Huckleberry Finn & Jim
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The classical phase of American Naturalism is usually located as occurring after the flowering of the local color movement. Naturalism's full-blown emergence is usually charted as the next century drew near. Scholars have suggested that its strongest voicing arrived in the quartet of Stephen Crane, Theodor Dreiser, Jack London, and Frank Norris (Mitchell viii). Naturalism is perhaps more closely aligned with the local color stylistic traits embedded in the writings of Mark Twain. Here American literature with its glimmerings of the modern emerges. In the Reconstructionist era, generally slotted from 1865 to 1900, Twain's creation of Huck Finn grants him genuine claim to be "the originator of American literature" (Lee 12). In describing the adventures of a runaway boy on a raft afloat on the Mississippi River, Twain articulated the distinctive features not only of one region, but of an entire nation. Huck's plight, in all of its spontaneous joys, carefree pranks, meditated cons, and dark sorrowings is America's. The ambivalent relationship which develops between Huck and Jim, two outcasts adrift on the Mississippi River, is complicated by their struggle to form a valid interracial relationship during America's Reconstructionist period. Although Twain has most recently been attacked by contemporary critics for writing a racist novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn began innocently enough as a boy's adventure story. Noted Twain scholar, John Gerber, details the lo
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shows Jim to be a character strongly principled and deeply compassionate. His actions spring from a generous heart. His gentleness springs from sincerity. As one who has been troubled by life's sorrows, Huck desires to keep the ugliest truths away from Huck's all-encompassing eye. Jim encourages Huck to look away from the dead body bobbing in the water. He is afraid that Huck might be disturbed in recognizing his father's face twisted by death. Now Jim possesses knowledge of which Huck is ignorant. Jim knows that Huck is fatherless and he also sees that Huck still has some growing up to do. So he quietly takes on the role of guiding him. Twain delights in the double irony that not only is a black man physically guiding a white boy down the Mississippi River, but he also attempts to help him emotionally.
The pairing of Huck and Jim is further illuminated when they encounter two of the most notorious con men of all fiction, the Duke and the Dauphin. With compressed brilliance, Twain indicates that if Huck and Jim are not careful they could become as dishonest and even as treacherous as this pair. Instead, when they travel together, living in such close proximity allows Huck to see what it would be best not to become. Th
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Approximate Word count = 1738
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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