Huck Finn 6: 185-209

“I felt so ornery and low down and mean, that I says to myself, My mind’s made up; I’ll hive that money for them or bust” (188).

• Huck has been greatly influenced by both Pap and Ms. Watson. This is evident in many cases throughout the novel. However, this passage introduces us to a different Huck who begins to formulate his own decisions. He is no longer speaking of what he has been taught, but draws on his ideas and opinions from his own mind. Despite Huck’s previous way of thinking, “the best way to get along with his kind of people is to let them have their own way” (137), his empathy for the girls overwhelms him, forcing Huck to intrude on allowing the king and Duke to “have their own way” (137). Huck, as usual, is illustrated as courageous in this quote, being aware of what danger he may be putting himself in.

“Well, I says to myself at last, I’m agoing to chance it; I’ll up and tell the truth this time, though it does seem most like setting down on a kag of powder and touching it off just to see where you’ll go to” (200).

• This quote also demonstrates Huck’s thought process in making his own decisions. Yet, it also relates to the theme of Huck’s moral process versus the moral action/outcome. Throughout the novel, Huck struggles with an erroneous moral triangle. His intentions were good, however, the moral process Huck went through was muddled, but always resulted in a good outcome. Huck’s muddled moral process was unclear solely because of the many influences he had in his life. However, through this passage, we see Huck overcome his muddled thought process and decide to go out on a limb and tell the truth for once: “here’s a case where I’m blest if it don’t look to me like the truth is better, and actuly safer, than a lie” (200). This shows the refinement of his moral process, which will hopefully result in a good outcome.

Vocabulary:

“The lid was shoved along about a foot, showing the dead man’s face down there, with a wet cloth over it, and his shroud on” (192).

Shroud: (noun) a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial

“It jolted her up like everything, of course; but I was over the shoal water now, so I went right along” (200).

Shoal: (noun) a place where a sea, river, or other body of water is shallow

Huck &+ Jim Dialogue

Huck

Today, I reckon will be the day I tell Jim of what Pap and t’others think he done to me. I never said nothing; kept it to myself ‘cause I thought keeping it a secret wouldn’t be no problem. But by-and-by, I think I owes it to ‘em. I reckon that lyin’ to Jim wouldn’t do no good ‘cause last time I did suttin bad to ole Jim, he got bit by the snake and I promised myself it’d never happen again. It warn’t no use keeping it to myself ‘cause we was almost to Cairo so it wouldn’t matter no more.
I stared at Jim and thought to myself if this a good idea; us runnin’ off, and me with a nigger on my hands? Maybe it was bad and would send me to the bad place like Ms. Watson been tellin’ me bout. Ms. Watson always says we ought to follow the law no matters what. But I already broke the law so there warn’t no use in tryin to fix it. By and by, I woke Jim up ‘cause I wanted to tell him before the king and duke got to their senses. “Jim,” says I, “wake up”. Jim looked up at me ruther strange ‘cause he warn’t sure of why I would be doing such a thing. Jim didn’t answer so I just started talkin’. “See here Jim, when I’s dressed up as a girl and went to that house in the woods t’otha night, that lady tells me about myself. She said Pap and the others think you’s the one that killed me that night I ran away. They lookin for you Jim, not to sell you, but to put yous in prison or prob’ly kill you. But I knows it warn’t no problem no more cuz we’s almost to Cairo where nobody’ll bother to ask nuthin bout our reasons.” Jim was quiet, and all a sudden started cryin’ and howlin’ at me. It warn’t no use in trying to calm him down, it was my doing.

Jim

"I don't know what te say," says I. "Is it so chile? ‘Spose I's d'cided to goes on back te home wid Ms. Watson un alls the rest? They'd sho take me un whack me ove' the head wid no chance te speak my peace. I doan' want te think bout this no mo'. Its puttin' a hurtin in ma heart. I thought you's said you's gonna stop lyin te me chile. Are you's jus nuther white man out te git me? I knows u aint, else u wouldn't be helpin in gittin ma freedom n comin bak wid me to finds my fam'ly. I don't got five million frens runnin' roun' tryin to help ole Jim. I on'y got you's Huck. On account o' dat, its ok that you's fergot to tell me that t'others assumin that I's the one that dun keel you. We’s neva gonna see them e’r agin. A new life is a comin’ Huck, jis yous wait n see. We's sho is gonna be happy; free te do wateve’ we wants wen we gits to Cairo, jis layin aroun' bein free wid my fam'ly. And you's sho welcom te be wid us too. I doan' mean to 'sturb yur plans if u's was plannin’ on sumthin else but I's sure do needs you Huck, no matter wha happens chile, I' mighty glad to have you honey. Now let’s put alls dis behine us n move on. Ain’t no use un stayin mad at each othas, ares future wid happiness and joy is a comin’. Jis wait an’ see chile, jis wait an’ see.

