Last Blog on Freedom and Enslavement Huck and Fin

These last few chapters had an immense amount of freedom and enslavement.  In  chapter 31 the reader can see that Huck is going through an internal emotional pain because though he is finally free from the two con men, Jim isn't.  Jim has been captured and taken back to his "roots" and is yet again denied his "freedom" which him and Huck were working so hard to gain.  We can see how he feels in the beginning of the next chapter when he realizes that he rather be dead than alone an no one to share it with (Jim).  I like how Tom and Huck reunite again for a good cause (freeing Jim).  In the later chapters while they tried to rescue Jim, I was beginning to become irritated with Tom.  I felt that he taught that the entire mission was one of his "adventures" and that Jim immediate rescue was not that important.  I was disgusted that he (Tom) even contemplated on leaving the mission of Jim's rescue to their kids.  "He said it was the best fun he ever had in his life, and the most intellectural; and said if he only could see his way to it we keep it up all the rest of our lives and leave Jim to our children to get out" (Twain 278).  To me I felt as if he was just toying around with Jim just for pleasure; and that is "sick" because you should not play with someone's  freedom just because they are a slave.  Maybe if they followed Huck, less risky plan they wouldn't have gotten into such a huge mess of figuring how to help Jim escape, which backfires when Tom gets shot, hindering Jim's escape.  Though Tom was stupid and endangered his well being, it was kind of Jim to stay back and help, this shows how humane he is (which is what society didn't think too much of at that time).  I found it kind of weird how Huck sees what Jim has done and considers him "white" on the inside, meaning good.  I found it ironic how "black on the inside" meant that you were bad.  I did not necessarily look at Huck's thinking as if it were racist, maybe "white-means pure" and "black means dark and evil" which is commonly associated in our culture now.  My heart was filled with joy when I found out that Jim was set free due to Ms. Watson's will (I love how you wait this long to tell us this Tom-this boy plays too much).  "Old Miss Watson died two months ago, and she was ashamed she ever was going to sell him down the river, and so; and she set him free in her will" (Twain 319).  It was about time that Jim was free, and I loved how the novel ended on that note, no more struggling for freedom, he was given it (though I don't like the sound of someone being granted free- it was nice in this situation).  Jim's truly get the praise that he receives in the end because I felt as if it all truly was in his characteristics.  This was what we should take from this novel, no matter who you are you race does not defy only your characteristics, and I feel that Jim portrayed this very well til the end, even in hard situations.  HOPE YA"LL ENJOYED MY LAST POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enslavement and Freedom #3 Huck Finn Chapters 23-30

 In the end of Chapter 23 I feel proud for Huck,  because I felt that he was finally learning a lesson.  He learns that that it does not matter if you are white or black, you are still capable of human emotions such as love, which  is the situation he finds Jim in (who is sobbing over his family).  Huck is starting to see that whites and blacks posses the same characteristics in this character.  In the next few chapters  there really isn't much talk of slavery and freedom until we get to Chapter 26.  This Chapter really angered me because it showed man's ugly side (being that of greed and false accusations).  The King and Duke's greed has bonded them to so much money that they can't even go off with.  To me they are "enslaved" to money and anything they do tightens that grip, making them less "free".  At first one might not think that the King and Duke are racist due to the fact that they previously helped Jim when he wanted to walk around the town freely (they dress him up in a costume so he can be comfortable instead of tied up like a slave in Chapter 24).  Fast-forward, In Chapter 26 the King and Duke feel like they need to hide "their" money someplace else before a slave finds it and "steals" some of it (like they weren't the ones stealing).  "and first you know the nigger that does up in the rooms will get an order to box these duds up and put 'em away; and do you reckon a nigger can run cross money and not borrow some of it" (Twain 204).   It was racist for them to think that a black person will be the one stealing money that didn't belong them, but in fact that is what they are doing. Their conceived judgment on black people is just wrong.  Huck who is hearing all of this probably doesn't think this way because the only two stealing con artist that have approached him so far in this novel have been the Duke and the King, who are white.
 Like I stated earlier Huck has learned that humans no matter what race you are (white or black) we are all capable of emotions.  His knowledge of this was shown again in chapter 27.  Black people have feelings too, and Huck saw the cruel act which the King and Duke did by separating a family when selling them apart.  Though Huck lies to get back at the cons artists for what they did I felt as if it was appropriate.  Though one may look at it as being a racist lie, I think that he was only thinking of the reaction of the two men, when they knew that they couldn't do anything, while helping the slaves too.  All the King and Dukes assumption in a sense happens to be "true".  It was brilliant of Huck to tell the King and Duke that he was not in their room, but that he did see a few slaves pass that way a couple of times (the slaves were sold).  By telling this fib, Huck is not only protecting himself, but the other slaves which he knows will return back but will not be harmed by the King or Duke, who will probably be long gone by then.  The way I see it, Huck is a protectorate of not only himself, but of innocent humans that society has wronged (in this case- the slaves).  "and I felt dreadful glad I'd worked it all off onto the niggers and yet hadn't done the niggers no harm by it" (Twain 212).

