics. She tolerates him but tries to civilize him while he is staying with her. Huck also has a lot of tolerance for the Duke and the Dauphin. Huck figures out quickly that they are swindlers but stays patient of their ongoing schemes, at least for a while.
Huck and Jim also show equality. Huck doesn’t view Jim as a slave and Jim doesn’t view Huck as a master or a little white boy. They form a friendship that is hard to break. Jim and Huck look out for each other consistently and stick together. Huck then says “He’ll go to hell” to save Jim which shows he is an equal and is okay with sacrificing for Jim. Also, Jim and Huck are made equal when they say that Jim is white on the inside. Also, Miss Watson ended up freeing Jim somewhat making him equal. Aunt Sally also freed Jim after learning of Miss Watson’s decision and after seeing that Jim helped save Tom. The book then states that Jim is treated like a King. So, are more occasion then one I think the novel shows both equality and tolerance.
In response to Abi...
While writing my post I didn't even think about the rattlesnack incident. Good job :)
In response to Emily...
You stated that slavery happens in other countries and that we, as Americans, don't have to deal with the issue of slavery and that this book would be a good example to them. I think that is great idea. Still today this classic can teach so many people so many lessons and show a glimpse into how far our society has come. I, however, am not sure Twain exaggerated about Huck and his father's relationship and sometimes running away today could be the best solution depending on where the person runs to. Otherwise I think you made great points!
1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn represents the themes of both tolerance and equality in many different ways. Through characters and plot lines, Mark Twain creates a story that teaches lessons about racial equality and the way it should be dealt with. When we read the book in today’s world, such harsh treatment of African Americans seems unusual and unfair, but back when the book was written (right after the Civil War) this behavior was quite normal and also quite acceptable. The Adventures of Huck Finn makes a bold statement about equality. By having his two main characters – one white and one black – form such a friendship and bond throughout the story really shows that people of different races are still on the same emotional level. Huck himself isn’t too terribly racist, but he’s quite aware of society’s white dominance mindset. Through his adventures with Jim, he slowly realizes that Jim’s thoughts and feeling parallel those of a white man – a concept that was pretty radical at the time. One instance of this realization is Huck seeing how Jim feels about his family and how much he misses them. Huck discovers that while they may look a little different on the outside, blacks and whites, and every other color for that matter, are all perfectly human on the inside. Also, the portrayal of Jim plays a very important role in representing the idea of equality. Not only is he a main character, but he’s a likeable main character, with creative (although somewhat unintelligent) logic and a really good heart. In Huck’s character, tolerance is one of the strongest traits. While most people in that time period would immediately think of Jim as just a slave, completely below their level of living, Huck treats Jim as a true human being, and is quite patient and tolerant in trying to teach Jim things (Frenchmen speaking French, for example). I think the most important moment that highlights the importance of equality is when Huck decides to commit to saving Jim and getting him to freedom. This shows that he really does view Jim as a complete equal, and certainly a true friend worth fighting for. Overall, this book does an excellent job of teaching the true meaning of equality.
2. There are many aspects of the story that parallel society today. While racial equality is, for the most part, a normal part of life, there are still some people who truly believe that blacks are not equal to whites. As unfortunate as that is, it’s true and it obviously connects to how people felt back then. Also, there are still thousands of stereotypes, just as there are in the book. People are judged based on the social class they’re in or their age. For example, Huck’s dad didn’t think that Huck could have any meaningful opinion about any social issue, since he was just a boy. Today, teenagers are still looked upon as too immature to deal with “real world” problems.
In response to Sophia...
Your response is very well written! Also, I like your comments on how Twain "jabs" at slavery when he writes about Mary Jane Wilks being so saddened by the black mother being sold and separated from her two sons. While I obviously thought that part of the story was really sad, I never looked at it as part of Twain's input, but obviously, you're right - he is purposely highlighting the negativity of slavery. Great insight!
1.Equality is possible for Huck because he is an innocent child. His eyes are not yet so clouded by prejudice, that he can still judge people on what they do, not what the are perceived to be. If you look at a character like Mrs. Watson, white, educated, someone who cares for children and tries to instruct them in the right. Someone who would call her self a good person, has no problem keeping a slave, no problem keeping an entire people in ignorance because of their skin color. To me equality is not having having them same things as everyone else or even really having the same rights as everybody, but being judge solely on actions. Actions are truly what define people. Mrs. Watson has the intent of doing right and feels that all she does is good, but her actions are selfish. Twain has created a sense of equality because Huck is a way for the reader to judge people on their actions. Jim is is black, but he is good because of his actions. The Duke and the King are intelligent, but are evil because of their actions and motives. When we can judge everyone on their actions alone, then we will have equality.
