Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Chapter 32- End: The Exciting Escape!
This section is dripping with satire of romantic writers; which of Tom Sawyer's ideas did you find most ridiculous? Why do Huck and Jim go along with him? What do Huck's actions in this section reveal about his "journey" throughout the novel? (Has he grown or backtracked in this section?) Some critics (Hemingway included) love the book, but are unhappy with the end. Were you satisfied with the ending or do you agree with them? How does the tone of the ending contrast with the rest of the novel? How does the focus/emphasis shift? Are these positive or negative changes? How does Huck fare in the inherited prejudice vs. human dignity spectrum in this part? What are Huck's plans at the end of the novel? What does the last statement he makes tell you about him? How does it relate to a recurring theme in the novel?
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12 comments:
All of Tom Sawyer's ideas are ridiculous and they made me nervous as to if they all would escape the shed. I agree with the critics that I was somewhat disappointed at the end of the novel. Huck does all of this work to set his buddy Jim free, and then Tom just busts in and takes all the fame away from him. Huck did all the work to get Jim where he is, so I think that he should be the center of attention. Lastly, I thought it was neat that even through all the obstacles the men had to overcome, the three of them plan to go out west to indian territory and start a new "andenture." Overall, I thought that Twain did a great job of writng this story and it is teaches a great lesson of life, if you work hard enough you can get whatever you want.
I agree mostly with Derek. There was significant emphasis on Tom Sawyer as opposed to Huck in these last few chapters. The book after all is The Adventures of HUCKLEBERRY FINN!!! anywho, i thought the ending was crappy too and it seemed like Twain did not put much effort into it. I believe if he took the time to actually plot through the conclusion, the book would have a much more understandable theme. Overall, this book was so so and i excpected better from such a renowned author like Mark Twain.
Happy Halloween!!!! :]
In this section I thought the rats and spiders idea was the most ridiculous. I thought it was acctually kind of cruel. I was pretty angry to hear Tom knew Jim was free the whole time but still continued with his dangerous plans. However, I wouldn't expect anything less from him. At the end of the novel Huck plans to head West. I thought the ending was good, but I wish Huck would go back home. Overall I liked the book, I thought it was adventurous but had a good moral all in one.
i agree with Erica on the most ridiculous idea of Tom's twisted imagination. i disagree with the critics who say that Twain's ending defines him as a racist. I believe the ending escape is merely showing how those who are driven by romantics ideas tend to be the ones to speak up over those who think logically and how these logical views are being suppressed for some unneeded ornamentation. Also i think it is showing how easily the purity and innocence we struggle for can be tainted by society
I agree with Derek that all of Toms ideas are ridiculous. I don't understand why Tom has to make Jims rescue more difficult than it really has to be. I was suprised that noone got hurt because of Toms crazy ideas. I was also suprised that none of the boys died when they were being shot at as they were escaping the Phelps farm. I thought it was very kind of Jim to sacrifice his freedom to help save Tom. I thought the books ending was ok, but I think Twain could have done a little more with it though. Overall, I thought the book was pretty good.
After reading this book, I now have so much more respect for Jim. He turned out to be a caring, respecting, trustworthy slave. He never complained (only when Tom wanted to put rattlesnakes and spiders in his cabin); he trusted Tom and Huck even through their ridiculous schemes, and he also sacraficed his freedom to help Tom. Twain used Jim to relate the fact that slavery was a dangerous thing and it hurt many people who were honest and warmhearted. Also, when Tom held onto the information that Jim was technically free, Jim was still chained to slavery by society. Twain satrizes that African Americans may be free in a techinal sense but remain in slavery until the slaveholders acknowledge their rightful equality as an individual.
This was a good book! I, on the contrary, was happy with the ending, Jim free and rich, Huck adopted with a good family, etc. and them planning a new adventure. When Tom explains his idea of Jims escape about other slaves and a big parade forh im in town with a brass band, I laughed because it's so farfetched. I like Tom's crazy ideas because they brought humor and child-like imagination to the story. The snakes and rats idea in Jim's little shed was funny because it's all part of Tom's big idea for his marvelous escape, and Jim just goes along with it. I liked this episode better than the previous ones with the frauds because it was more light-hearted and imaginative. It was clever how Twain added Pap dying at the end, I should have caught that tiny clue in the beginning. Unlike Cynthia, I actually liked this for a school book, and it probably would have been more enjoyable if we didnt have to cram it in our tight term schedule.
I thought these chapters were so funny when Twain was contrasting Huck to Tom. Tom had to do everything just like the books said but Huck just wanted to get the job done and over with. It really showed how Tom is very imaginative and has the go big or go home attuitude compared to Huck's black and white thinking.It still makes me laugh when Tom was going to build a mote just so they could break their legs while running. I thought it was also funny how Tom was still the leader even after Huck as been leading himself for the longest time. Huck went along with whatever Tom said even though it didn't make the least bit of sense. But I have to admit Tom has style.
i am happy that Jim get to be free at the end of the novel. i also think it was kinda smart how Huck pretends to be Tom when he gets to Toms aunts house. Also the real Tom is smart for pretending to be his brother, which helps them keep theri cover. I also don't understand why Tom had to have such a complicated plan to get Jim out, why couldn't they just do the simple plan that Huck suggested? I think Toms ideas are too crazy and all he wants to have fun.
I was really angry with Tom Sawyer by the end of the book. I was so mad when I found out that he knew Miss Watson had died and Jim was already free, yet he didn't tell anybody that just so he could keep up his adventures. Tom is such a selfish person! In a way, the bullet in his leg was like a punishment for what he did. I am so happy that Jim is finally free! Hopefully he can go be with his family now. I like how Huck has changed throughout this entire novel. He once didn't care about people, and now he has feelings, emotions, and a conscience about things that happen. I was surprised to find out that Pap was dead. I was even more surprised to find out that he was the dead body on the floating house during the flood. I thought it was funny how it ended kind of how it started. How people were trying to "sivilize" Huck again, and he wanted to leave before they could do more. Overall, I liked the novel.
I noticed that the last chapters of this novel really did focus more on Tom than on Huck. This book is suppossed to be about Huckleberry finn, not Tom Sawyer. Tom's ideas for freeing Jim are incredibly ridiculous. The most ridiculous one had to be the idea to dig him out. Tom is so ANNOYING. He doesnt think logically that they dont have all the time in the world and it would be so much easier to just steal the key from the slave, saw off the chain on Jim's leg, and free him. Tom irritates me with how much he tries to make things like they are in books. He needs to understand that this is serious, not a fairytale.
As I was finishing up the novel, when it came to the "Great" escape, it appeared to me that the novel was re-telling us the beginning of the story. Tom once again was the leader, and Huck was the follower, only this time it did have a "ransom", which was Jim. They got their wish to be in a great tale. I liked this book, and even though it had quite a bit of that southern slang, and I'm glad I got to read it.
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