Transcript File
Huck Finn Notes: Character, Setting, Theme Satire, Symbols 1 Satire Literary Religious Societal 2 Literary Satire Tom’s imaginary adventures He insists on doing all things according to the books he has read Have his gang sign in blood their oath of allegiance Capture and hold people for ransom even though Tom doesn’t know what it means: “I don’t know…I’ve seen it in books…that’s what we’ve got to do”. 3 Religious Satire – Twain denounces organized religion with several references Huck prays for fish hooks The Widow Douglas tells Huck about the “good place” and teaches him about the bible but later on they “fetched the niggers in and had prayers…” The raid on the Sunday school picnic because Miss Watson told him whatever he prayed for he would get Tom said it was Arabs and Spanish merchants while Huck says to himself afterwards that it was only a “primer class” Hypocrisy of the Gangerfords and Shepherdsons the sermon is on brotherly love; they bring their guns to church and prop them against the wall 4 Societal Satire Twain criticizes a society which forces a son to obey such a corrupt and evil person as Pap Satirizes American values; society is more interested in a dead body ( Huck ) than it is in the welfare of living people ( Huck ) Huck’s conscience tells him that Jim is corrupt to think of stealing his own children from another man Feuds are satirized: Buck wants to kill a man, not because he carries any hostility towards him,, but because his family is feuding with the other’s family He exposes slavery and shows blacks to have feelings just like others, especially in the episode where Jim tells Huck about his daughter Twain shows an aversion to royalty with the adventures of the Duke and the King 5 Literary Satire Emmeline Grangerford’s sentimental poetry for dead people If Emmeline Grangerford could make poetry like that before she was fourteen, there ain’t no telling what she could ‘a done by and by”. The wreck the Walter Scott – sentimental British writer; Twain names the wreck after the writer 6 Setting – contrast of the river and shore The river Where Huck and Jim feel safest “We said there warn’t no home like a raft, after all.” “You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft.” Where Huck and Jim develop a friendship They can think for themselves No authority Huck is brave enough to break with what others assume is correct and just. 7 Setting – on shore Shore is oppressive compared to the freedom of the river Where Huck sees the hypocrisy of society Huck and Jim encounter slavery, deception and another side of civilization on shore See social injustices The trickery and cheating of the King and Duke The lack of caring by the townspeople for Boggs The innocence of the Wilks sisters 8 Huck’s Character: shrewd, gullible and compassionate An uneducated backward boy Constantly under pressure to conform to society Has racist attitudes at first Tries to find freedom He learns to think and reason for himself Develops empathy for Jim – decides not to turn him in and with Jim’s fate in his hands, he decides to “give up try’in” ( smallpox incident ) But follows Tom Sawyer when he reappears – he is easily molded and his morals and empathy fail him The only time his morality and loyalty to Jim are clear is when he makes decisions alone with only his heart guiding him 9 Huck’s Developing Character Initial Character Follows Tom Looks down on Jim Believes society more important than human feelings Goes along with King and Duke Loses his identity 10 Huck’s Developing Character Forces of Change Sees Tom’s unrealistic nature Grows to know and care for Jim Observes the bloody feud Unable to betray Jim Travels down the river with Jim 11 Huck’s Developing Character Character Change Follows his own ideas Respects Jim Realizes the stupid savagery inside Believes human feelings more important than society Sympathizes with all humanity Gains a new sense of self 12 Theme Growing up and maturing Huck takes care of himself Although young, he faces many adult situations i.e an abusive father, Jim’s freedom; confessing to the Wilks The feud between the Grangerfords and Sheperdsons is one of the most tragic things in the book; he sees blood and dying that nauseated him The cowardice of the mob that goes after Colonel Sheburn and how they only gain courage borrowed from their mass He feels bad for the King and Duke when they are tarred and feathered by the townspeople. His ill feelings toward them melt away: “Human beings can be awful cruel to one another”, he observes. He concludes that a conscience is useless because it makes you feel bad no matter what you do. 13 Theme Learning to think and reason morally for oneself Huck develops a moral conscience Huck struggles with obeying the law and turning Jim in or risk having a bad reputation and protect Jim He apologizes to Jim for fooling him about the dream He fears he may have done wrong in helping a slave to escape. His traditions and environment pull him one way; what he feels in his heart pulls him another way. He feels better after he writes the letter to Miss Watson but tears it up and says, “All right, then, I’ll go to hell”. His idea of racism is based on his upbringing but he questions the validity of black inferiority Huck admits that Jim “had an uncommon head for a nigger”. 14 Theme The quest for freedom Jim seeks freedom from slavery – he runs away when he hears Miss Watson talking of selling him “down the river” Jim can’t do anything against the rules of his taboos, superstitions and charms The hairball, the snake-skin Huck seeks to be free and not have to live in fear of his father, or being civilized 15 Symbols in the Novel The River Jim Symbolizes all the slaves in the south; we see the southern attitudes toward black people; we also see through Jim the humanity even in slaves Widow Douglas and Miss Watson Freedom for Huck and Jim Symbolize society and civilization; they tried to civilize Huck but he ran away from them The Raft Grangerfords and Shepherdsons The King and Duke 16