This one grew on me a lot on the back half. The addition of Tom Sawyer and seeing Huck struggle with making decisions against what he had been taught to think was right was great. I think Twain did an amazing job of tapping into the naïveté of youth and that struggle.
I thought it was an interesting look to have Tom help Huck “steal” Jim and making it such an ordeal when he already knew Jim was free. Poor Huck struggling with the decision and thinking his friend was noble, only to find out he was only helping cause he knew he was already free.
I really enjoyed reading (re-reading) the novel, and it was interesting to see how differently it resonated when reading it as a child, a college student and now in middle age. Thanks for all your analyses and background info, Jeremy! I hope you move has gone well, and I’m looking forward to (re-) reading Moby Dick!
I would echo what others have said. I enjoyed the growth of Huck throughout the book. I thought the captivity of Jim and the plans for his escape was over-the-top and couldn't wait to get it over with. So many conditions for the escape----need to escape with a rope; need a file smuggled into the cell; etc. It seemed that there was one thing after another. I was waiting for the idea that the escape could only be done on a Sunday night and when it was a full moon and when it was raining. I realize Tom was adding these conditions knowing Jim was already free but it seemed too much to me.
Other than that, I enjoyed the novel. More so than I did as a youngster and considering that it was published in the 1880s.
As I read the chapters where Tom was making everything difficult and adventurous, while Jim was imprisoned in the cabin, I was really irritated with Tom. At the end when I realized it was all so he could enjoy an adventure, the white privilege and in his case, as Jeremy pointed out, his white male cared for privilege was over the top. Yes, he got shot, but it didn't seem like he learned anything from it. He put Jim and Huck through so much unnecessary struggle, worried his relatives, and wasn't punished in any way. Just a bit of boys will be boys. For that reason, I liked the Huck was going to light out for the Territory -- so he could get away from being adopted and the bad influence of Tom.
I agree that Huck is a great character. So much wisdom and ethics for someone who had to learn everything on his own.
I was quite annoyed with Tom for playing his version of escape with Jim and others. Jim could have been easily freed by Huck and Tom, but Tom was pursuing snakes, rats, tunnelling, stone carving etc. In my mind, the more nights that it took to free Jim, the more likely Jim was going to be sold off to another plantation. I was wanting Tom to go away as I was confident that Huck could calmly and competently help Jim escape.
Tom's (white) doctor was a hero in speaking on Jim's behalf. His heartfelt endorsement managed to convert a bigoted mob, which could be seen as more evidence of Twain's optimism.
Tom and Huck are new to me. As a Canadian student, we did not read either Twain novel in school. As I indicated in an earlier reply, Tom frustrated me and I grew tired of his complicating the escape. Was Tom like this in “his” novel? I enjoyed seeing Huck’s developing maturity in “his” novel. I am now looking forward to reading James.
Glad I read it, and followed it immediately with James (which does not follow the plot exactly)…have to say I was pretty bored by the plot, although I agree that Huck is a great character, and his dynamic with Jim is extremely compelling…but Twain spent far too much time on the Duke and the King for my liking, not to mention an unnecessary feud and an escape plot that was silly and drawn out to the point of farce…
I enjoyed the book. It was a completely different read in middle age than high school. I could see Twain subversive critique of slavery and the hypocrisy of white southern society much more clearly.
The use of the river as a structural plot device to move the story along was also interesting. I don’t know if that was an innovation by Twain or just a great use of it.
I enjoyed Tom joining the story and the convenient switcheroo only possible in an era when people have no means of identifying even their relatives except by sharing common knowledge.
This one grew on me a lot on the back half. The addition of Tom Sawyer and seeing Huck struggle with making decisions against what he had been taught to think was right was great. I think Twain did an amazing job of tapping into the naïveté of youth and that struggle.
I thought it was an interesting look to have Tom help Huck “steal” Jim and making it such an ordeal when he already knew Jim was free. Poor Huck struggling with the decision and thinking his friend was noble, only to find out he was only helping cause he knew he was already free.
Yeah that was such an interesting dynamic at the end — this really is so much more of an adult novel than I realized and remembered!
I really enjoyed reading (re-reading) the novel, and it was interesting to see how differently it resonated when reading it as a child, a college student and now in middle age. Thanks for all your analyses and background info, Jeremy! I hope you move has gone well, and I’m looking forward to (re-) reading Moby Dick!
Thanks Stefanie! So glad you enjoyed it!
I would echo what others have said. I enjoyed the growth of Huck throughout the book. I thought the captivity of Jim and the plans for his escape was over-the-top and couldn't wait to get it over with. So many conditions for the escape----need to escape with a rope; need a file smuggled into the cell; etc. It seemed that there was one thing after another. I was waiting for the idea that the escape could only be done on a Sunday night and when it was a full moon and when it was raining. I realize Tom was adding these conditions knowing Jim was already free but it seemed too much to me.
Other than that, I enjoyed the novel. More so than I did as a youngster and considering that it was published in the 1880s.
As I read the chapters where Tom was making everything difficult and adventurous, while Jim was imprisoned in the cabin, I was really irritated with Tom. At the end when I realized it was all so he could enjoy an adventure, the white privilege and in his case, as Jeremy pointed out, his white male cared for privilege was over the top. Yes, he got shot, but it didn't seem like he learned anything from it. He put Jim and Huck through so much unnecessary struggle, worried his relatives, and wasn't punished in any way. Just a bit of boys will be boys. For that reason, I liked the Huck was going to light out for the Territory -- so he could get away from being adopted and the bad influence of Tom.
I agree that Huck is a great character. So much wisdom and ethics for someone who had to learn everything on his own.
I was quite annoyed with Tom for playing his version of escape with Jim and others. Jim could have been easily freed by Huck and Tom, but Tom was pursuing snakes, rats, tunnelling, stone carving etc. In my mind, the more nights that it took to free Jim, the more likely Jim was going to be sold off to another plantation. I was wanting Tom to go away as I was confident that Huck could calmly and competently help Jim escape.
Tom's (white) doctor was a hero in speaking on Jim's behalf. His heartfelt endorsement managed to convert a bigoted mob, which could be seen as more evidence of Twain's optimism.
Tom and Huck are new to me. As a Canadian student, we did not read either Twain novel in school. As I indicated in an earlier reply, Tom frustrated me and I grew tired of his complicating the escape. Was Tom like this in “his” novel? I enjoyed seeing Huck’s developing maturity in “his” novel. I am now looking forward to reading James.
Glad I read it, and followed it immediately with James (which does not follow the plot exactly)…have to say I was pretty bored by the plot, although I agree that Huck is a great character, and his dynamic with Jim is extremely compelling…but Twain spent far too much time on the Duke and the King for my liking, not to mention an unnecessary feud and an escape plot that was silly and drawn out to the point of farce…
I enjoyed the book. It was a completely different read in middle age than high school. I could see Twain subversive critique of slavery and the hypocrisy of white southern society much more clearly.
The use of the river as a structural plot device to move the story along was also interesting. I don’t know if that was an innovation by Twain or just a great use of it.
I enjoyed Tom joining the story and the convenient switcheroo only possible in an era when people have no means of identifying even their relatives except by sharing common knowledge.