Post #2 On Freedom and Enslavement Huck Finn Chapters 16-22

In Chapter 16 as both characters (Huck and Jim) are approaching to Cairo, a free establishment they both tremble with excitement and fear.  Jim who is finally going to be free tells Huck all about his future plans to liberate his family, and Huck who hears this is a nervous train too.  For he feels that he did wrong by participating in the liberation of Jim, and has wronged the good christian women that Jim belonged to.  Though Huck is actions on freeing Jim are of physical actions, he is not free mentally from his conscience.  The type of way that Huck was feeling was understandable looking at where he was coming from, it was not common for white people to help free blacks. "Jim said it made him all over trembly and feverish to be so close to freedom.  Well, i can tell you it made me all over trembly and feverish, too, to hear him, because I begun to get it through my head that he was most free" (Twain 109).  But, I feel that in a sense that Huck internally feels that by freeing Jim, he to will be freeing himself.  Through this chapter you can see a great deal of heroism when Huck lies to help Jim, a colored man who he was going to liberate.
For me the chapter 18 showed the foundation of slaves and  also how they help during any circumstances that comes there way no matter the situation that they are dealing with.  While at the Grangerford estate, Huck observes that all the family members depend on slaves.  Even Huck is given a slave to take care of his needs.  The root of the Grangerford family all lies in the slavery business, which helps to keep them wealthy.  It is a shame that though the family is rich and educated with "culture" their involvement of this practice (slavery) in my opinion overshadows that.  How can "good" people enact in inhumane business?  Unlike the other people in the household Huck does not treat his slave poorly (Buck), and this was probably observed by Jack, a slave that was living in the household.  One can guess that Jack sees this because he is the one to reunite Huck and Jim back together.  Jack was the one who helped with the raft and where to hide.  At that time that was all he could do, and he probably knew that he needed some reinforcement to help Jim.  So, when he sees Huck around that area he makes up a quick lie to lure him into the place of where Jim was hiding.  Jack did this all on his own "free" will and like Jim, yearned for freedom, but was not ready to act on it yet (like Huck freeing Jim also freed him, this is probably how Jack feels- if he can help Jim, an African American "free", then he is in some way helping himself and enslaved African America).  In the end of the chapter Huck and Jim depart, and in a sense Huck feels free when he is with Jim.  I can tell that he never felt this way with the other adults in his life.  "I never felt easy til the raft was two miles below there and out in the middle of Mississippi.  Then we hung up our signal lantern, and judged that we was free and safe one more" (Twain 139).  He felt "might free" on the raft alongside Jim.

