Reading chapters 31-43, wasn't interesting to me then the previous chapters I blogged about last. It annoyed me more than usual. We are again having to read about betrayal from the duke and king. This time they outdone themselves. It didn't seem right that they betrayed Jim, by selling him for money. The king more than the duke by being the one selling him. The duke just printed the handbill for it. Still he had a part in it. Another part I considered betrayal in these chapters was sadly on Huck's part due to Tom behalf. Honestly I don't like Tom as a character. He is so immature compared to Huck, who is maturing. But I felt Huck betrayed Jim because he listed and went with Tom's plan, Which was longer imprisonment for Jim, making it unnecessary. Huck knows how much Jim wants to be free so he could be with his family. Why couldn't he stand up to Tom to began with?
Friendship has blossomed into a beautiful thing with Huck and Jim in this novel. Especially in the end. "And got to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim before me, all the time, in the day, and in the nigh-time, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms, and we a floating along, talking, and singing, and laughing." (chapter 31). I am really proud of Huck for not sending the letter to Tom. He realizes his friendship with Jim is more important and would rather go to hell because of that. Saving Jim was the high point of their friendship. He wants Jim to be free like he is. To conclude my last post on Huckleberry Finn, the two themes I had to write about both balanced each other out. Without betrayal their wouldn't really be friendship. Thank you.
Huck and Jim till the end!
While reading chapters 23-30, I didn't want to put the book down. This was the first section of the novel that didn't put me to sleep every so often (Not Kidding). I really enjoyed the story plot behind it. There was betrayal left from right. Not so much friendship. Can we all agree how much we hate the king and the duke. For them to talk up a show and for it to end up being short is so stupid. I can see why the crowd wasn't satisfied. The King and duke betrayed them into thinking that they were going to get their money's worth, which they didn't. They were lucky enough to escape when they did. Sadly. But no they couldn't stop there, they just had to go to the next town and betray more people. This time death was involved. Really! "Alas, alas, our poor brother-gone, and we never got to see him; oh, it's too, too hard!" (chapter 24) The king and duke in my understanding of the reading were basically crying because they had a great opportunity ahead if them.
When they continue lying about who they were I was not only angry at them but at the people who believed every word of their lie. Yes there lies were believable but when the only sensible one, Doctor Robinson accuses them of being fraud's, the people still didn't believe. I was proud of Huck for stepping up as well and telling Mary about the king and duke. I wanted them to get caught as badly as Huck did to but that didn't happen. To end this discussion about the king and duke, why did the king confess to hiding the money tin the coffin?
Friendship for Huck and Jim is going great. In the end of chapter 30, Huck tells Jim everything about what happened in town. Isn't that what friendship is about, telling each other everything that goes on in life. The part that made me smile while reading was in chapter 23. "I went to sleep, and Jim didn't call me when it was my turn. He often done that". Jim is nice for letting Huck sleep more than he should. Jim is looking out for him like a friend/dad.
Right now in the book, friendship for Huck and Jim is more than just needing each other. Friendship for them changed because they know each other better than before. When Jim told Huck about his plans after he arrives at Cairo, I saw this as a form of trust because Jim, a slave, trust Huck, a white person with his plans. Even though Huck has many chances to turn Jim in, he doesn't. " Pooty soon I'll be a-shout'n' for joy, en I'll say, it's all on accounts o' Huck; I's a free man, en I couldn't ever ben free ef it hadn' ben for Huck; Huck done it. Jim won't ever forgit you, Huck; you's de bes' fren' Jim's ever had; en you's de only fren' ole Jim's got now" (chapter 16). Loyalty is a really important part of friendship which shows in this chapter because Huck is the only person in Jim's life who's kept a promise to him. Jim sees Huck as his best friend knowing he is a white person.
Another part in these chapters that I want to point out that relates to my theme betrayal is when we are introduced to the two runaways that refer to themselves as a "King" and "Duke". I though that the two men betrayed Jim and Huck because they lied about who they were so that Huck and Jim can serve them and treat them as if they were royal. "It didn't take me long to make up my mind that these liars warn't no kings nor dukes, at all, but just low- down humbugs and frauds" (chapter 19). Honestly I believe that Huck should have said something and confronted them. I know he had his reasons but the King and Duke treating Jim and him like they had control over them in my understanding of the reading, and that didn't seem right. And since Huck knew they were lying, did Jim know as well? If not, Huck should have let Jim on the truth. Isn't that what friends are for? What more can we aspect from Jim and Huck in their next adventure?
So far along the novel, the theme friendship and betrayal is starting to come along. A part in these chapters when betrayal is recognized is in chapter 8 when Huck fakes his own death and hides out in the island. This is a form of betrayal because Huck knows that people who care for him for example Tom Sawyer, Judge Thatcher, and even his father Pap are out looking for him thinking the worse of what happened to Huck. Another part in this novel that betrayal is recognized is in chapter 9 when Huck and Jim discover a dead body when they board a cabin."It's a dead man. Yes, indeedy; naked, too. He's ben shot in de back. I reck'n he's ben dead two er three days. Come in, Huck, but doan' look at his face—it's too gashly." (chapter 9) When reading this part, I thought that Jim betrayed Huck because Jim recognized the dead body to be that of Hucks father but didn't tell Huck. Even though Jim was trying to protect Huck from knowing, this is still a form of betrayal were he lied to Huck.Which I thought wasn't right.
Another theme in these chapters is friendship. Friendship starts to form between Jim and Huck. "Well, I warn't long making him understand I warn't dead. I was ever so glad to see Jim. I warn't lonesome now. I told him I warn't afraid of him telling the people where I was. I talked along, but he only set there and looked at me; never said nothing".(chapter 8) Huck is glad to see Jim, meaning he consider Jim a friend. Right or Wrong? Friendship is all about having each other back and I think that Huck and Jim formed a friendship that is based on needing each other in this adventure they are.Supposed to the kind of friendship that is on liking and getting to know each other. Just maybe friendship for Jim and Huck will expand than it is already is.
So far in this novel (ch. I-VI), we are introduced to the theme enslavement and freedom. Huck Finn wants to be free of having good behavior, manners and society values. "Then she told me about the bad place, and I said I wished I was there. She got mad, the, but I didn't mean no harm. All I wanted was to go somewheres; all I wanted was a change, I warn't particular."(pg. 3) Huck wants the freedom where it is less boring and more accepting. Implying that he would rather go to hell than stay with Widow Douglas and her sister Miss. Watson. Another part in these few chapters that deals with freedom is in chapter 3 when Huck thinks about his father. "I didn't want to see him no more. He used to always whale me when he was sober and could get his hands on me; though I used to take to the woods most of the time when he was around." (pg. 12) I feel as if Huck is scared and helpless towards his father. He wants to be free of his father's control over him and its as if he wants his father dead instead of alive because he doesn't have to deal with the burden of his father taking him away from Widow Douglas. Another theme in this book is enslavement. We are introduced to this theme in chapter 2 of the novel. The character who suffers from this is Jim, a slave of Miss Watson. I feel bad for Jim because he has no rights or freedom and is look down upon by Huck and Tom because of the fact that he is black. Will Jim be free or will he continue to live the life he suffers the most as a slave?
