Welcome to the class of US Literature - 18 and 19 C!
Choose between 1 or 2 (or, if you feel like practicing hard, do both!)
1. Please find a passage of 4-6 lines in Huckleberry Finn's chapters 1-2 that might relate to its initial "notice" (as quoted in the picture), and analyze it using all the skills and tools at your disposal.
2. Use your own insights, as well as anything you learned about "narrators" in literature/Portuguese classes before, to characterize the narrator of the novel, both in terms of its function in the narrative and its psychological characterization (or physical, if you have any hints).
20 comments:
1) In the initial notice present in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, by Mark Twain, a warning is given to all of those who attempt to find a “motive”, “moral” or “plot” in the novel – they will suffer severe punishments.
First of all, I can identify a certain type of irony in the notice. When the author is threatening people to not find a meaning or moral in the book, he is actually drawing our attention to exactly those aspects, making the reader more conscious and intrigued to look out for those elements inside the novel.
Second of all, I believe the notice may also work as a way to show the reader that perhaps not everything that is inside this novel is completely accurate or is meant to be seen as the utter truth. A novel, although it may depict a historical period, is nonetheless a work of fiction, and fiction allows space for imagination and possibilities. As Mark Twain has said: “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't”.
In chapter two, when the boys, including Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, are discussing the terms and conditions of their newly created gang, Ben Rogers and Tom Sawyer start a discussion about keeping their prisoners until they are dead, without not even knowing what ransoming is. Sawyer defends this idea, merely because he has seen it “in books”, while Rogers is quite skeptical about this scheme. Sawyer keeps on insisting, saying: “Don’t I tell you it’s in the books? Do you want to go to doing different from what’s in the books, and get things all muddled up?” “Don’t you reckon that the people that made the books knows what’s the correct thing to do?”. This clearly shows that Tom Sawyer blindly believes in what is inside the books, seeing their content as a set of rules and instructions that should be applied in real life. Sawyer’s blindness is dangerous, since when reading a book, one should look at it in an analytical way and with a critical eye.
In conclusion, I would say that these passages from chapter two connect to the initial notice by the author. The notice shows us, despite its recommendations and threats, that we should pay attention to the message and moral in the books, encouraging us to use our critical thinking, otherwise we might end up like Tom Sawyer who blindly believes in the words written inside a book, only because it is a book. Throughout history, books have always been used an effective way to share ideals, whether they are political, moral or religious. In the highly digital world that we live in, we have to deal with a constant overflow of information. As such, whether it is inside a novel or on social media, it remains crucial to look at words consciously and critically.
- Beatriz Bicudo Cunha
The very first paragraph of the story, Huckleberry Finn reflects on lying and storytelling.
However, beforehand, Mark Twain’s notice at the start of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn already sets the tone for the story that is to be told. Rather than taking it at face value, one must understand that it prepares us for a story that is complex, with a young narrator burdened by a difficult life and set in his own ways. Simultaneously, he’s inquisitive. In a way, as a victim of his circumstances, Finn narrates the story as he can, and that, by itself, has moral relevance and literary sense: he is a neglected and abused child.
Indeed, in the first chapter, I found there to be an interesting passage concerning literary memory. When the Widow is attempting to instill religious values into our main character, he is initially curious about Moses. However, once he learns that the character is long dead, he quickly discards any value the lesson might have.
One might read this passage and find the humor in it - as I did - but there’s an underlying question to it. Why should we care about a dead person? For the lessons their life might teach us? How useless! But see, that’s the catch. Following this logic, we can also argue that it’s useless to read fiction. They aren’t real anyway, why should we bother?
In this simple reflection, Twain challenges the reader and questions their motivation, ironically acknowledging that some might, indeed, see no use in what is being said. But must literature be useful? Be that as it may, just because one might not find use of meaning in it, does that mean there is none?
Moreover, can’t finding sense in what’s written be exactly the point of reading a book, even if the author jokes that there is none?
On the other hand, this also pertains to the claim that art can be apolitical. Anyone who claims their art is without political bias is expressing an inherent political position. That vary statement - the rejection of a larger meaning - is political. Perhaps Twain alludes to this.