First Post on Freedom and Enslavement

Chapter six (6) of the novel to me was a vital example of how freedom and slavery came to play in the novel,  After Huck is taken by his father to and deprived from his life he had with the widow, he's not happy.  His father took away the schooling and everything that he did at the widow's place which he didn't mind.  In fact living with his father made him to realize how much he did not want to go back to the widow or stay with him.  In simplest terms, he just wanted to be free of both party's rule, he yearned for "freedom".  The cabin in which he lived in acted a prison which he wanted to escape from.  Later on in the chapter we are also let onto how Huck's dad opinion on the government.  Pap resented a black man doing better than him in life and did not believe it was fair.  Though he resented anyone's accomplishments (Huck's especially), that of a black male who he felt should be enslaved but was not was what he really resented the most.  "There was a free nigger there, Ohio; a mulatter, most as a white man....There was a state in this country where they'd let a nigger vote.....I says to people why ain't that nigger put up at auction and sold"(Twain 28).  This quote right here clearly show the views of Pap on the standings on black male, especially those who were free, he felt as if they should have been "enslaved".  In chapter seven all Huck wants to do is escape, he just wants to be free from his dad.

Both Huck and Jim in chapters eight (8) through nine (9) deal with freedom and slavery.  When they both find each other in chapter eight (8) they are both shocked, but swear to keep it a secret.  Jim tells Huck about how he was treated badly when he was enslaved under Ms.Watson, a supposed good christian. Huck found it weird and bad in this chapter to be called an abolitionist.  " People would call me a low down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum-but that don't make no difference. I ain't agoing to tell" (twain 45).  They were people who fought for people's being "enslaved" own "freedom".  In a sense though Jim is the "escaped slave" both characters to me were enslaved by people who they did not like Huck (pap) and Jim (Miss. Watson) and all they wanted was freedom. This sets out the theme of the novel as they both departure. 

Social Responsiblity-The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Social Responsibility is one of the earliest themes introduced to us in the beginning of the novel.  After we are giving a little flashback of Huck's life in Mark Twain "The Adventures Tom Sawyer," when he is taken in by widow Douglass.  While he is her the widow and her "annoying" sister try to install some manners into him by teaching him christian values as part of his social responsibility. During the time period which Huck lived, people were religious (more than now) and tried to follow good Christian values so they could hopefully get into heaven. This was no the case for Huck who really didn't fit into that society, he was more anti it.  He did not see a point in doing good for others or praying to go to heaven, he's rather go to hell where all the bad (Tom) would be.  "Then she told me about the bad place, and I said I wished I was there" (Twain 3).  Huck does not care about religion and doesn't take the responsibility to follow it especially if its about dead people (Moses).

During the end of the five chapters read his father, who people said was dead came back, but not to his surprise.  His dad arrives in an unpleasant manner after finding that his son is doing better than anyone in his family has ever did (reading). " Your mother could't read, and she couldn't write, nuther, before she died.  None of the family couldn't, before they died" (Twain 20).   Getting an educations and learning to read was a responsibility that in society,Huck had to take regardless of his family's uneducated past. But, that was not the only reason why his father came, he wanted money and since he knew that Huck had him he needed to get Huck back out of widow Douglass.  He wanted custody of Huck again and he went to court to achieve this goal.  The new judge only granted him back custody because he truly believe that Huck's dad would change his ways and most importantly it was his "Social Responsibility" too.  The Judge felt that it was right of a father to take care of his son and his responsibility as man of society.

The Scarlet Letter Endings!!! (Chapters 15-24 Pgs.171-259)

Whoa, I finally finished reading the Scarlet letter (disappointing).  The ending of the novel for me truly was the WORST ending that could have ever been written.  Like, really *Spoiler* Dimmesdale dies and the manner in which it happens, I personally believe was stupid.  At first I thought that he was faking his death, and was just pretending to be dead because earlier I thought that there was a plot that him and Hester planned before boarding their escape ship.  Well, after looking into it, I found out that he actually dies *thanks conclusion *. But furthermore the entire novel as a whole wasn't that bad until his dead ( I actually enjoyed it,until Dimmesdale dies which made the ending really bad for me).  

