H.Finn Vitality to American Literature - 11.19.15

     In my opinion, I do believe that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a vital text to development of American literature. Foster gives the example of that without Mark Twain's writing of this novel that America's satire would not be the same without it. It creates a sort of template for other authors to base themselves off of. Foster also talks about how dialect was the "hallmark of low, low 'comedy'" (Foster 104) He then goes on to tell us that by foster using dialect it brings the reader into the world of the narrator and helps us understand issues from a different social/ethnic perspective. In conclusion to this all, I do believe that Huck Finn is a vital text as it creates a template for future American literature and helps other authors develop their works.

H.F. Evaluation & General Likes and Dislikes - 11.17.15

     The interpretation that I hold of the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain can be summed up as a useless book with hidden satire that is not very recognizable unless you are studying and looking into the text. I claim it to be useless because in the end we find out that Miss Watson had died two months earlier and had left Jim as a free man in her will. So all of that fuss to get Jim into the free states was worth nothing, and to get Jim out of the custody of a man named “Nat” who had a fear of witches. However, I do not find this novel useless by the fact that it is satirical. That being it mocks racism, civilization, and romanticism. It mocks racism and partially slavery by including a friendship between Huck and Jim and also by using the word, ’n*****’  as it is used at least 205 times throughout the entire book. Civilization or ‘sivilization’ is mocked as he dreads going back to the Widow’s house as she civilizes him through religion and proper manners; civilization is also mocked in the family feuds between the Grangerfords and Shephardsons as they are wealthy families (seen by the amount of slaves they own) and how in the process of their feuds several people have died from each family.

     What have I liked and disliked about this novel? Personally, I liked the satirical standpoints that Mark Twain took on by making the narration in a first person point of view, especially by a young boy around the age of 12-13. The age level and the first person point of view makes it so that no matter how ignorant Huck gets or how mature he becomes throughout the novel everything is seen through his eyes and nothing is being altered or left out (unless exaggerated as it should be because children/teenagers like to exaggerate). One thing that I disliked a lot was the character of Tom as he was somewhat immature and his life was strictly about adventuring and the fact that if something was easily done, it was done wrong, and that it needed to be made harder. For example, when they were saving Jim Huck suggested that they should just lift up the leg on the bed to release the chain, but Tom though that they should saw off the leg of the bed and then release the chain which is obviously much more complicated. Another thing that I disliked is how slow the novel went on and how towards the middle of the book it jumped around (partially because Twain decided to stop writing and then continue again). 

     In conclusion, I felt that this book was somewhat useless but I enjoyed the satirical parts although they are not immediately recognizable by the reader unless they are searching farther into the text. I had some likes and dislikes about this novel, those being the satirical standpoints and the character Tom Sawyer as well as the pace of the novel as well as the pace of the book and the random jump towards the middle of the book.

Multi-Genre Journal Entry - 11.10.15

April 10 1834

     My own son lef' me tuhday, he wuhs apparently murdered n' foun' in ye river. Per usual I drown mysef' in liquor n' otha spirits. All these people in this town are blamin' me for his murda as if I wuz the one to do it!! They all is thinkin' that eva sinces I becom an alcoholic that I wuz de one do murder me own son. Allz dis alchohol drowns out the screams in ma head from ever sinc' I was little when my own Pap tanned me in my own room whenevahs I did sumthin' wrong. 

April 12 1834

     It’s uh been two days since ma own son left me here, I is a missin’ my son and keep on wonderin’ when he will b back. I has been drownin’ out the sorrows wit even more liquor than evah’ befor. The alchohol has a been helpin’ me through dese tuff times. Ye townspeople is still blamin’ me for de death of ma son. I plans on leavin’ in the mornin’ to escape scrutiny and becom’ an slave owna and actually have someon’ to beat on so I can rid of mai anger issues. I plan on goin’ to the ol’ state of Arkansas where the n****** is plenty and where I can accualy make a decent livin’. 

April 14 1834 

     I sincerely hav’ no clue if it are actually the day that I dun’ put in the top on tis piece of papah. But if it are then boy do I has a story fo’ yous! I left a yesterdah’ mornin’ n’ as I wuz leavin’ I wuz gettin’ attacked by a mob of people!! I dun threw my empty liquah’ bottles at them and den dey were on their ways back. I brought all da alcohol I cud carry onto mai raft and set sail down de river!!! I fell asleep afta’ drinkin’ mebbe three whole bottels of whisky and passed on out, so das why I not even sure if it are the fourteenth, but I suppose I will dun find out when I arrive In Arkansas. 