Additionally, I would argue that Tom and Huck’s interaction with Jim is a prime example of a morally dubious attitude enacted by the children, which serves to us as an example of how typical the poor treatment of slaves is, even at the hands of “innocents” (“When we was ten foot off Tom whispered to me, and wanted to tie Jim to the tree for fun. But I said no; he might wake and make a disturbance, and then they'd find out I warn't in”). Huck’s objection is profoundly practical - wasting time and risking getting caught isn’t worth the hassle. This doesn’t mean, obviously, that it isn’t wrong to tie Jim up. But Twain doesn’t need to spell it out for us.
- Beatriz ML Simões
As a way to comment the opening notice of the book, one could simply look to the passage where Huck describes the way Jim proclaimed to the seven heavens that the witches had got to him and taken him somewhere, and that that specific somewhere kept getting stretched further and further away. The same always changing story that he, knowingly or unknowingly, used to gain things in exchange to show people the diabolical five cents "would come from all around there and give Jim anything they had, just for a sight of that five-center piece". In this we are confronted with someone who, knowingly or unknowingly, is blatantly lying (which is wrong) and using that lie to gain something from someone else (which would nowadays fall under the umbrella of a scam or any kind of fraud, which again is an immoral thing. But who's to say Jim doesn't truly believe he was taken away by witches who, once their misdeed was done, left him money, his own money, as a compensation?
This passage, about Jim and his lie or, too fantastical story also serves as a way to know our narrator, the one Huckleberry Finn, who not only recognises himself is a character in a book by Mark Twain himself, but also has no qualms about talking about committing the most heinous murder as a past-time with his friends. There's also, of course, the infantile mind of our narrator because he himself is a child. And we all know how children view the world, something that can be further proven by the passage of Huck, Tom and the others deciding how to go about the murder of the family of any boy who spills the secrets of the gang, or even the gang creation itself. As such, through this quotation it can be seen such a state of innocence that discussing crime as a good and valuable enterprise can't be the idea of a narrator who is anywhere near trustworthy.
- Tiago Coxo Silva
We might feel puzzled while first reading the notice. Although it creates a feeling of curiosity and expectation for what’s to come (what would in first instance make us question its morals, plot and meaning? What’s going to happen?). It also sets the tone for the novel itself, the nature of it, its characters, their motivations and plots. The harsh and violent words chosen (“will be prosecuted/will be shot/ will be banished”) and the way they sort of follow a philosophical pattern of cause/consequence, also creating a sense of motion, can be put together side by side by the following quote from the second paragraph.
“It swore every boy to stick to the band, and never tell any of the secrets; and if anybody done anything to any boy in the band, whichever boy was ordered to kill that person and his family must do it (…) And nobody that didn’t belong to the band could use that mark, and if he did he must be sued; and if he done it again he must be killed. And if anybody that belonged to the band told the secrets, he must have his throat cut (…) and his name blotted off of the list with blood and never mentioned again by the gang, but have a curse put on it and be forgot forever.”
From this we can see the same choice of words, tone, the wanting to protect, the order and motion: cause/consequence.
Since the group creates an oath to protect the gang and the author and book, work as messengers of their story and world, I feel that the notice is an equal term, a parallel. We can visualize the notice as a warning sign, as an “oath” for the world we are about to enter. Briefly it feels that it’s not only the author that it’s delivering us this message but the Tom Sawyers group itself.
We might feel puzzled while first reading the notice. Although it creates a feeling of curiosity and expectation for what’s to come (what would in first instance make us question its morals, plot and meaning? What’s going to happen?). It also sets the tone for the novel itself, the nature of it, its characters, their motivations and plots. The harsh and violent words chosen (“will be prosecuted/will be shot/ will be banished”) and the way they sort of follow a philosophical pattern of cause/consequence, also creating a sense of motion, can be put together side by side by the following quote from the second paragraph.
“It swore every boy to stick to the band, and never tell any of the secrets; and if anybody done anything to any boy in the band, whichever boy was ordered to kill that person and his family must do it (…) And nobody that didn’t belong to the band could use that mark, and if he did he must be sued; and if he done it again he must be killed. And if anybody that belonged to the band told the secrets, he must have his throat cut (…) and his name blotted off of the list with blood and never mentioned again by the gang, but have a curse put on it and be forgot forever.”
From this we can see the same choice of words, tone, the wanting to protect, the order and motion: cause/consequence.
Since the group creates an oath to protect the gang and the author and book, work as messengers of their story and world, I feel that the notice is an equal term, a parallel. We can visualize the notice as a warning sign, as an “oath” for the world we are about to enter. Briefly it feels that it’s not only the author that it’s delivering us this message but the Tom Sawyers group itself.