I actually enjoyed Chapter 15 brcause we finally know Hester's true feeling toward Chillingsworth (like we couldn't have guessed before), she hates him and I don't blame her.  I mean come on he was once a good guy that spoiled because of her.  By the way he seems annoying.  In this chapter I couldn't help but feel and be annoyed with Pearl at the same time.  For a little girl she experienced a lot ( mostly torment from rotten kids) and though she was unconditionally loved by Hester she probably wanted more love.  Little kids have questions and Pearl kept on questioning the identity of people who she would constantly see ( Dimmesdale and Chillingsworth-ironic) but Hester never wanted to give her an answer.  At some times this angered me.  Hester shouldn't have ignored Pearl she should of at least told her something for Pearl was bright young individual.  

Chapter 16 to me wasn't that poppin.  I mean Pearl just keeps asking about who those people ( Dimmesdale and Chillingsworth), but her mother wouldn't really budge until Pearl sort of tricked her.Again like I stated earlier. Pearl truly is a smart child.

I enjoyed reading chapter 17, because Dimmesdale ( one of the only characters that I like, whom eventually dies ) comes back to Hester.  Their meeting to me was like the long awaited confrontation that they both had been waiting for.  Finally! Hester tell him the true identity of Chillingsworth, personally I felt that if she told him this earlier like seven years ago, so Dimmesdale wouldn't have been in the situation ( really sick ) that he was in.  Also he could have prepared himself for Chillingswoth evil tactics.  I love how after Dimmesdale finally finds out about the sin which Chillingsworth had done, he condemns it to be like the worst sin ever.  Who knew sweet old REVENGE was more sinful that ADULTERY? Who knew?  I was feeling very hopeful for the lovers, when they planned on leaving the stupid colony and returning back to the Old World ( England-like come the people and land there isn't ancient ).  I really love how they truly express their feeling about their ( adultery ) which they committed seven ( or more ) years ago.  

Chapter 18 really shows off Hester's true beauty ( I mean come on even the birds sang and the sun appeared-haha in your face Pearl your mommy doesn't scare the sun away ).  Hester finally takes off the hideous letter and hat ( yes girl yes) and the readers are given a description of her true beauty ( which I felt society wanted hidden-jealous people ).  I felt really happy that they were planning their getaway ( until Dimmesdale dies- Yes! if you were wondering, I will keep stressing his death in this blog post because I loved his character).  In the end of the chapter I was a little scared because at first I didn't know if Pearl had returned.

In Chapters 19 I felt sad for Pearl and I knew where she was coming from.  I know that in most of my blog posts I at times ( a lot ) criticize Pearls behavior, but her actions during these last few chapters were understandable.  As a little girl she probably was a little ( not so much ) confused on why her mother was talking to the minister in the forest ( secretly from public view ) and why she looked different ( beautiful ).  So when Hester beckons for her I felt as if at first she doesn't come because that wasn't the mother she was used to seeing ( a beautiful smiling women).  I laughed a little when Pearl finally came back to the mother after she put the "A" on her chest and covered her hair.  I don't blame her for disregarding Dimmesdale kiss.  I mean like come on in public he won't even hold their ( Pearl and Hester ) hands but wants to act like he cares for them by kissing them.  He should know that Pearl isn't into all that secret circle loving crew, she prefers PDA.  

Chapter 20 gave me so much hope as a reader.  I thought that they were finally going to leave and board a ship in a few day back to England where there sins and Chillingsworth were not known ( but it doesn't happen like I stated Dimmesdale dies- may god bless his poor wretched soul ).  Towards the end of the chapter one can tell that Dimmesdale finally has life ( which Chillingsworth killed spiritually earlier ).  The fact that he told Chillingsworth to leave and that his help wasn't needed anymore in a nonchalant manner was my cherry to a very sweet chapter.

The last four chapters truly disappoint me ( Dimmesdale dies-I cried ).  The first disappointment happened when I discovered that there was going to be another passenger on the ship with Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale ( like dude buzz off three's a crowd.  Whats four? Yeah that's right there isn't four because that would be too damn much! ).  Someone need to smack Chillingsworth into reality because what he is doing just isn't just revenge but INSANITY ( and I'm not talking Shaun T. baby!). 

