Throughout chapters seven through eleven Huckleberry Finn’s character becomes more developed and the reader has the opportunity to read more into his psyche. After faking his own death, Huck retreats to Jacksons island where he believes he is alone, until he stumbles upon Miss Watson’s slave Jim. Jim then informs Huck of Miss Watson’s venture to sell him. After learning of this plan, Jim decided to run away as well. Huck and Jim reuniting was a symbiotic blessing in itself. Without Huck, Jim, if captured, would be reclaimed as a slave and resold. Without Jim, Huck would be a young boy alone in the wilderness suffering from lonliness and immaturity. As the story continues Huck learns from a women that his death he staged himself has been blamed upon Jim. This also contributes to Jim’s reasoning in running away. Huck also worries and fears for Jim’s safety as he does not want his friend and protector to be taken from him, leaving him alone yet again. Because of Hucks unusual fondness towards Jim, a black slave, the reader is given hope that the friendship will continue to develop throughout the story. This early friendship foreshadows that Huck may continue to disregard the difference in race between him and Jim despite societies bleak view of blacks.
I really like your point. This chapter does reflect the tension of slavery at that time and how Huck's relation with Jim is contrary to society which personifies Huck's character for who he really is, making the reader attracted to Huck not for his lack of education but for his knowledge of right and wrong.
ReplyDeleteHannah, your last sentence of this entry is where I want you to go with your entries. Try and move away from reiterating the plot and investigate the purpose of the plot.
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