Carolina Amaro (Forgot to put the name above)
2. In the first lines of the first chapter, the narrator reveals his identity through a telling of the story “The Adventures of Tom Swayer” as the protagonist of the story. Later on we learn his name “Huck Finn.” It is a first person narrator that creates a connection to the reader by directly addressing them in the first lines, referring to himself as “I” and the reader as “you.” The narrator shares his thoughts and describes actions by others around him, giving the reader insight into his emotions and feelings. Some character traits can be interpreted from several statements and use of vocabulary of the narrator. A desire for freedom and change is suggested by sentences like “so when I couldn’t stand it no longer I lit out. I got into my old rags and my sugar-hogshead again, and was free and satisfied,” or “All I wanted was to go somewheres; all I wanted was a change.” Additionally, feelings of loneliness can be interpreted through the narrators repetition of his state of mind: “I felt so lonesome I most wished I was dead”; “I did wish I had some company.” He repeats the word “lonesome” multiple times throughout the chapters. A careful and sensitive characteristic can be made out from passages like “But I said no; he might wake and make a disturbance, and then they’d find out I warn’t in” or “I didn’t want him to try. I said Jim might wake up and come,” and while the narrator seems rational and thoughtful in the first chapter, the second chapter also reveals a trait of being easily influenced. This ambivalence of his character can also be seen in the contrast between his literal thought when talking about "the good place," and a certain superstition and caution which becomes visible in scenes like the killing of the spider.
2- The novel is written from 1st person perspective, Huckleberry Finn, however, is interesting to notice how the narrator is conscious of Mark Twain, whom he addresses right away in a first entrance“You don’t know about me without you have read a book by the name of ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’, but that ain’t no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain and he told the truth, mainly. There was things which he stretched, but mainly he told the truth. That is nothing.” From my understanding, this technic sets an unique, joke-ish tone, but most importantly, adds credibility to Finn’s characterization, firming a line between Twain and Finn, adding to the possibility of not only being a character, but also a real life figure. The psychological characterization is strong and very developed: before us is a rebellious kid, although very dependent on Tom Sawyer, his idol. For instance, unlike Miss Wanton, he is very resolute in not believing in Paradise “Well, I couldn’t see no advantage in going where she was going, so I made up my mind I wouldn’t try for it.” — this quote hints to his possible thoughts on religion — however, Finn does believe in God, and that God is Tom Sawyer.
1.
I challenge everyone to try and not empathise the slightest with the protagonist: it's an arduous endeavour. You see, in our core, we're all a bit rebellious against the conventions imposed upon us by society. We all are Huckleberry Finns. We just need to reignite him. That's the notice. That's what it entails, incites us to embrace. To fully comprehend the depth of the book, you must become closer to the main character, break the rules, not bend to the story's will. The notice, by compelling us to behave, not attempt at finding a "motive", "moral or "plot" (for drastic measures will be taken in consequence of such deeds), it ultimately appeals to our rule-breaking nature to break free, inviting us to search these three banished things, whatever the consequences: to understand Huckleberry, be Finn. If you wanna get this story, you can't merely follow its path, you ought to follow your instinct, perceive the tale differently, accept unusual ideals and conceptions, know that the Finn's world is limitless, fictional, not always logical. Then, and only then, will you truly achieve clairvoyance over the vast interpretations of "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".
Now that we've cleared the true significance of the notice, let's connect it with the two initial chapters, shall we? Don't sweat it, it's easier, you'll see... Ok, where does Huckleberry Finn follow the hidden message in the notice? Where does he twist conventions, rebel, view the universe reversibly, defy authority? Basically everywhere. In the first chapter, there are multiple evidences of this insubordination: when he "lit out" (line 9) for the first time, when he couldn't recognise any relevance or use in the Moses' book ("I didn't care no more about him, because I don't take no stock in dead people"), which underlines his unorthodox divergent values, and when we wished to go to the "bad place", if it meant change from his lonely boring life ("Then she told me all about the bad place, and I said I wished I was there"). Perhaps the clearest example is when asks the widow for permission to smoke. After her denial, he can't fathom why she'd take away something good ("Here she was a-bothering about Moses, which was no kin to her, and no use to anybody, being gone, you see, yet finding a power of fault with me for doing a thing that had some good in it.") and quickly assesses a hypocritical conduct from his caretaker ("And she took snuff, too; of course that was all right, because she done it herself."), emphasising that his values may look wrong or bizarre, but sometimes he's the only one who can grasp true virtue, that the world is what's really blind to the moral values. I can't help but sympathise with that. Astonishingly accurate!