Huckleberry Finn, Friendship - 11.9.15

     In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, I would characterize the relationship between Huck and Jim as a relationship beyond words. Partly for the time period this book takes place which relates to the racial difference between the two, and also for the part that they are two entirely different people. The book takes place in the 1830’s which is essentially known as the antebellum period before the Civil War when slavery, racism, and prejudice were prominent in the Americas. Another also notable characteristic about the two characters are their racial differences and the age difference between the two. Huck is a young white boy around the age of twelve (I’m assuming) while Jim is a middle-aged (also an assumption) African American with a wife and children that are also in slavery. They also have different aspirations. Huck aspires to be an adventurer while Jim just wants to be a free slave and purchase his daughter and wife out of slavery. Despite their differences of where they come from and their aspirations of this journey they still show to be great friends as seen in the quote, “Jim won’t ever forget you, Huck; you is de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had; en you is de only fren’ ole Jim’s got now.” (Twain 92) 

     A few things that I find surprising about the relationship between Huck and Jim are the fact that the two actually get along together. This is surprising to me because as I said before they have so many differences between one another — race, age and aspirations. One thing that I find extremely surprising about the Huck and Jim is how they are not in a panic that they are traveling further and further down south on the Mississippi river. I believe that Twain’s purpose in developing this odd friendship is to show that no matter where you come from or who you are that every person is still human and can get along even if they have a large mass of differences.

     In conclusion to this blog about the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the two characters of Huck and Jim have developed an odd yet remarkable relationship that I personally described as beyond words based on the time period that the novel takes place in. There are many surprising parts about this relationship but the final thing that Mark Twain was most likely trying to get across to his readers is that no matter who you are or where you come from you can overcome your differences and be friends.

America - 11.5.15

In my opinion America has some great aspects and it also has some issues. A few of the great aspects to America can be seen in our very own Bill of Rights. Most importantly, freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is one of the most important aspects to America as it has contributed to creating and maintaining our future and past. Without freedom of speech we wouldn't have journalists & photojournalists. [I'm doing my capstone project on Photojournalism] An issue that I see as prevalent in America today is the issue of equality. Equality in the lines of race, sexuality, and sex. Racism and prejudice (also stereotyping) have become prevalent, however I do not see it on a daily basis as my friends and family are not racist. Inequality can be seen all over the place, it has gotten a lot better within the past couple of years as it has become more of a regular thing for people to open up about themselves and talk about if they are homosexual or transgender. Many people, mainly in the south, are against homosexuality as it is seen as a sin in the bible. Another issue that is seen on a daily basis is on the matter of sex. That being between man and woman as women are treated as if they cannot do all the tasks that a man can do, and they are payed less than a man. However, all of these issues are getting worked on and improved on a day to day basis.

The N-Word - 11.3.15

     The “n-word” used throughout the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain contains a negative connotation to it. Personally, I do not prefer the use of this word and I react with some surprise when it is used around me. The n-word does not mean much to me as people today use it to describe someone who is their friend. For example, “Hey thats my nigga!” Or something around that context. When it is used like that I do not react as harshly as I would when it is used with the -er ending as I find that much more offensive, and I am sure many others do too. The word in its entirety has a lot of historical meaning as it has been used for years on years most recognizably in the eighteen-hundreds with abolition and the Civil War.

     I was not surprised encountering the word in my readings because of the time-period the book was set in, that being the 1830’s. I had already been used to reading some literature containing the word through my A.P. United States History class last year. Although, I was extremely surprised on the amount of times the word was used throughout the book. Just by searching how many times the n-word is used throughout the entire book I found that it was used a total of 205 times; and in chapter two alone it was used eight times. 

     If we as a class were to be having a socratic seminar and the word were to be used I would not react with surprise to it, but personally I do not think I would say the word because I feel that it is not in my nature to say it. To put this into simpler words, I would treat the n-word as I would treat the b-word. I would ever just throw it out there, but only use it when needed or required.

     The n-word has a negative connotation: that being negative and derogatory. The word also carries a bit of history with it as used heavily throughout the 1800’s. In conclusion, I do find the word to be offensive unless used in such a way that is not (which can be rare) but seeing it in literature of a time period when it was used with such a negative meaning makes me feel that it is perfectly fine just because that is how people talked then.