2.Huck Finn definitely parallels today’s society which is why it has remained a classic. Perhaps the most current example would comparing the Duke and the King to modern dictators, people who act in self interest with no regard to other people's needs. If people would take the time to get to know people who are different, like Jim and Huck, we have fewer wars and conflicts, or even feuds. The themes in Huck Finn need to be applied to our lives now.
1. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain accounts the fictional stories of a young white boy in the 19th century. The reader is able to assume that the setting of society in the time period was not in favor of the black race, so without doubt there were some racist openings throughout the novel. However, these instances in no way reflect Mark Twain’s stance on anything; they simply reflect the time period. The characterization of Jim, a slave, helps teach tolerance and equality. Twain characterizes Jim in such a way that refutes racist stereotypes and introduces the idea the black people have just as adequate an intellect white people. Huck was made the protagonist for a reason: to demonstrate tolerance to black people. He also witnesses how smart Jim is, and he respects that in the story. Huck’s example teaches readers that a persons character should be valued more than their race.
In response to Casey…
You had some good examples of how the novel teaches tolerance and equality. I failed to acknowledge your point about the Duke and the Dauphin, along with several other points you made, such as the quote that Huck will “go to hell” to save Jim. That really helped express how deep their friendship was. Their interracial friendship stood for equality and tolerance in Huck Finn. Good post.
In writing The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain created a work that was able to show some of the vile aspects of human nature, while also bringing to light the ability of people to look past their differences and care for each other. By using Huck, Twain brought to light that it is possible to forget our differences and move forward by working together. Twain does this mainly through the relationship he creates between Huck and Jim. When Huck originally meets Jim he automatically thinks that he is just a dumb slave. However as the book progresses we see a significant change in Huck’s perception of Jim. He begins to realize that Jim is a person rather than a black slave, saying things such as, “he seemed to care about his family as much as a white man” and “I knowed he was white inside”. This signifies a huge idea that Twain works into his book, the idea that everyone is the same no matter what skin color.
Twain also stresses the importance of being tolerant of others and their differences. Throughout their entire journey, both Huck and Jim have to learn to get past each other’s differences and work as a unit. The major example of this is Huck’s struggling to explain things to Jim, whose lack of education and experience with the world causes him to have trouble understanding things. Huck tries to explain many things to him such as the fact that French people speak French rather than English, but he cannot get his point through to the simple minded Jim. He learns to just accept that Jim cannot understand it and move on without making a big deal about it.
#1
The foremost portrayal of tolerance occurs with Huck’s overall acceptance of Tom. I don’t think many readers realize just to what extent Huck was breaking the “rules” of society. Huck took a risk that is truly unmatchable in today’s world. The young adventurer had no where to run once he became involved with Jim, and even though the north was tolerant of blacks at the time, the “freedman’s land” still had many racial stereotypes ingrained in society. Not only does Huck tolerate Jim, but he appreciates him, and soon they become friends. The two unlikely companions become completely comfortable with each other, letting skin color have no affect on their opinions. This shows how deep down, Huck sees everyone as an equal, no matter how much the idea of racial dominance has been fed to him by society. I think this can help a lot of people appreciate how there is no boundary to tolerance and equality, and that even the strongest stereotypes and social norms can be overcome.
In response to Casey....
I have to disagree with you on the point you made about Huck tolerating the Duke and the Dauphin. I think that his not getting frustrated with Jim is a much better example because he truly wasnt annoyed with him. In the case of the Duke and the Dauphin, Huck truly didnt like them and i believe that the only reason he didnt do something about them was that they could easily expose both his own secret and the fact that Jim was a runaway slave.
#2
Although unintentional, I think Twain was able to parallel some of the elements in this book to today’s society. I think many of the things in the novel, such as prejudice and the continuance of stereotypes are still present in society to this day, even though they may not be taken to such as high degree as they were in Twain’s story. We can learn that sometimes people believe things and take actions on matters just to conform to society’s unwritten rules. Huck challenges this notion, simply because he realizes that society has unjust views on racial equality. This parallels today’s society, because sometimes we conform to ideologies that are wrong, just to fit in.
In response to Olivia...
I like the point you made about how Huck's views hadn't been "clouded" by society yet. Since he became separated from mainstream society at such a young age, I think it was possible for him to form his own opinion without any influences from stereotypes or over generalizations that much of society entertained. I think this is mainly why Huck was able to accept Jim, instead of immediately turning him in, which society would have expected of him. I also like what you said about how people should only be characterized by their actions. Jim had never done anything wrong, and his skin color was the only thing that left him in such a low tier of society. Huck was the one character that judged people by their actions, instead of their skin color.
In response to Joe...
