What do the minor characters Miss Watson, the widow, and Judge Thatcher tell us about Twain's views of society? How is Twain using the voice of Huck to critique the society?
Well, it seems that the widow truly cares about Huck and she is extremely patient with him, whereas Miss Watson represents the hypocritical religious and ethical values in society. Twain tries to reveal to his audience that there are both good and bad people in society. Judge Thatcher and the widow represent those people in society that actually try to help because the judge tried to comfort Huck and the widow truly cares for Huck and want to turn him into a better person. I think Twain tries to critique society through the minor characters by using the word "N***ER" so much. He, as an individual thinks its wrong but he exploits what actually happens in the south.
My first impression of Jim was that he was an intelligent individual but also very different. At first he seemed a little emotional, compassionate, and superstitious. At first he seems to be a bit to superstitious to the point that it just seemed stupid but as i read on, I realized that this wasn't the case. I truly admire the way he loves and misses his family and it reveals plenty of things about his character. One can also tell that Jim is very kind because he acted like a father to Huck on the river by providing food, shelter, and various levels of protection (emotional, physical, psychologically). I felt bad when i realized that Jim was at the mercy of everyone in the novel because he ran away but he only did so in fear of losing his family forever.
And by the way, i didn't know that we didn't have to do the double entries for Huck Finn so i did the first 3 chapters (5 quotes each chapter). So Ms. A could you take a look anyway please. Thanks.
Each indivdual in this book is used equally to represent different ethical vaules in society. By doing this twain is able to create a sense of humility throughout the book and throughout the society. i believe twain tries to critique socitey (like andre stated) through his choice of words, for example, he uses the word N***ER, a lot. By him doing so he is able to show the worngful doings of the south durin this time period, and shows how much he dislikes the way people in the society were being treated but knew that the only way in which it would be impactful was to use the termenology to exploit there wrongful doings.
Why should Tom go through all that trouble of setting free Jim, if, technically, he was already free from Miss WAtson's will? Well, technically, all slaves are free b/c of the fact that they are humans, so one can assume that blacks are already free. Why go through the trouble of setting them free then, if, technically they are already free? I think this is what Twain might have been trying to criticize. AFter all that trouble, in the end of Huck's adventures...in the end of the book....we find out that Jim was already a free man. The only reason that ppls thought otherwise was b/c of all the corrupt lies that emanated from huck and Tim. Well, wouldn't Twain be suggesting in a similar respect that technically, in reality, all these black people are free from the beginning, and in the end, after you go through this horrible period of slavery being legal...of ppls suffering b/c of their skin color....in the end, just like in Jim's case, they are technically free. And the only reason these slaves are treated as "slaves" are b/c of the corrupt society of the south (just like the only reason Jim was treated that way was b/c of the corruption of Tom's and Huck's lies). I think that's what Twain is signaling to us about slavery... what's the sense in it all???? In the end, it all boils down to WE R FREE!!
Andre: Your comments are sophisticated and insightful. You use the text to support your ideas. I will definitely look at your double entry. Beautiful Job.
Devon: Yes, but you can chose one that really intrigues you.
Alexandra: You are quite right about Twain and his purpose on criticizing society.
Shelley: You bring up a really interesting issue: why did Huck go along with Tom's crazy plan to set Jim free? I suppose it goes along with Tom's character. But we need to discuss this further. The ending of the novel is often criticized.
The purpose of beauty according to Emerson has to do with a persons soul. Emerson believes the soul seeks to satisfy beauty. Beauty also according to him enchants Nature. It's actually a part of it.
7 comments:
Well, it seems that the widow truly cares about Huck and she is extremely patient with him, whereas Miss Watson represents the hypocritical religious and ethical values in society. Twain tries to reveal to his audience that there are both good and bad people in society. Judge Thatcher and the widow represent those people in society that actually try to help because the judge tried to comfort Huck and the widow truly cares for Huck and want to turn him into a better person. I think Twain tries to critique society through the minor characters by using the word "N***ER" so much. He, as an individual thinks its wrong but he exploits what actually happens in the south.
Ms. A., when you say, "Questions to ponder on," do you mean we just keep these questions in mind as we read?
My first impression of Jim was that he was an intelligent individual but also very different. At first he seemed a little emotional, compassionate, and superstitious. At first he seems to be a bit to superstitious to the point that it just seemed stupid but as i read on, I realized that this wasn't the case. I truly admire the way he loves and misses his family and it reveals plenty of things about his character. One can also tell that Jim is very kind because he acted like a father to Huck on the river by providing food, shelter, and various levels of protection (emotional, physical, psychologically). I felt bad when i realized that Jim was at the mercy of everyone in the novel because he ran away but he only did so in fear of losing his family forever.
And by the way, i didn't know that we didn't have to do the double entries for Huck Finn so i did the first 3 chapters (5 quotes each chapter). So Ms. A could you take a look anyway please. Thanks.
Each indivdual in this book is used equally to represent different ethical vaules in society. By doing this twain is able to create a sense of humility throughout the book and throughout the society. i believe twain tries to critique socitey (like andre stated) through his choice of words, for example, he uses the word N***ER, a lot. By him doing so he is able to show the worngful doings of the south durin this time period, and shows how much he dislikes the way people in the society were being treated but knew that the only way in which it would be impactful was to use the termenology to exploit there wrongful doings.
Why should Tom go through all that trouble of setting free Jim, if, technically, he was already free from Miss WAtson's will? Well, technically, all slaves are free b/c of the fact that they are humans, so one can assume that blacks are already free. Why go through the trouble of setting them free then, if, technically they are already free? I think this is what Twain might have been trying to criticize.
AFter all that trouble, in the end of Huck's adventures...in the end of the book....we find out that Jim was already a free man. The only reason that ppls thought otherwise was b/c of all the corrupt lies that emanated from huck and Tim. Well, wouldn't Twain be suggesting in a similar respect that technically, in reality, all these black people are free from the beginning, and in the end, after you go through this horrible period of slavery being legal...of ppls suffering b/c of their skin color....in the end, just like in Jim's case, they are technically free. And the only reason these slaves are treated as "slaves" are b/c of the corrupt society of the south (just like the only reason Jim was treated that way was b/c of the corruption of Tom's and Huck's lies). I think that's what Twain is signaling to us about slavery... what's the sense in it all???? In the end, it all boils down to WE R FREE!!
Andre: Your comments are sophisticated and insightful. You use the text to support your ideas.
I will definitely look at your double entry. Beautiful Job.
Devon: Yes, but you can chose one that really intrigues you.
Alexandra: You are quite right about Twain and his purpose on criticizing society.
Shelley: You bring up a really interesting issue: why did Huck go along with Tom's crazy plan to set Jim free? I suppose it goes along with Tom's character. But we need to discuss this further. The ending of the novel is often criticized.
Good Job, Guys!
Ok the following is for 2/11/08's homework.
The purpose of beauty according to Emerson has to do with a persons soul. Emerson believes the soul seeks to satisfy beauty. Beauty also according to him enchants Nature. It's actually a part of it.
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