We're about halfway done!!
But to the actual question:
The end of chapter 18 is something that kind of stuck in my mind, really the whole thing with chapter 17 and 18 was interesting. I think that this is Twain's way of mocking modernized society.
I'll leave it at that and then put my opinion in my post, what do you guys think? Is this another go at adults, society, I read somewhere about how he might be satirizing religion, so what do you think?
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So since I put up the first post I guess that you know my view already: big shocker, I think that these chapters are meant to mock society. Despite how much more educated, sophisticated, or economically better off than Huck everyone is, they still either fall for his schemes or end up killing each other.
ReplyDeleteSo the first few chapters of this section showed the women that Huck pretended to be a girl for and get information. She was smart and kind (and she kind of ruins my whole, adults are being bashed in the book idea, but whatever). Even so, she still doesn't really make the association that the kid in a dress is Huck, I don't know, it isn't that strong an argument, but she was still outsmarted a little.
The ferry guy just jumped the moment that Huck said that he was related to someone rich, I mean he bought the story gung-ho. Even though this guy is supposed to be relatively smart, even if he's not too rich, he's driving a ferry and making a living, so a kid fooled him.
Oh, then the robber, just throwing it out there, but would it really be more comforting to be leaving someone on a shipwreck that you know will inevitably sink then it is to give a quick shot to the head? I think they speak for themselves.
Then last but not least, the two feuding families were funny. I think that the whole theme of money and happiness is addressed here. Here are these two neighbors and they can't get along. (Okay, I'm sure we all have annoying neighbors), but then there comes this giant fight scene, it's like a mini war zone here. I think that this shows the pointlessness of modern society. I mean here are these people with all of their needs met and they just start killing each other over something they can't even remember (anyone else reminded of Romeo and Juliet?). I think that Huck sums it up the best: "...there warn't no home like a raft, after all."
Romeo and Juliet was exactly what I thought of! And I completely agree with what you said.
ReplyDeleteIt seemed that these chapters were all aimed at how people can be duped so easily. I mean really. Here comes a little boy who nobody ever heard of and who manages to get everyone to do stuff for him. And what I think is the funniest thing in the world is that Huck messes up a lot too. He always forgets his "name" and forgets the wild stories he makes up for his past. Everyone falls for it too. What I seemed to get from all this is that either everyone is really stupid, or Huck's really smart.
And for me it seems to be the former. Everyone is so quick to believe the little boy who just looks innocent and has nothing else going for him. He's showed up at their doorstep and is looking for help. Obviously people are going to help him, but the fact that no one ever realized that he was lying just proves my theory. Huck managed to figure out that the "duke" and "king" in chapter 19 were lying to him, but the people that were evidently more educated than Huck couldn't.
On top of that, the whole "war" between the two families shows how barbaric humans can be. People are always looking for an excuse to fight it seems. In this case, they just killed each other because it was basically tradition. They didn't know why they hated each other; all they knew was that their ancestors hated each other and killed each other, so they had to also. It seems to be human nature speaking out to kill each other as the main motive.
Oh and does anyone else truly despise this book? This has been the hardest book to read so far mainly because of its uninterestingness. (And I am fully aware that's not even close to a word)=)
I agree Mehak, I think that deep down everyone just wants to kill each other but we've been conditioned to repress it, that's where politics come in! (Just kidding, I'm feeling sarcastic tonight :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't read Tom Sawyer, but by what I've gotten from the countless cartoon references to it (Fairly Odd Parents, Anyone...Just me?) I think that Tom is the smartish, cleverish one that convinces people to do things for him. Maybe Huck has been hanging around with him too much. Anyone else notice how he's always talking about Tom? I mean it’s Tom likes this adventure, Tom is good at tricking people, Tom would have been proud...seriously, a little obsessive here? (Sorry, sarcasm again.)
But I think that everyone in this book is just stupid. The adults are stupid, the random throw-away characters are stupid, you'd think that Huck was an utter genius by what he's done so far. I mean staging that murder was pretty decent, I'd admit well thought out and convincing, but I mean, nobody saw through it? Not even genius Tom, best friend who probably taught him that sort of stuff?
Oh, and I don't think the book is overly hard, like content or anything, but it's just annoying. I can't stand the dialogue, I thought Huck's speaking was bad, but by-and-by we meet Jim, and by-and-by, and by-and-by, and by-and-by, and by-and-by, and by-and-by!!!!!
Haha, I remember the Fairly Odd Parents too. Huck does seem really caught up in Tom. It seems like he seeks his approval a lot and most of his actions are the same as Tom's. He constantly thinks "What would Tom do in this situation?" This, I think, is the driving force in everything he does.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with the stupidity factor too, but now as the book progresses, it seems there are people who could be candidates for being smart, like the duke and King. They manage to con everyone, except for Huck, showing Huck's superior knowledge, even though he is uneducated. It seems that no one seems to know how they are being conned, except for Huck. He just likes to play dumb around people to keep the peace.
And, yeah, the dialogues what I meant. I hate it when Jim talks and when Huck says "by-and-by." It bothers me so much!