HUCK FINN ZERO DRAFT

I kinda think I'm going to write about how this book is racist, and should be taught in school. How could it not of been racist in a racist time? If it wasn't it would lose a huge amount of its autheticity and wouldn't be a great american novel. The use of "nigger" in the book may offend people, but it WAS the word they used and knew to represent african american people, it wouldn't make sense to put "african american" or anything else besides that word. I also like how Doug pointed out how it's not only racist to blacks but everyone. And how Huck, once he's alone with Jim realizes that Jim isn't just a "dumb nigger" and is an actual human with feelings and wants. I think this book should also be taught in schools, but only if the teacher teaches it how Lav dog did, making us think about if this book is racist and if it should be taught in school. This lets the students think, discuss, and argue about this book, leading to classes that get students engaged. It should also be taught in school because it is a great amerian novel, it shows how the american south was in that time period. I also may go off on a tangent about how Tom represents society and how if you don't do it by the books, it's wrong. Ummm....The river interested me, how when I read those chapters, I felt clam and relaxed much like how Huck and Jim felt.

Huck Finn Zero Draft

My essay will describe the way in which this book is clearly anti racist but is simply realistic regarding state of race relations in the antebellum south in 1835. One of the biggest arguments in deeming Huck Finn racist is the use of the currently very offensive word "nigger". Many people claim that this book is racist because Twain decided to use this word when it was not necessarily an allright word to use in the north when he wrote the book in 1884. The reason that Twain uses this word so prolifically is that it was a large part of the vernacular in 1835, the fact that the book uses the vernacular makes it the great American Classic that it is. Another reason why this book has been called racist is that it portrays Jim as a dumb individual because his is black. People who make this argument often overlook the main message of the book the way in which the reader's view on Jim changes. As the book progresses, we see Jim change from a dumb, trickable individual, to a caring, human, fatherly figure and huck's realization of Jim as a man is the anti-racist centerpiece of this novel. This novel portrays the friendship of these two and their journey as defying the racist ways of current society. Twain's record also suggests that is heavily anti racist

huck finn

I think I am going to say that i think the book has rascist words but how they are used throughout the whole story is not very racist. I also want to say that this book is a classic, wether or not it sucks, and should be read by english students. I think if the book is taught to spark debates or disccussion like lavander did for us it can be very helpful. the fact that this book makes some students angry and others bothered by the writing is the reason it can be such a good teaching guide. i am not really sure what passages im going to use for this essay, if anyone has any ideas please let me know. there are a few quotes i got from the movie that will really help in my arguement that this book is not racist if you look at as a whole book and not a few words in each page. also i want to make a huge point on how that was the word to describe people of color during that time period. reading the book now where that word is thought of as inapropriate is much different from the time that he wrote the book. so far i havent found a critic that is perfect for my arguement.. the movie is the thing helping me the most. i will have to read more critics before i find which one is the best for me. well thats all i can think of for now. if you have any ideas let me know.

Huck Finn Zero Draft

Nature and Society

For my paper I'm planning on writing about the ways different settings affect views of shame. In particular I'm going to look at Hester and Dimmesdale's shame in nature vs. in society. I'll probably use a lot of quotes and passages from the forest scene and talk about how those particular chapters were completely different than the tone of the rest of the book. I can comment on the way Hester's shame is more variable, it changes a lot from in society, where she has to wear it for everyone to see, versus in nature, where nobody cares what she has done. Dimmesdale on the other hand, his shame is more similar between the two settings. Even thought nature can't judge him for his sins, I think he still feels it inside and is judging himself harshly. Therefore, although he can let loose a little in the forest, he still has trouble letting go of his guilt as much as Hester can.

- "Reverend Dimmesdale exhibited no symptom of positive and vivacious suffering, except that, as little PEarl had remarked, he kept his hand over his heart." pg 164

-""Never, never!' whispered she "What we did had a consecration of its own. We felt it so! We said to each other! Hast thou forgotten it?" 'Hush Hester'" pg 170

-and also the part where she takes down her hair and her letter, i can't find it this moment.

-and lots of other quotes too hopefully.

Um not sure why i am doing this but...