Huck Finn 5: 129-157

“If they wanted us to call them kings and dukes, I hadn’t no objections, long as it would keep peace in the family… If I never learnt nothing else out of pap, I learnt that the best way to get along with this kind of people is to let them have their own way” (137).

• In this passage, Huck makes an intelligent decision to accept the King and Duke’s lies only to avoid disagreements. Despite Huck’s upbringing, this says a lot about his character and what he values. Huck could have confronted the two men; however, he subconsciously conveys his values of peace and harmony through his beliefs: “above all things, on a raft, is for everyone to be satisfied” (137). This is Huck’s refuge and he is not willing to have anything ruin it. We also see Huck reveal the first positive and beneficial words of Pap. The reader is aware that throughout Huck’s life, Pap has been a negative influence and a bad role model for Huck, so when hearing this, it is a great shock that Pap could have instructed Huck with a solid foundation of values. Nonetheless, the unusual wise words from Pap brings about an anticipation for more possible wise advice.

“I found Jim had been trying to get him to talk French, so he could hear what it was like; but he had been in this country so long, and had so much trouble, he’s forgot it” (146).

• Earlier in the reading, Jim is extremely stubborn and refuses to believe that some men may have the ability to speak another language. He argues with Huck and leaves his mind set on the fact that a man is to speak the same language as every other man (92). Likewise, a dog must speak the language of its own species. Ignorance is prevalent during that portion of the reading; however, Jim seems to be growing intellectually in being able to control his stubborn nature. He makes an effort to be open-minded which shows his yearning for more education and less wanting to rely on his inflicted ignorance as a crutch. By asking to hear the man speak French, Jim is acknowledging other men’s abilities to speak in other language. This shows great improvement in Jim.

Vocabulary:

Next you’d see a raft sliding by, away off yonder, and maybe a galoot on it chopping, because they’re most always doing it on a raft” (130).

Galoot: (noun) an awkward, eccentric, or foolish person

“They had white-domestic awnings in front, and the country people hitched their horses to the awning-posts” (151).

Awning: (noun) A rooflike structure, often made of canvas or plastic, that serves as a shelter, as over a storefront, window, door, or deck

Huck Finn 4: 89-129

“Well, then, says I, what’s the use you learning to do right, when it’s troublesome to do right and ain’t no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?” (104).

• Huck addresses an essential question that has been asked for millions of years. Why would one do right if it is much easier to do wrong? Despite such an intellectual question, Huck’s mind seems to be working in an inverted manner. In his opinion, the ‘right’ would be turning Jim over to authority and the ‘wrong’ is covering everything up so Jim is not sold into slavery. Huck even thinks about Miss Watson and what her opinion of this would have been. However, Huck does not think of the morality of the situation. He is not aware that the ownership of another human being is wrong; therefore, his feelings of guilt and shame should actually be feelings of pride and accomplishment. This relates back to Huck's ignorance on religious matters.

“It was pretty ornery preaching—all about brotherly love, and suchlike tiresomeness; but everybody said it was a good sermon, and they all talked it over going home, and had such a powerful lot to say about faith, and good works” (121).

• After attending church with guns strapped to their bodies, the Shepherdsons and the Grangerfords discuss the sermon that they had recently heard. When hearing "brotherly love", it is thought to be the compassion that we are to have for our neighbors: "Do not murder...love your neighbor as you love yourself" (Matthew 19:19). However, that was not the case between both families. One would assume that they would be moved by the sermon and stop their feud; however, both families disregarded the essential message of the homily and continued to fight, which eventually resulted in deaths. Why speak about “good works, and free grace” (122) when all they wanted to do was kill and cause chaos? What is the point of attending church and listening to the Word if it has no affect on ones life?

Vocabulary:

“'Everybody goes away when I want them to help me tow the raft ashore, and I can’t do it by myself.’ ‘Well, that’s infernal mean'" (102).

Infernal: (adj) hellish; fiendish; diabolical: an infernal plot

“There was four or five men cavorting around on their horses in the open place before the log store, cussing and yelling, and trying to get at a couple of young chaps” (126).

Cavort: (verb) to bound or prance about in a sprightly manner; caper

Huck Finn 3: 47-66

"I got a good place amongst the leaves, and set there on a log, munching the bread and watching the ferry-boat, and very well satisfied" (48).

• After leaving town and being away from his father, Huck feels very content where he is. He finds his own food and makes his own shelter. Huck does not have to worry about knowing how to speak and dress properly, nor undergo beatings. He is one with nature. This is very similar to Pearl from The Scarlet Letter. Pearl, like Huck, finds refuge in the woods a long way from town. They both do not feel accepted in a town filled with religious views and condemning speech. Their place of safety is away from these people and close to the simple beauties that are often taken for granted.