 Mistress Hibbins is a prime example while I dislike the citizens of this no name town settlement.  I mean it obvious that she knows Hester and Dimmesdale secret but does she have to confuse my reading by going all ham on Hester in public.  In my opinion she isn't a witch ( learning about Salem improved my knowledge on this ) but in fact a BITCH that comes off as witch.  Alright let's fast forward to the part that truly made not only Hester sob with sorrow, but myself too.  I mean I was waiting for them to leave together on the ship after the election sermon, but that didn't happen ( you probably know what I going to express well here it sadly goes DIMMESDALE DIES!!!! BOO HOO BOO HOO BOO HOO HOO HOO!!!!).  At first I thought that Dimmesdale was acting when he brought Hester and Pearl on the scaffold and it was all a part of their plan.  He comes clean with his conscience guilt and everyone is there to see it, shocked but they see it.  I felt as if Pearl got closure from this public display of affection from her long awaited father ( as if she didn't have a clue, as if ), before he passed away.  The manner in which he passed away was truly sad and stupid.   Like come on he was young and then he stated that he was dying.  It truly angered me when Chillingswoth was trying to intervene in the sentimental moment.  Gosh! Can't he just stop for once like dude she never like you.  Yikes! The truth hurts doesn't it ( like he didn't know ).  

Chapter 24 gave me some good closure, but didn't fully repair my heart ( Dimmesdale died- say it ain't so just say it ain't so ).  Chillingsworth dies but leaves  his estate for Pearl after he dies the following year ( is it me or is this book just to ironic).  Wow that was an act of kindness which I wasn't expecting.  Pretty much life is good for them in the end.  Pearl is living a happy healthy life with her family and Hester finally finds peace after she dies and is buried  close by Dimmesdale.  I love that fact that women came to her for advice in her olden age days ( excuse my grammar ) and the towns see the true significance of the SCARLET LETTER "A".

The Scarlet Letter (Chapters 9-14 Pgs. 114-171)

Throughout most of my readings, these chapters made me feel truly sad (almost cried).  Prior to Chapter 9-14 I usually felt sorry for Hester, but during these chapters my emotions switched more towards Dimmesdale.  Why? Simple, he is sick (mentally and emotionally sick) and nothing but the truth which he is scared of can cure him of it.

In Chapter nine the characteristics of Roger Chillingsworth is revealed.  During most of the novel I despised him.  This was because he wanted to ruin Hester's life (like it wasn't bad enough) by finding the man who got her pregnant.  But after looking at the situation from his prospective who could truly blame the man.  I mean he survived being held captive by Native Americans only to come back to a town that declared him death and to a wife that had bore an illegitimate child that wasn't his.  He was probably looking to come back home to an adoring wife and a nice house, but he didn't.  Thus hiding his identity.  He decides to be a doctor a highly and rare profession during the colonial period of the Puritans.  My heart starting leaning towards father Dimmesdale who we later discovered to be sick.  This saddens me, because he was such a nice person despite everyone else in the town.  Why is he sick? Isn't he too young to be feeling sick.  I find it weird that when he is sick he puts his hand over his heart, maybe he is suffering from Heart pain and if so what type?  "He was often observed, on any light alarm or other sudden accident, to put his hand over his heart, with first a flush and then a paleness, indicative of pain"(Hawthorne 117).  Luckily(not) he goes to Chillingsworth to get some type of healing(I mean whats better than a doctor whose learned healing remedies from Native Americans).