Secondly, the following chapter extends other signs of the previous message introduced by the notice: in these kids' world, the manner Huck Finn filters his surroundings, inverting common notions and internally rioting against all, is just a microcosm of the delinquent perceptions of the outcast gang. They're young, they twist stuff ("We'll keep them till they're ransomed to death"), make fiction their reality (Don't I tell you it's in the books?"), misread books (exactly what the notice requests us to do). Although sometimes, in their ingenuity and modesty, they find great integrity (as seen in the smoking situation), the criminal activity their fantasising is not the case, nor is it advisable for my faithful readers back home.
Concluding, the notice propels you to, when reading these adventures, be like the kid, find your own way to make sense of this new world that's strange and clashes with all that seems exciting and cool, forbids you from doing what's fun. The notice is a warning sign that says: "This which you're about to read contains rebellious activity. Here, you'll have to undertake this activity. Try it on this notice and learn it, on chapters one and two, from the master himself!". It is, thus, crucial that you follow these directives and only these. Break all others.
LINE 12: *...he wished to go to the "bad place"
1. The notice reminds me of those comical red buttons in cartoons that read "DO NOT PUSH!" and inevitably always get pushed. Ignoring the threat, I would point out that, in terms of plot, there is a comical moment (due to the seriousness with which the boys approach their conversation and their blunt innocence) when the boys discuss a punishment for those who reveal the group's secrets, which is the killing of them and their families. In this moment, Huck is singled out because he has no family, only an absent alcoholic father, who doesn't count. This situation almost brings Huck to tears, and since we don't know the reasons behind his familial situation from the first two chapters alone, I believe it's safe to say there is indeed some form of plot.
As for the story having a moral, one could suggest there is, even in these first two chapters, something to be said about loyalty and the purity/innocence of children, even when they are mischievous. The loyalty aspect is evident when the boys take the group's oath and swear they would kill anyone who harms one of the boys or their family. This is further highlighted by Huck’s situation, which is addressed right after the oath. The innocence of the children is also clearly demonstrated, whether it's when Tom steals three candles from Widow Douglas's house but leaves payment for them, or when the boys have a full conversation about how they will kill, ransom, and rob people, though they don’t really know how because Tom has only read about it in books. Additionally, they decide not to do such things on Sundays, as it would upset God, but consider every other day of the week perfectly fine for such activities.
As for identifying a motif for the book, I can't deduce much from just these two chapters. However, my guess would be that it is primarily for entertainment, as it’s not factual, but also serves as a tool to speak out against the problems of its time, which haven’t been fully addressed yet in these chapters. Perhaps it is a critique of clipping children's wings by forcing them to conform to societal standards.
Anyway, I’m probably dead by now, according to Mark Twain. (part 2 next)
2. If I were to characterize the narrator, Huckleberry Finn, I would describe him as a free spirit, a wild child, largely because of the difficulties he faces while trying to "be civilized." These include conforming to traditional Christian beliefs, wearing prim and proper clothing, practicing good manners, and following basic etiquette. He could also be portrayed as somewhat "chaotic" in society's eyes, as seen through a subtle metaphor: he prefers his food mixed together rather than cooked separately, suggesting a resistance to order or structure.
I would also describe him as a kind, understanding, and innocent boy. He refrains from making certain comments to avoid offending his newly acquired family. He understands that Widow Douglas loves him, especially when he returns to her and sees her crying, even if he brushes off her remarks about him being a "lost lamb." Huck is also empathetic, as shown when he looks over the village and assumes that the only lights still on must be in homes where someone is sick and in need of care—demonstrating his awareness of other people's feelings.
Huck is very clever and sharp. He quickly detects adult hypocrisy, as seen in his conversation with Widow Douglas about tobacco. His "rough" nature prevents him from understanding the concept of faith, yet he grasps the idea of luck very well. He is superstitious and has humorous rituals to ward off bad luck. Huck is also a loving boy, particularly toward Tom, whom he cares about deeply. He fears for Tom when he thinks about being mischievous.
He's a nature-loving child, deeply connected to the outdoors. He hears nature's pleas, cries, and stories in the wind, the rustling of leaves, and animal sounds. Huck is also a funny and relatable character, especially in the scene where everything seems to itch at the worst possible moment (like when women do their nails).