Great post!! I really liked when you said "Tolerance was also shown by characters that chose to help Huck even when they discovered he had lied to them". Huck is the main person who teaches tolerance and the importance of equality, but through his actions he has an effect on everyone around him. That idea can be another example of how the novel parallels society today. People are always watching other people's actions, so when one person does something that society views as different, then they will take notice, and if a good thing, then they are setting a precedent for more people.
In response to Vicki...
I was amazed how many parallelisms to today's society that you were able to find! I only took notice to the main ideas and didn't pay much attention to how their are people in our society who represent the characters in Huck Finn. Hopefully there are still enough Hucks our there in the world!
Final Check 3/12/11
The many themes of Huck Finn all have a common goal of teaching tolerance and equality. As many of our sentences reflected, one of the major themes was how Huck changed as a person and what he did for Jim. We can tell what Mark Twain wanted readers to think by the way he wrote the novel. Twain made the character of Huck very likeable and respectable, especially since he is so young. The many adventures between Huck and Jim show us the inner-conflicts that Huck has fluctuating between turning Jim in or not, and we see the great friendship that eventually blooms out of tolerance. At first, Huck tries to play tricks on Jim and doesn’t see him as a true human being with feelings, just because that is how Huck was taught. As the novel progresses, Huck sees that Jim is just like himself, and he is very patient with him, and does everything he can to look out for him. This powerful friendship between a white and black person shows the importance of equality, because everybody can relate and become close in some way. No matter who they are, Huck Finn teaches us that we are all equally humans.
*** I understand that this is a late posting, if you wish for an explanation I'd be glad to describe. If not, well at least I did the post.
I'd think that when Mark Twain wrote Huck Finn, he mainly just wanted to write a book about a kid and a slave. I do not think he had any intention of any future racial problem or discrimination. The novel has taught about acceptance about race though. It shows the idea of tolerance by using the language and diction of history. The "n-word" challenges people to accept that there is racial tension among society and there is not much one could do. It also shows the mistreatment toward African-Americans as slaves, being able to sell and trade them. This story also shows equality: Huck and Jim are both runaways who want to escape society. They are of different races but still share the same ideas and methods. Equality is mainly stressed when, even though Huck is white and in the age of time superior, Jim is equal. In those times, what the white man said was key. But Jim sometimes takes matters into his own hands and choses to be superior in words. At one point, Jim found out that Pap was dead and would not allow Huck to witness the body. This shows that Jim is not just some slave, he looks out for others while at the same time choosing on his own. The matters equality and tollerance then portray onto us students. We must learn from this book. Let us all treat eachother fairly and disregard faults or differences we have among us. That is the idea to Huck Finn, we are all equal.
In response to Adrian's post On Match 11, 2011 at 8:55 P.M.
I love the idea that Huck accepts Jim through his uneducation. Teaching him the things that Jim does not understand is a great example of tolerance. I think we have all encountered examples in life where we try to teach somebody something they do not understand. Teaching Jim the origins of French and even about the kings was a great step of understand and tolerance.
#1 I believe that this novel taught the importance of tolerance and equality quite well. On the subject of tolerance, I would say that Huck was the one who proved that tolerance was important. He never let anyone talk any trash about Jim and he had continued to help Jim run away from his master. This teaches tolerance because even though he made it look like Jim was only a slave to him, deep down he truly enjoyed his company even though they were of a different race. This was an important plot point in the novel and the relationship between Huck and Jim was the main way that Mark Twain was able to get across the importance of tolerance. Equality was also important to the novel because equality wasn't heard of during the time of slavery. Mark Twain didn't believe in slavery and he wanted to show the world that equality was important, and he accomplished that by having Huck treat Jim as an equal halfway through the story. At first Huck was using Jim just for company, but as their friendship grew, he started to realize that Jim was as much as a human being that Huck was himself. He marked himself as an abolitionist because he believed in equality and he was willing to accept the consequences of his actions because of this. The whole novel was based on the moral values of society back then, and it mainly focused on how the slaves were treated unequally and weren't tolerated by their white masters. Mark Twain set out to give his perspective on the subject to the world, and when we read this book during this era, we could take the perspective of our society now and compare it to society back then. We could then see that we have decided that tolerance and equality is the way to create a nation that thrives instead of one that would eventually wither and die.
In response to Paige...
I agree with you entirely. Mark Twain had wanted the world to see that slaves weren't just pieces of property, but human beings too. By depicting Huck and Jim as he did, he was able to accomplish this. If their relationship would have been different, the novel wouldn't have had the same effect on people and Twain's point wouldn't have influenced his readers. Huck and Jim were the main focal points of tolerance and equality, and their peculiar relationship was the quintessential example of what society should have been like, instead of what it had been. That society is what we have today.
Kelsey im pretty sure we're screwed cuz I don't think clems ever gonna look at this again, even though both of us have excuses. :/ and Clem if you do, thankssssss youuu XD
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