I found chapter ten (10) to be a Guilty Pleasure (hahaha).  After moving in with Chillingsworth, Dimmesdale isn't yet healed.  To examine whats wrong with his patient Chillingsworth has to dig deep into his soul.  At this point of the novel I really start to wonder what the young clergyman is suffering from(figuring that it is probably a mental illness rather than a physical pain).  At some point I felt as if he was hiding something, that glimmered guilt.  "They grew out of his heart, and typify, it may be, some hideous secret that was buried with him, and which he had done better to confess during his lifetime"(Hawthorne 127), and Chillingsworth is seeing it to.  I felt that Chillingsworth was taking his patients illness too personal because he would here and there say some type of riddle hoping that Dimmesdale would crack.  I wanted to know the secret, but didn't want the "leech" to know it, and I felt that at a point Dimmesdale was going to crack; but thank God,Pearl comes in and distracts him.
Chapter eleven(11) really startled me, but made sense.  I was wondering why Chillingsworth was dancing like a alien(Satan) after he made a huge discovery in the previous chapter.  Why father Dimmesdale why did you have to be "A"s partner in crime, hey I don't blame Hester I mean father Dimmesdale's description doesn't seem to shabby for a male back then (look at Chillingsworth).  But why Dimmesdale, Tell me why?(well he's obviously isn't going to answer my question EVER, but I have a few reasons as to why perhaps-I'll state it later).  This answers most of my early questions as to what made him sick.  His own guilt was eaten him up and his appearance gave the townspeople (specifically Chillingsworth) a glimpse of it.  Towards the ending of the chapter I was confused and thought that he was going to commit suicide (this is the point which I started to cry), until I realized that he was going for a walk. 

In Chapter twelve(12) I feel that Dimmesdale is trying to follow the footsteps of Hester by going where she was punished for her crime, the scaffold.  Maybe he would of felt just like Hester did if he were to do it in the day where people can see him and not at night.  Out of nowhere Pearl and Hester join him in the scaffold (the long waited family reunion).  I'm not going to lie, this scenery made me choke a little.  I mean come on Dimmesdale is for once not sad he is happy  to finally have Hester and Pearl which was the connecting link towards the two (if your finally catching on, Yes! Dimmesdale if Pearl's father).  It really touched me when Pearl would ask the young father to stand with her and the her mother at noon; but all he would say was on Judgement day we I will stand by you(that is a long wait).  This religious context really get to me because as a practicing Catholic CHRISTIAN, Judgement day is the day that only one man(GOD the almighty) will judge your live on earth(an no one can hide from that judgement).  The sentimental moment is of course ruined by Chillinsgworth, who Dimmesdale finally sees a glimpse of evil (just a little too late).  After all his crazy shenanigans the previous night Dimmesdale is able to give a powerful sermon (hopefully it wasn't SINNERS in the hand of an Angry god-joking!!!!).  I found it a bit awkward that the sexton found his glove on the scaffold.  It got me thinking that may just maybe Dimmesdale didn't leave it there, but probably someone else.  Someone else who was there that night, that wants REVENGE.
Chapter thirteen (13) makes me realize wow, its been seven years since the beginning of the novel, and the infamous letter "A" meaning has somewhat changed in the townspeople's head.  Instead of looking at Hester with disgust they respect her as a strong "able" women.  But Hester, hasn't forgot what the letter means, the letter has made her a stronger women but not in a full good way.  I state this because in some way the scarlet letter has taken some of her passion away(I don't like).  But, after seeing Dimmesdale being sick (insane), some of that passion I feel comes back.  

In Chapter fourteen (14) I was happy that she tells Chillingsworth to BACK OFF a bit.  That it were better for her to come out with the adulterous crime earlier that to have him being punished like that.  Well Chillingsworth being that cold man that Hester made him be, didn't want that.  I feel like he wants everyone to start off good like he did before he found out that he wad betrayed then turn cold and mean.  "Was I not, though you might deem me cold, nevertheless a man thoughtful for others, craving little for himself-kind, true, just, and of constant if not warm affections? Was I not all this?  This quote makes me feel a little sympathetic towards Chillingsworth again (I can't help my emotions at time), because he was a nice guy who became a monster due to Dimmesdale.  Everyone need love.  Well, its obvious that Chillinsgsworth is not going to stop, his terror on Dimmesdale has just begun.