Sheikh Liban Sheikh Paul Donohoe English 11-2 8 April 2013 Huck Finn Essay PR Mark Twain presents

the character of Jim, an African American in the south pre-Civil War, not to reinforce negative stereotypes but to counter them. Jim possesses many admirable qualities and exists as a sympathetic believable character. He possesses the confidence and logical ability to hold conversations even though he appears simple minded. He exhibits all of the characteristics of a loving father, unlike Hucks own father. Additionally, Jim remains the most loyal and protective friend Huck has ever had. These attributes make Jim a threedimensional character. Although Mark Twains portrayal of Jims humanity in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn appears on the surface to reflect minstrel behavior, Twain exposes the discrepancy between the prevalent conceptions of racial types and his representation of Jim as a logical thinker, a caring father, and Hucks steadfast companion. Twains use of satire in his characterization of Jim in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn serves not only to give verisimilitude, but also to provide a witty insight to the serious and overwhelming subject of racial injustice in Southern America. Twain used the minstrel tradition

of a seemingly not bright, but jovial, black man in his portrayal of Jim, not to be racist but rather as social commentary. Establishing this stereotype is necessary so it can be shattered. One might argue that Jims belief in black magic, fear of ghosts, and use of dialect render him stereotypical. However, Jims dialect reflects not a mockery of the African race, but a realistic look into the genuine language African Americans utilize. As an adolescent Twain, too, learned to be quiet---

Sheikh as he listened to the black and poorer white voices from his childhood (Chadwick-Joshua 68). Jims speech pattern shows Twain methodically and persuasively revealing to us the hidden

and invisible world of the slave along with the communitys encoded language (68). A satirical aspect lies within Jims relationship with Huck and Hucks constant attempts to deceive Jim through petty trickery. While Jim may externally seem a simple, gullible, minstrel character, he proves he is not only wise, but is able to exceed and intellectually surpass a white characters (Hucks) patronizing logic in the Why-dont-a-Frenchman-talk-like-a-man scene in chapter 14. Looky Here, Jim; does a cat talk like we do? No, a cat Dont. Well, does a cow? No, a cow dont, nuther. Does a cat talk like a cow, or a cow talk like a cat? No, dey dont Its natural and right for em to talk different from each other, aint it? Course. And aint it natural and right for a cat and a cow to talk different from 3 us? Why, mos sholy it is. Well, then, why aint it natural and right for a Frenchman to talk different from us? You anser me that, Is a cat a man, Huck? No. Well, den, dey aint no sense in a cat talkin like a man. Is a cow a man? --er is a cow a cat? No, she aint either of them. Well, den, she ain got no business to talk like either one er the yuther of em. Is a Frenchman a man? Yes. Well, den! Dad blame it, why doan he talk like a man? You answer me dat (Twain 97-98)! Some Critics contend this conversation between Huck and Jim exemplifies Jims minstrel behavior; however, this scene illustrates the glowing triumph of Jims native insightfulness over Hucks greater knowledge but lesser shrewdness (Leonard 57). In the first half of the conversation, Jim seems to have been trumped by Hucks false analogy but by the second half,

Sheikh Jim seems to be ready to show that the black man can play the white mans game with equal or greater adroitness (58) Jim even uses the same pattern of speech that Huck had used in his

argument, showing his capacity to learn quickly. Twain shows us Jims ability to stick up for his own perceptions and prove them with sound logic. Moreover, Jims belief in magic, results from in part from the lack of education of slaves in America at that time. Jims supposed power over the magic, as evidenced in the hairball scene, actually suggests he beliefs he can control his destiny (63). Finally, when Huck proclaims Jim to be white inside (Twain 279), arguably a racist assumption, Twain instead intends to ironically thwart(s) the straightforwardness of the black-versus-white dichotomy (Leonard 63) that dominated in the south (and the north as well) at that time. While Twain portrayal of Jim is not free of prejudices by modern standards, his intent was progressive for his time. Twains portrayal of Jims relationship with his family appears as one of the only truly loving and supportive families in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twains highlighting of the relationship Jim has with his family remains even more remarkable considering it is narratively irrelevant to the grand design of Huckleberry Finn (Jarrett 3). The fact that Twain felt the need to write the Homesick scene shows Twains commitment to making Jim an admirable character. Twain wanted to give the reader a sense of slaverys horrible consequences, including the separation of loving families. Despite the estrangement, Jim has one of the few functional families in the novel. Its the thought of a permanent separation from his family that prompts him to escape. It is Jims love for his family that affects Huck so strongly (Lorcher 1), epitomized in the story he tells to Huck about the time he beat his four year-old daughter. Not knowing that his child was plumb deef en dumb (170), Jim calls for his daughter Lizbeth ...en I says to her, I says: Shet de do! She never done it; jis stood dah, kiner still smilin up at me. It make me

Sheikh mad... (170). Jim repeats the order to her once more but she doesnt respond, so fetch (es)

her a slap side de head dat sont her a sprawlin (170). Jim, filled with regret, tells Huck how he ...bust out a-cryin en grab her up in my arms en say, oh de po little thing! de Lord God Almighty forgive po ole Jim, kaze he never gwyne to fogive hisself as longs as he live! (170). This particular conversation serves as a turning point in the relationship between Huck and Jim because Huck realizes Jim loves his child as much as any white man could, and more than some do. Judging by the silence of Huck at the end of the story, Huck is forced to recognize Jims humanity. In addition to the role Jim plays as a steadfast companion to Huck, he represents a surrogate father to him. Hucks own father, Pap, beats Huck, steals money from him, and resents his education (31-33). Citing Toni Morrisons analysis, Gene Jarrett goes on to argue for ...the paternal, stabilizing role of Jim in Hucks life (6). Twain shows Jims protectiveness when he shields Huck from the horrible image of his dead fathers face (62). Jim also shoes signs of fatherhood toward Huck when Jim potentially sacrifices his freedom for Huck and his friend Tom when Tom is injured. (279) The compassion that Jim shows for Tom makes Huck realize Jim is no different from any white man. Furthermore, Jim cares deeply for Huck as a father would a son. After thinking Huck perished but finding out he survived, Jim lightly reprimands but forgives Hucks pranks, as an indulgent father would his misbehaving son, prompting Huck to feel remorse. It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger---but I done it, and I warnt ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didnt do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldnt done that one if Id knowed it would make him feel that way(95). Jim teaches Huck compassion and provides more guidance than Hucks father ever did.

Sheikh As Huck starts to witness Jims humanity hidden behind the minstrel mask Twain employs, Huck must revaluate his prejudices. When Jim expresses his desire for freedom, Huck

feels ...all over trembly and feverish, too, to hear him, because I begun to get it through my head that he was most free---and who was to blame for it? Why, me. I couldnt get that out of my conscience, no how nor no way. It got to troubling me so I couldnt rest... (123). Huck, realizes Jim deserves any of the legal rights and freedoms that a white man possesses. While arguably the reader accepts Jims humanity before this revelation, this is a turning point for Huck. Hucks guilt serves to elucidate Twains portrayal Jim as more than just a stereotype. Hucks realization then becomes a moral epiphany that Twain wants all people to have about their incorrect biases about African Americans. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain remains a watershed in regards to novels for its era.