I would like to point out that this connection to nature reminds me of how Native Americans are portrayed in media. As for a physical description, I can't say much, but I would guess he is quite tanned and slim from spending so much time outdoors. I've really grown fond of this character, and I hope nothing bad happens to him.
1-
The unexpected notice at the beginning of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, in a rather humoristic tone, prepares the readers for this rebellious narrative in which the traditionally idealized romantic perspectives are nowhere to be found. In the first paragraph of the novel, the young protagonist makes a joking remark about the most likely unreliable nature of his own author to write a completely truthful story “That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly [...]”.
Afterwards, instead of proceeding with an exposition of events in a chronological order with poetic details and a heroic journey for the narrator, the second paragraph provides a two-line summary of the book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer “Now the way that the book winds up is this: Tom and me found the money that the robbers hid in the cave and it made us rich.” Thus, Huckleberry Finn nonchalantly dismisses his author’s previous plot and continues the retelling with this unique and provocative voice.
Another particularly thought-provoking statement of the second paragraph is the narrator’s description of his relationship with Widow Douglas who, in his words, takes him in for her son and would “sivilize” him. As Twain had warned “[...]those trying to find a moral in it will be banished[...]” his protagonist stubbornly defies the widow’s attempts to impose her values and beliefs. This unruliness becomes a recurrent theme also in the following paragraphs, for instance in the third paragraph “[...]called me a poor lost lamb, and she called me a lot of other names, too, but she never meant no harm by it” exposing her hypocritical nature, and in the sixth paragraph “[...]why don’t you try to behave?’ Then she told me all about the bad place, and I said I wished I was there.” spurning the good samaritan morality.
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Cecília Vaz
1) In my perspective, the selected quote serves as a warning to what awaits the reader. It is the first thing one reads as they start "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", and I strongly believe that's meant to both confuse and captivate the reader. I don't find it common for a book to not have a plot or a moral, and so, as I read that initial note, I couldn't help but to become hyperaware, constantly trying to find some sort of clue that proved it wrong. In that aspect, the beginning of the book really succeeds in trapping the reader in a narrative they're not even sure exists. Transforming what could be simply a slow beginning, in a chasing adventure to find out what sort of book this really is.
I was instantly brought up to that first quote when, in the second chapter, I bumped into the scene where Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry and the other boys were forming the gang:
"And nobody that didn’t belong to the band could use that mark, and if he did he must be sued; and if he done it again he must be killed. And if anybody that belonged to the band told the secrets, he must have his throat cut, and then have his carcass burnt up and the ashes scattered all around, and his name blotted off of the list with blood"
Besides having the same form of speech (action - consequence, if you do this, that will happen), it also resembles the first quote in its violence. Both of them choose a rather violent and torturing, strict punishment to those who break the agreement. It also serves as a way to make the reader a part of the narrative, since as the boys had certain conditions to be a part of Tom Sawyers gang, that if not followed would end up violently, the reader too must follow the rules to become a part of their universe.
- Maria Moiteira
1) The book starts with a notice and an explanatory before the first chapter. In the notice, the “author” warns that anyone trying to find “motive”, “moral” or “plot” will suffer consequences like prosecution, banishment or be shot. However, it is unlikely that you have a book without at least one of these. After reading this, when one starts the first chapter there is a sense of humor and irony that the “warning” notice set in.
The passage I chose is from chapter one: “Pretty soon I wanted to smoke, and asked the widow to let me. But she wouldn’t. She said it was a mean practice and wasn’t clean, and I must try to not do it any more. That is just the way with some people. They get down on a thing when they don’t know nothing about it. Here she was a-bothering about Moses, which was no kin to her, and no use to anybody, being gone, you see, yet finding a power of fault with me for doing a thing that had some good in it. And she took snuff, too; of course that was all right, because she done it herself.”
In this passage, the Widow Douglas refuses to let Huckleberry smoke, saying that it is “a mean practice” and that it is not clean. However, this demonstrates her hypocrisy as she “took snuff” (a form of tobacco that it is inhaled). She demonstrates a double standard of morality. Taking tobacco is bad either way even if you are an adult.
In my opinion, the initial notice serves as a reminder to take attention to all those things: “motive”, “moral” or “plot” that are in the book. This notice is comedic, and it will set the mood for the rest of the novel.
