I do not find the language within Huckleberry Finn very engaging. Even when I do find out the meaning of a word or a phrase, I find it difficult to read another paragraph several times and analyze everything in that one paragraph continuously. I think it may be difficult because I'm used to reading a more sophisticated and straight forward dialect. Reading Huckleberry Finn's story with the different styles of language, is a little frustrating to follow. (Just a little)
It is engaging, however, when we acknowledge the source of Huck's motivation. His father's mistakes and troubled life have influenced him in such a significant way. Pap's actions have encouraged Huck to continue going to school. I initially thought that Huck would have liked the idea of not going to school and sitting around, considering that earlier in the story when he did not go to school regularly, he liked to play hookey, but he surprised me by changing his mind. I feel very bad for Huck, but I'm glad his father's situation has affected him in this fundamental way. In my perception, Pap's life is an example before Huck's eyes of an individual with no education who prefers to waste his life "havin' a good old time." This example has opened Huck's eyes to a future to which he does not aspire, therefore Huck understood that if he continued playing hookey and failing to consider his future, he was going to be just like his father. Now, he's in the process of getting away from this negativity and becoming successful in his own way.
The lifestyles of slaves in the house of the widow reminded me of the Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass when he compared the lifestyle in the urban communities as opposed to the plantation communities. For FD, living back on the plantations was harsh and inhumane. When he arrived in Baltimore, the Black man was still considered inferior. However, he was not treated as harshly as he was back on the plantation. In Huck's situation, the widow's home was like the life in the urban communities as opposed to his father's life style in the woods similar to life back on the plantation. This comparison gave me a broader insight about how these Black men had to live their lives, cautious, always on the run, almost like a nomad without a destination and technically no place where they can call home, something we take for granted sometimes.
posted by Gina O.
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The language is definitely tough to comprehend, sometimes, but I think it's a great mental exercise to try to piece together what the characters are saying.
ReplyDeleteFascinating comparison between Huck and FD-- both had to choose between different life styles. Is Huck's choice as clear as FD's?
I agree that the language can be frustrating at times because we're not used to that sort of dialect, but I also think that the way he talks adds to the novel. His speech makes the story more realistic and grabs the reader's attention to the point that the reader can actually feel like a part of the story as well. Great link between Huck Finn and NFLD- they both really need to make very important decisions regarding their surroundings. It was a cool comparison you made.
ReplyDeletePrabjot K.
I agree with you. I also believe that although Pap was a bad person, he did have a positive influence on Huck. Pap was able to give Huck a idea of what he would become if he kept on acting the way he was without considering the consequences.
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