Huck Finn

In chapter 31, when Jim and Huck were planning to leave the Duke and King because of their crazy antics, the conning pair sell Jim into slavery. At this point, when Huck's discovers Jim is gone, he "set down and cried" (Twain 220). Huck's reaction to Jim's disappearance was that of someone who cared and had a sense of value for the friendship. Society would have viewed Huck's actions as questionable, wondering if he was on the side of the whites or that of the blacks.

After, Huck had to make the decision to save Jim, or let him be sold into slavery. When he wrote the letter to Mrs. Watson about Jim's whereabouts, he thought that if word ever got out that he helped a black man escape slavery, people would look down on him. He also remembered what he learned in Sunday school about helping a black fugitive slave: that he "goes to everlasting fire" (222). This idea is completely, false, I think. Furthermore, I think those who were trying to "sivilize" Huck with the Christian religion and manors, were hypocrites because one of the Christian themes that rings in my head is "do unto those as you would have them do unto you."

Jim also had the decision to help Jim and "go to hell" (223). So, he decided to help Jim and I think this was the best thing he could have done to go against the norm and prove to others that blacks are not just objects, but human beings.

Finally, this novel made me realize the horrible attitude America has had toward blacks and other minority groups throughout history. It reminds me of the hardships they had to endure in this country. However, I'm thankful that today, society has turned away from the mentality of discrimination, racism, and race superiority.