Analysis Of Tom 's ' The ' Of Tom ' And ' Huck Can See No Profit '

In chapter 31, Huck becomes faced with either helping Jim escape, or to abide by slave laws, which “is still a critique of slavery and racism” (Smith 184). Even though Twain used the word nigger, “the novel still presents teachable moments--provoking conversations about slavery, its moral dilemmas for the country, and its historical consequences” (Smith 184). Mark Twain wrote in a way that “enables its American readers to approach the most profoundly troubling issue in their history without risk of being overcome with the fear and guilt that is attached to this subject” (Kaye 14). Twain’s writing style makes this story so understandable that you fail to notice the gap of 132 years between then and now and you realize how similar things are to this

Lester is offended by the parallel that Twain draws between Huck’s imprisonment at the hands of an abusive father and the actual institution of slavery that binds Jim.  By drawing this comparison, he argues that Twain is applying a veneer to obscure the horrors of slavery and therefore evading responsibility and remorse for the crime.  The legal ownership of human beings is not in the same ballpark as child abuse and by placing them side-by-side, Twain shows that he doesn’t take slavery or black people seriously.

Bell, Bernard W. "Twain's "Nigger" Jim." Satire or Evasion? Black Perspectives on Huckleberry Finn. Ed. James S. Leonard, Thomas S. Tenney and Thadious M. Davis. Durham and London: Duke University Press, 1992. 124-140. Print.

Huck is perplexed at this moment when Tom Sawyer, the guy he admires and respects, is about to tarnish his reputation and his family for a slave.

When talking about Tom being shot, he states, “He had a dream,” I says, “and it shot him” (Twain 277). The climax of the novel is when Huck says he will go to hell in order to save Jim. They show the true meaning of friendship as Tom sacrifices his body as well as what Huck says. It is ironic how Tom and Huck were doing what is right, but, are shot because of how stupid racism was. It is also cool how Huck seems so calm under pressure. He tells a funny lie and still somehow gets away with it. He is willing to do anything to save his friends just like they would for him. The falling action is the best part of the story as the story comes together as a whole, and we learn new things. Jim has far more humanity than Tom Sawyer. Earlier in the book it states, “I do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their'n. It don't seem natural, but I reckon it's so"(Twain 157). Jim is superstitious and occasionally sentimental, but he is also intelligent, practical, and ultimately more of an adult than anyone else in the novel. Bercovitch states, “Jim, the example of man-reduced-to-beast-of-burden, is articulating the self-evident truths of human equality”(Bercovitch). Throughout the story, Jim never wants to hurt Huck, but, Tom is a liar. Kevin Scott states in his writing, “Tom has none of Huck's concerns” (Scott). Tom doesn’t know what it is like to be in

Mark Twain published The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1884, and it has been a controversial piece of American literature ever since. In this novel we see Huck and Jim go through a series of events, on there adventure to freedom, covering different aspects of culture and society in the United States in that time period. One of the main aspects being slavery and racism, the reader’s interpretation of the theme of race is largely determined by how they understand the character of Jim. An uninformed reader may take Twain’s rendering of Jim as racist and uneducated. People may say Twain is being racist with how Huck or other characters talk about Jim, using derogatory terms like “Nigger”, but I believe that Twain uses Jim to expose

Mark Twain uses Tom to show that not all leaders should be followed without question because if a leader is not questioned than their misshapen beliefs can corrupt the good intentions of the people below them. When Huck originally planned to free Jim he had constructed a simple plan to free Jim from captivity. When Tom became part of the plan he argues that the plan “it’s too blame’ simple; there ain’t nothing TO it. What’s the good of a plan that ain’t no more trouble than that?”. This shows that Tom is fully invested in the story of the mighty rescue of a slave but he was not invested in the true nature of going against society and free a man who they deemed belonged in captivity. Tom is a man who lives to be part of romanticized stories

Given that Mark Twain married Olivia Langdon Clemens, an abolitionist, and also had great acquaintances with other abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe, it is evident that he believed in the immorality of slavery and its necessary end. In order to provide a realist approach for the story, it became necessary for Twain to maintain the language used in southern states. Not only did the language prove to give a more accurate representation of the general sense of superiority white slave owners felt over their slaves, but it also set the precedent in literature for using language as a medium of conveying information about setting and characters. The language, in a way, is a necessary evil to expose and shed light on topics that make people uncomfortable. Furthermore, despite seemingly portraying Jim as ignorant and gullible, when looked at through Huck’s eyes, it is important to remember Twain intended for the reader to debunk the stereotypes Huck sees by understanding Jim’s true characteristics – caring, creative, and intelligent. Twain wrote this novel with the intention of creating discomfort, in an effort to bring to attention the problems that society shies away from, and banning the book would only go against progress.

