Alone, this profound influence on all American literature makes Huckleberry Finn worthy of being included in the canon of great American literature, but his exploration into a revolutionary relationship between a white boy and a runaway slave make it even more worthy. The relationship between Huck and Jim is profound due to its progression throughout the novel. When Huck first leaves Jackson Island with Jim, he still views Jim as a “nigger.” He believes in the common stereotypes about “niggers,” such as that “you can’t learn a nigger to argue” (Twain 104), and he plays tricks on Jim.
Dialogue: Mark Twain utilized clever and witty dialogue often in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. From Tom Sawyer's plans to cause trouble to Huck tricking Jim, the dialogue often serves a comedic purpose. However, there are several instances where the tone becomes serious, and these instances are often used to further the plot and provide an opportunity for another ridiculous encounter. Mark Twain's masterful utilization of dialogue helped establish the novel as a classic. Stream of Consciousness: One of the most commonly used literary element in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the stream of consciousness.
Drew Christensen Hour 0 “Honest, perceptive, and fair-minded, a loving father, and loyal friend.” are the words of Barbara Apstein, PhD and professor at Bridgewater University, describing none other than “nigger-Jim.” She goes on to say that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is actually an anti-slavery and anti-racist book. She concluded this after observing a debate on Huck Finn by Bridgewater University students. Indeed, Huck Finn is an anti-racist book, and should be taught in schools. Firstly, it portrays Jim, a black slave, as an honorable man, arguably the only honorable man in the entire book. Secondly it compels students to think critically about the characters and ideas.
It was awful thoughts and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more of reforming.” (268) Huck finally makes the decision to keep helping Jim, and knows there is no turning back. By choosing to go against society, Huck remains loyal to Jim, proving their friendship to be strong. Huck knows that once he has made a choice, he has to go all the way, “ For a starter I would go to work and steal Jim out of slavery again; and if I could think up anything worse, I would do that, too; because as long as I was in, and in for good, I might as well go the whole hog.” (268) Huck is willing to accept any consequence that comes along with helping Jim because he has promised to help Jim as much as he could, even though it meant being shunned by society. Through Hucks decisions he made throughout the novel, Huck emerges as an individual with different beliefs from that of the rest of society.
Enlisting in the war would help him feel more secure about where he stands at that point in his life. Since the war symbolizes the coming of age, Gene is looking for who he is ties in perfectly with this theme. In the novel the passage beginning with “To enlist. To slam the door…” (Knowles 100) is when Gene finally realizes that he is insecure about whom he is and that he just wants to be someone else because he’s just not comfortable being in his own skin. This relates to the theme of coming of age because Gene towards the end of the book finally decides to enlist in the war with Brinker Hadley and he finds himself with the war and that’s why the war symbolizes Gene growing as a person in this novel.
Storytelling is important to human existence because it is a means of capturing memories of the past and incorporating them into ethical and everyday life. Memory and ethics coincide with each other as one can be an explanation or an observation of the other; without one, the other would most likely not make sense. Goodbye Lemon written by Adam Davies is a wonderful example that exudes the power of storytelling. The narrator, Jack, writes of the many different personal qualities and traits his deceased brother Dexter might have possessed, since Jack was too young to have any memory of his brother. Through the prologue of Goodbye Lemon , Davies wants to convey to his audience that you can bring any character to life through writing.
Throughout the novel, we read numerous examples of characters of high moral qualities acting nobly in order to benefit someone in need. These actions take many forms: from lying, to taking physical action. Huckleberry Finn, for example, is a spontaneous liar, but as you examine what he says, you see that it is only to keep himself and Jim out of danger. He is not lying to hurt, but to keep the promises he has made. Without his lying, he would have to witness Jim’s capture and return to slavery.
Huck should have told the officials about the runaway slave, Jim, immediately as he found him. Yet throughout the story Huck grows a strong bond with Jim which is unheard of in those times. Jim gets taken and Huck debates on trying to save his friend or let a slave go rightfully. “All right then, I’ll go to hell” (Twain 214) This is one of the most powerful statements in the book because its Huck accepting the fact that he is willing to go to give up his immortal spirit in order to help his friend, Jim, and do what is right. Huck completely now views Jim as more than just property, but as a person.
Blake Overland Sanders/Youmans Modern Civilization 5 March 2012 The Inspiration That Drove Frederick Douglass to Freedom In Frederick Douglass's narrative of his life, there is a key turning point in the story when Douglass is staying with the Auld family learning the alphabet that comes to shift the inspiration and drive that existed in his life. Mr. Auld says things to Douglass in this passage that helps him understand the way that the white man feels about slaves and why they treat blacks like animals while at the same time also showing him the way out of slavery indirectly (1018). The specific passage mentioned earlier is very short, but can be seen as one of the most important parts of the entire work. Out of all the slave owners Douglass ever came into contact with, Mr. Auld can be seen in light of this story as one of the more significant. His view of Frederick also gives the reader a firsthand look at the way the slave owners in the South really
Friendship is a powerful force that drives many dramatic plots. Authors will use friendship as a way to show the struggles a character needs to go through by showing the reader how important friendship is in affecting the plot. In the novel, The Cay, the author Theodore Taylor creates strong binds of friendship in the story only to be ripped away. Phillip is separated from his mother by a ship explosion. Then Phillip meets an unexpected friend, a black man named Timothy.