Huck and Jim

In class today there was the discussion about the relationship shared between Huckleberry Finn and his slave friend Jim. An aspect that’s peculiar in this relationship is that for the time setting of the novel a friendship between a black man and a white boy may seem out of question. Yet I believe that what is behind this relationship is more than just a friendship, but a need for human companionship. Like Dr. Larson expressed today in class, there is no worst feeling for a human being than to feel a loneliness and solitude that was not chosen. And we saw this in Huck during the first part of the book. We see that he dislikes being alone and when he indeed finds himself in that situation he has the need to go out and do something or change of scene because he does not feel comfortable anymore, yet the problem isn’t the place or the people but Huck’s own psyche with coping with solitude. This brings us to Jim. For Huck, in a way, Jim is convenient for him since he provides not only a friendship but a sort of constant care that he has not received from a male figure in his life. This is why, when Huck seems to have lights of acknowledging this situation, he feels torn about what he should feel and what society regards as being right. For it is obvious that a friendship such as that is not to exist within Huck’s world. This may also be why Huck refuses to adapt to the societal norms and feels that they are nuisances and prefers to be uncivilized. This is an in depth look at the situation which can possibly be reflected on with many other cases that are known in society as non proper such as the rich girl and the poor man and so on. Despite the implications of their friendship and the barriers they encounter, they seem to be constant to each other providing that which the other needs or lacks, for Huck it’s the father figure willing to look out and provide for him and for Jim its another son, a boy who has not betrayed him to the authorities and this owes him loyalty.

Mr. Finn. Huck Finn

I shall have to admit that this is the first time that I have been exposed to the wonderful adventures of Mr. Huckleberry Finn and I must say that I am impressed. Not having the chance to read it before I find that it is just as easy to become a part of his world as it was to penetrate into the Harry Potter world. I am also a bit ashamed to confess this but I had rather low expectations for Mr. Finn, thinking it would be quite a nuisance to read but boy was I wrong. I discovered that it was a very wonderful adventure with character and a story behind the character which has to embark on a type of quest towards self discovery, hence probably why it’s on our reading list. So far I’m enjoying this book as a good read especially with this winter weather. In the beginning of the book I encountered the relationships that Huck Finn has with his friends, father and the widow. In regard to relationships with his friend he seems to be the more realist, always doubting Tom Sawyer and his adventures and not using his imagination (the way Tom does) to play and see the world in a new light. I think that further on in the book, Huck has the ability to use this imagination as well as his wit to get out of situations which he encounters, thus showing us his capacity of growth. The relationship with his father is a turbulent one in which Huck doesn’t seem to see a way out of until his wit and imagination help him get out of it. One thing that kind of disturbs me at this point of the reading is his conscious. He seems to be weary of doing the right thing, and then seems to balance out that if he would have done a bad thing or a right thing they would balance out as being the same. So I guess we’ll see how this develops in the rest of the reading. Hopefully in a mature and good manner.

Growth

As it has been read throughout the entire series of these books there is a common thread that unites all of the characters, and that is change or growth of some type. With this growth the characters were able to overcome challenges and obstacles that if confronted with before would probably not have been able to deal with. In this case, the ability for Harry to give his life up because he thought it would be for the greater good. He demonstrated this selflessness and because of this I consider him to be worthy of being called a hero. In class it was discussed that he may not have owned up to that title, but it is because of his ability to make wise decisions under the circumstances that he has been born into that makes him who he is and makes us at the same time admire his ability to live life the way he does. He is the true example of what it means to come of age. He was able to go through so much turmoil and still come out being the character we came to love since the first book. The same goes for other characters like Ron, Hermione and Neville. They all showed this great grasp as to who they finally had become and defended it. Unlike when they were younger and in a sense more childlike and didn’t have to worry about finding their true identities. It is in this book in which they all become who they want to be and embrace that notion of themselves, especially when faced with the gravest dangers they could possibly be forced into, such as having to fight evil. Maybe what Rowling wanted to show us in this last installment was that when we are faced with the darkest moments there can possibly be in life; it is here that we truly find ourselves and fend for what we truly believe in despite the costs that may come.

Hermioneeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

Hermione Granger. A great character is this story, quintessential when it comes to the development of it I might add. She’s always shown great loyalty and love towards her friends and great respect towards her peers. Only times she’s shown anger or frustration have been at those who are intolerant of Muggles, those who abuse house elves, and a slight bit of frustration at Ron for not displaying his emotions. Overall Hermione’s character is full of courage. Yet, this courage has developed over the series. At the beginning she was timid and slightly afraid one may say because of her status as what others like Draco Malfoy call her “a mudblood”. But she comes to terms with the obstacles that are in her path, she learns to be proud of her identity and to fight for it. Especially in this last installment in the series in which there is a great oppression almost hinting at genocide of those who are different. It is here more than ever that she has to show the courage to fight against those who are threatening all those who “don’t belong”. Throughout the series I think that she’s the poster child for a feminine activist, fighting against those whose rights are being oppressed such as the house elves and at the same time recognizing that she herself is different and learning to embrace her identity.

Harry Potter and his personal battle

Harry Potter is a complex character that shows great development throughout the many books in this series. In all of the books we seem to encounter the notion that the battles around him are only his and that no one should risk their lives for him. It is however in this last book in which we see that he embraces his true character and is capable of coming to terms with who he finally is. In this book, in the first few chapters we see how stubborn he is by wanting to face the challenges that are thrown upon him on his own. He believes it is only his duty to fight the Dark Lord and battle the forces of evil that are taking over. Yet over and over again his friends and loved ones prove to him that he is not alone. They show him that he does not have to face these terrible events by himself because others are capable and willing to show their loyalty and faith in him by fighting with him. Such examples would be Ron and Hermione who despite quarrels and feuds between them, the two never leave Harry alone on a deadly quest.