“And every time I waked up I thought somebody had me by the neck. So the sleep didn’t do me no good. By-and-by I says to myself, I can’t live this way; I’m agoing to find out who it is that’s here on this island with me” (51).

• Huck is depicted as very brave throughout his adventure. He runs away by himself and did not think of the possibility of feeling lonesome. He planned out his escape, cooked food for himself to eat, and found shelter at night. Huck proved to be successfull in all his efforts of not getting caught and rarely expressed fear which was unusual for a boy of his age. Nevertheless, he ran off without considering how he could live without companionship. Paranoia soon crept into his carefree lifestyle, which hindered him from sleeping. It is clear that Huck realizes he can no longer live everyday alone so he commits himself to finding a companion.

Vocabulary:

“When I got to camp I warn’t feeling very brash, there warn’t much sand in my craw” (50).

Brash: (adj) bold, impertinent; impudent; tactless

“There was two old dirty calico dresses, and a sun-bonnet” (61).

Calico: (noun) a plain-woven cotton cloth printed with a figured pattern, usually on one side

Huck Finn 2: 28-46

“You’re educated, too, they say; can read and write. You think you’re better’n your father, now, don’t you, because he can’t? I’ll take it out of you” (29).

• Many people would assume Huck’s father as being jealous of his son’s ability to read and write. Jealousy is excessive want. However, does Huck’s father truly want to be literate? We don’t get the impression that Huck’s father wishes to learn how to read and write because if so, he would have made an effort. Therefore pride is the main factor in Huck’s father’s anger, not jealousy. Huck’s father wants to be superior and have a feeling of great importance over his son. If Huck is more of something than his father is, this sense of superiority is lost. Huck’s father then goes through extreme measures like locking him in the cabin simply so his son will be inferior to him, with no chance of bettering himself.

“I didn’t want to go back no more. I had stopped cussing, because the widow didn’t like it; but now I took to it again because pap hadn’t no objections. It was pretty good times up in the woods there, take it all around” (34).

• It is clear that Huck feels more comfortable in the woods because that is where he was raised. He did not have the luxury of attending school nor having nice clothes. So when these things are offered to him, Huck feels constricted and uncomfortable. At Miss Watson’s house, Huck was forced to act proper with manners and attend school, while with his father, Huck could do and say whatever he pleased without having to walk on eggshells. This could be understood as another problem reflecting Huck’s youth. At his age, Huck is not fully aware of what is best for him. He does not think of the long run and how his life will be in the future. Huck lives for today which is basically how he was raised to live i.e. catching fish for one night’s dinner not being conscientious of what they might eat for the next day.

Vocabulary:

“He had a gold watch and chain, and a silver-headed cane—the awfulest old gray-headed nabob in the State” (37).

Nabob: (noun) any very wealthy, influential, or powerful person

“After supper pap took the jug, and said he had enough whiskey there for two drunks and one delirium tremens” (38).

Delirium tremens: (noun) withdrawal syndrome occurring in persons who have developed physiological dependence on alcohol, characterized by tremor, visual hallucinations, and autonomic instability

Huck Finn 1: 9-27

“All I wanted was to go somewhere; all I wanted was a change, I warn’t particular” (10).

• Huck is very young and extremely ignorant when it comes to speaking on religious related topics simply because his age and the fact that he was never educated on the subject. Huck justifies his reasoning for wishing he was in Hell when he articulates the passage above. It is clear that Huck is not aware of what exactly the “bad place” (10) is. He simply wants variety added to his lifestyle. This quote illustrates Huck’s nonchalant manner when it comes to what Miss Watson imposes on Huck to be important. Huck had been raised with simple ambitions and this is evident through his indifferent manner and speech. We see differences in what Miss Watson values and what Huck values. This is because of the age difference and how Huck has been raised versus Ms. Watson’s gained knowledge.

“I must help other people, and do everything I could for other people, and look out for them all the time, and never think about myself” (19).

• Though this quote, we see Huck’s mind being molded into what Ms. Watson wants it to become. However, it is unsuccessful because, after pondering over the thought for a long time, Huck quickly disposes of it. Again, we see his naive approach to a religious idea. Huck expresses his concern for himself: “I couldn’t see no advantage about it—except for the other people” (19), implying that there is no reward for him. He does not fully understand the idea and takes it in a literal sense so as to come to the conclusion that he must literally “never think about [himself]” (19). Although Huck is ignorant to these ideas, he is very intelligent when it came to things having to do with the outdoors.

Vocabulary:

“I couldn’t make out how he was agoing to be any better off then than what he was before, seeing I was so ignorant and so kind of low-down and ornery” (20).

Ornery: (adj) ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper

“They didn’t have only a guard of four hundred soldiers, and so we would lay in ambuscade, as he called it, and kill the lot and scoop the things” (21).

Ambuscade: (noun) an ambush