Since Huck narrates the novel, readers are exposed to a biased view of slavery, one that changes in favor of Jim’s freedom. Bassett discusses how Huck has a powerful voice, for “the reader nods along with Huck because by that time his voice is in control” (Bassett 94). To the reader, Huck’s values and beliefs are seen in a good light because his point of view is being shared. After Tom and Huck reunite, Huck confesses to Tom that he is keeping a secret, and tells him, “there’s a [slave] here that I’m a-trying to steal out of slavery” (Twain 225). Huck goes out of his way in order to help Jim, even when he did not know where to begin to start searching for his companion. The narrator does not give up and continues to be hopeful; thus, demonstrating

Tom has beliefs influenced by his family. Tom believes stealing to be wrong, but he dehumanizes people of color. Tom told Huck “Nobody but a mean ornery person would steal when he warn’t a prisoner”(256).This brings out Huck’s counterculture beliefs. Huck does not mind stealing and he begins to see black people as human beings instead of property. Tom does not experience this change. Tom also has an overactive imagination which brings out Huck’s common sense. Tom follows the romantic morals in the many novels he has read. This results in a lot of ridiculous events, like his treatment of Jim as a prisoner. Tom explains his shenanigans to Huck by saying this. “It don’t make no difference how foolish it is, it’s the right way- and it’s the regular way. And there ain’t no other way, that ever I heard of, and I’ve read all the books that gives any information about these things” (257). Huck has common sense. When Tom says dig a tunnel, Huck says open a

Tom Sawyer, Huck's friend who persuades him to sneak out of his house at night. They join a gang of 'robbers,' and play tricks on the superstitious slave, Jim (97). Like Huck, Tom is naturally innocent and mostly gets into trouble just for the adventure of it. Huck decides whether if joining a gang of robbers was a good idea or not. This shows that Huck is gifted with a stronger conscience than Tom, and decides to join them. Tom comes up with the idea of saving Jim from the shed and turns it into a game. Huck decides to participate in this game even though it was not his idea in the first place. This shows that Huck and Tom are treating Jim as a plaything with no regard to the morality of the situation. Huck and Jim are adventuring together on the raft, and they become good friends. Huck said that he “was the best friend old Jim ever had in the world, and the only one he's got now” (193). Huck learns that he must follow the moral intuitions of his heart. Furthermore, Huck follows his heart and makes the right decision to help Jim escape from bondage. Choosing between a friend to what is right or wrong is crucial to Huck towards the

As he is introduced to aspect after aspect of civilized society, from religion to table manners to the clothes her should wear, his “uncivilized” side, meaning natural and uninhibited side, causes him to question the practicality of society’s standards. As Huck has settled into civilized society, he has befriended a boy named Tom Sawyer. Tom, having been born and raised in civilized society, has never inherited the natural or uninhibited tendencies that Huck has been raised with. Through Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain satitrizes the apparent foolishness of a civilized person’s ethic and outlook on life, and specifically their tendency towards racism. In a specific scene in Chapter Two, Tom illustrates that natural tendency through his insensitivity towards slaves and members of the black race. In that particular scene, Tom wants to play a trick on a sleeping slave named Jim by tying him to a tree. He wants to do this simply for the intrigue and has total disregard for the feelings of the sleeping slave. Tom does not worry that he may startle or upset Jim; he is more focused on simply having fun. However, he settles on playing a trick on Jim. Tom’s insensitivity towards slaves exemplifies his inherent racism, due to the fact that he has been taught to disregard them through his inheriting the belief that he is superior to all members of the black race.

In a sense, Tom represents the civilized society that Huck and Jim leave behind on their flight down the river. When Tom reappears with his fancied notions of escape from the Phelps farm, Jim again becomes a gullible slave and Huck becomes a simple agent to Tom. There is no doubt that Tom is intelligent, and he does state that they will free Jim immediately if there is trouble, but the ensuing ruse suggests that Tom is unable to shake society and the Romantic idealism he possesses, even when Jim 's freedom is at stake.

Reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a character named Tom Sawyer is introduced. Tom is the adventurous leader that every boy aspires to be. He sees the world through a different pair of glasses, then everyone else. Huck is a follower, making it easy to want to be just like Tom. At the beginning of the story, Huck thinks of Tom as his ideal. Soon afterwards, Tom’s attitude changes Huck’s character. After reading the article “Huck’s Final Triumph” by Ray B. Browne, it is clear that Tom Sawyer symbolizes the true self of Huck before he matures.

A major theme in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is slavery and our evolvement towards the institution. “In fact, Twain’s novel is often taught as the text that epitomizes this tradition, with Huck held up as its exemplar: a boy courageous enough to stand against the moral conventions of his society. . .” (Bollinger, 32 – Say It Jim) In the beginning of Huckleberry Finn’s relationship with Jim, he has little respect for him and as their journey progresses he