In chapter two, the narrator's voice is similar to the notice, which reads, "So Tom got out a sheet of paper that he had wrote the oath on, and read it. It swore every boy to stick to the band, and never tell any of the secrets; and if anybody done anything to any boy in the band, whichever boy was ordered to kill that person and his family must do it, and he mustn’t eat and he mustn’t sleep till he had killed them and hacked a cross in their breasts, which was the sign of the band." This is ironic because the protagonist-narrator breaks the oath of the band as he tells the secrets to the reader, and therefore it is supposed for the reader to do the same. That is, do the opposite of what it was ordered: analyze the story in search of motives and morals. The notice is reinforced by the narrative.
"Now she had got a start, and she went on and told me all about the good place. She said all a body would have to do there was to go around all day long with a harp and sing, forever and ever. So I didn’t think much of it. But I never said so. I asked her if she reckoned Tom Sawyerwould go there, and she said not by a considerable sight. I was glad about that, because I wanted him and me to be together."The notice that the author wrote can have different interpretations. The first time I read it andtried to find something that related to it, I found in the first chapter the reference to God: “shewent on and told me all about the good place,” and the way Huckleberry prefers his friend togo to hell with him rather than the idea of them being separated: “I asked her if she reckonedTom Sawyer would go there, and she said not by a considerable sight. I was glad about that,because I wanted him and me to be together.”We have to take into account that the author writes this moment from a child's perspective, and, in their mind, there is no morality or ethics that make them feel that this thought could have a negative connotation. Therefore, it should not be judged by the reader, as they should not be searching for a motive, moral, or plot.As I started writing this text, I realized that perhaps the author is simply referring to the act ofreading for the sake of reading. Something I consider extremely important and that, as timegoes by, we are losing: the act of practicing, observing works for what they are, and not as aduty. There is no need for a constant search for a motive or end. This moment of apparentignorance on Huckleberry's part becomes a message. Regardless of the outcome, I want Tom Sawyer to be with me until the end. Only what is important and real is worth it. (post by Pedro Barros)
From Neima Monteiro (part 1)
From Chapter 1:
"The Widow Douglas she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways; and so when I couldn't stand it no longer I lit out. I got into my old rags and my sugar-hogshead again, and was free and satisfied."
From Chapter 2:
"Tom says: 'Now, we'll start this band of robbers and call it Tom Sawyer's Gang. Everybody that wants to join has got to take an oath, and write his name in blood.' Everybody was willing. So Tom got out a sheet of paper that he had wrote the oath on, and read it. It swore every boy to stick to the band, and never tell any of the secrets; and if anybody done anything to any boy in the band, whichever boy was ordered to kill that person and his family must do it, and he mustn't eat and he mustn't sleep till he had killed them and hacked a cross in their breasts, which was the sign of the band."Analysis in relation to the initial "Notice":
1. Motive: Both passages reveal contrasting motives.
In Chapter 1, Huck's motive is to escape civilization and find freedom.
In Chapter 2, the boys' motive is to form a gang based on romanticized notions of adventure. The "Notice" warns against finding motives, yet these passages clearly present them, creating an ironic tension.
creating an ironic tension.
From Neima Monteiro (part 2)
2. Moral: The Chapter 1 passage could be interpreted as having a moral about personal freedom versus societal constraints. The Chapter 2 passage satirizes the romanticization of criminal behavior. Both potentially contain morals, despite the "Notice" explicitly warning against finding them.
3. Plot: The Chapter 1 passage sets up Huck's character and his tendency to rebel against civilization. The Chapter 2 passage introduces a subplot about the boys' gang. Both contribute to the plot development, which the "Notice" humorously threatens readers for attempting to find.
4. Tension between Content and "Notice": These passages, rich with themes and character development, stand in stark contrast to the "Notice" that discourages analysis. This creates a playful tension between the depth of the narrative and Twain's ostensible desire for superficial reading.
5. Humor and Social Commentary: Both passages use humor to engage with serious themes. Huck's desire for freedom and the boys' misunderstanding of criminal behavior serve as vehicles for Twain's social commentary, all while maintaining a lighthearted tone that aligns with the spirit of the "Notice."
In conclusion, these passages from Chapters 1 and 2, when analyzed together, exemplify how Twain's narrative style consistently challenges the reader to engage with the text on multiple levels, despite the humorous warnings in the initial "Notice." This approach underscores Twain's mastery in using irony and satire to explore complex themes while maintaining an entertaining and seemingly simple narrative surface.
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