Ya like i said this is on saturday i was out of class on friday and am writing my essay. so i figure i might as well try to get credit for the post anyway. So ya this is the intro to my essay
"Every human being created, was created with a mind, functional or not, all humans have one. The mind is an incredible thing, no mind is identical to one another, each mind is capable of creating new and unique thought and every mind has strengths and weaknesses. Whether minds are mature naturally or are developed through the actions, experiences, and choices of its host, each mind creates its own thought process, a way to view situations, develop theories, and create opinions. One of the beautiful things is that each mind is not like a book it cannot be read, it cannot be captured, and it cannot be directly controlled by any other being the its host. Yet the mind can, through vigorous discipline, keen attention to detail, and unrelenting observation can be studied. It is not easy to discern one’s process of mind it can be done. Ideas can be kept quiet and opinions can avoid the form of speech, but one cannot mask its actions! For every action is a decision, every decision is a choice, and all choices originate through a process of information, a prediction of outcomes, and moral judgment of the mind, these series of trials are the personal human process of mind. So therefore if one truly observes, studies, and evaluates the actions of a certain being they can link those actions to the process of mind that executed them. One of the first books to tap in to this murky, borderline dark study was The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In this book characters’ personal though processes are unveiled to the reader, yet Hawthorne still revolves all the actions of those characters around the fictional minds of the characters. Using Hawthorne’s exceptional work will help better clarify the process of studying one’s mind."
ya its alot but thats it. From there i will go into depth on Hester's mind process and relating them to her actions, for example her veiws on soceity eqaul her living away from it.

so... i doubt anyone will read this but if u take the time to i geuss u will have some comment on it. If you got this far i owe u a thank you. thanks

Rewarded for leaving society

The essay I intend on writing with discuss the idea that Hawthorne values those who break free of society more so than those trapped within it. By giving the characters that break free happier lives than those who don’t, Hawthorne shows this preference. The characters I see as conforming to society are Chillingworth and Dimmesdale.

Chillingworth conforms to the idea of society by seeking wrath, an ideal that only exists within civilization. Many examples exist in the book of Chillingworth planning his revenge, such as, “I shall seek this man, as I have sought truth in books…I shall see him tremble,” on page 69. Hawthorne describes the change in the physician through Hester’s eyes on page 148 when she observes that “the former aspect of an intellectual and studious man, calm and quiet… had altogether vanished and been succeeded by an eager, searching, almost fierce yet carefully guarded,” suggesting that wanting revenge has taken a toll on the old man. By the very end of the book Hawthorne has brought the old man to death, stating that “All his strength and energy….seemed at once to desert him; insomuch that he positively withered up, shriveled away, and almost vanished from mortal sight,” during his last year of his life. Because of Chillingworth’s want for revenge, a societal ideal, Hawthorne kills him by the end of the book, after making him an extremely unhappy person.

A similar thing happens to Dimmesdale, as the man refuses to discard society and its opinions for the entire book. He never bares a letter as to stay accepted by his fellow villagers, but it takes a great personal toll on his health and soul. His health quickly deteriorates descriptions of this plentiful in the book such as on page 107 where Hawthorne reveals that “with every successive Sabbath, his cheek was paler and thinner, and his voice more tremulous than before.” This is all because Dimmesdale will not admit to his peers that he committed a crime that would cause them to loose much respect for him, and end his life as a preacher. In the end though, the grief caused by bearing the lie kills Dimmesdale slowly from the inside out, once again showing that Hawthorne does not like those who are not willing to leave society behind.

Although Hester and Pearl don’t have much of a choice to leave society, their choice to remain in nature away from the poison of other’s opinions helps them in the end. Hester’s letter first marks her with shame, but because she stays strong the “A” eventually marks her with strength, and receives respect from the people of Boston. “They said that it (the letter) meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength.” (141) Hester does not end up with a wonderful ending, but because she stays away from society, she ends up with respect from the town, and even gives advice to many women who are also facing challenges like the one she did. Pearl’s luck to grow outside of society makes Hawthorne value her very much, and give her a wonderful life in the end. She has very wild outbreaks many times that would never be accepted in proper society, but because she doesn’t care and is willing to do her own thing, no matter the opinions of the others, she ends with a wonderful life. By the end of the book, “Pearl was not only alive, but married, and happy,” proving that the character who was furthest from the grip of civilization ended with the happiest story, Hawthorne loving her for her individuality.