English 48b
January 25, 2008
Professor Lankford
Quote:
And I about made up my mind to pray; and see if I couldn’t try to quit being the kind of a boy I was, and be better.
Summary:
Huck was struggling whether he should free Jim or not. At that moment, he decided to pray and ask for the answer.
Response:
After I read the first part of the story, I don’t think Huck really believed in religion and God. Instead, under Mark Twain’s description, he was very superstitious. He thought that killing a spider would bring him bad luck and tying his hair up with a thread can send witches away. However, when he encountered the problem that whether he should free Jim, he understood that his superstition could not help him. Therefore, he chose to pray to God for help. In his society, freeing a slave had no difference with stealing other’s property and the stealer would not be allowed to go to heaven. The only place for him after his death would be the hell. On one hand, he really wanted to free the slave. On the other hand, he really wanted to go to the heaven instead of the hell. At that point, he was helpless.
After I read the first part of the story, I don’t think Huck really believed in religion and God. Instead, under Mark Twain’s description, he was very superstitious. He thought that killing a spider would bring him bad luck and tying his hair up with a thread can send witches away. However, when he encountered the problem that whether he should free Jim, he understood that his superstition could not help him. Therefore, he chose to pray to God for help. In his society, freeing a slave had no difference with stealing other’s property and the stealer would not be allowed to go to heaven. The only place for him after his death would be the hell. On one hand, he really wanted to free the slave. On the other hand, he really wanted to go to the heaven instead of the hell. At that point, he was helpless.
The funny part of the quote is that Huck wanted to “quit being the kind of a boy [he] was”. He understood that God didn’t like a robber or a naughty boy. Therefore, when he was praying, he even thought about to wash away his sin. Though the God didn’t do anything to send him the answer, he finally chose to tear up the letter which he wrote to Miss. Watson about the location of Jim. This part was so sweet. Huck was willing to go to hell after freeing Jim, his good friend. After reading this part, I wonder how many friends around us can do something like Huck.
1 comment:
20/20 Let's all hope we have at least one true friend like that.
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