Huckleberry Finn so far
I feel like Huckleberry Finn is one of the most descriptive, weird, and interesting books I’ve ever read. Diving into complex themes of trust, friendship, racism, etc. I feel like Twain wants to make the reader conflicted on purpose. Using racist language such ass the “n-word” and showing the physical and psychological mistreatment of blacks (in this case Jim) Twain shows how messed up slavery was in the South. Huck’s friendships he builds along the way with Jim, the duke and prince, etc. show a test of trust as the duke and prince betray him but Jim doesn’t. I Also learned that Twain uses his own experience as a steamboat pilot to show symbolism in the Mississippi River. The river is symbolic of freedom as no one can reach Huck and Jim while they’re gone away, while it is a symbol of control/fate as it takes them deeper into the South and they encounter several problems/scenarios afterwards. All in all, I feel like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an embodiment of classic American literature, as it showcases different genres, opinions, and lessons learned.
One response so far
I agree that the South and the river play big non-human roles in this book; the southern values of the time being emphasized through various characters, and the river symbolizing an other worldly determinant of fates. I think they are connected, and Twain ties them together nicely in “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”. In the South, religion, specifically Christianity, is regarded so highly that people fear straying from its teachings, and follow whatever is being preached to them without challenging what may appear to be falsely preached, for example, slavery being just. Huck sees traveling down the river as his new religion, with the river itself as his new god. And just as southerns, Huck blindly follows the river without question. Despite not finding Cairo due to the fog, Huck and Jim continue south down the river. Neither of these characters give a second of their time to think of a way to reach Cairo. The river naturally flows south, so Huck and Jim follow the current. Just like many religious people at the this time do not stray from their path following god.