Monday, January 03, 2005
An adult's review of an American classic
The Bukavu US cultural centre possessed most of Mark Twain's novels in paperback fashion. In the intro, each paperback would call Twain "the Lincoln of American literature" and then the critical section would tear him to shreds.
In addition to the separation i mentioned in the first half review of the novel, the highlight of the book concerns the King & Duke attempting to steal the gold from some orphans. For the entire episode, Jim is back just hanging out on the raft for days. Later when the King betrays Jim by brokering him back into slavery, Jim disappears again for several more chapters. Would guess that Jim is missing for roughly ½ of the novel.
As a 10 year old, I enjoyed the re-introduction of Tom Sawyer, but now as an adult, it's not Tom playing a trick on the other characters, it's Twain playing a trick on the reader. The planning of the escape just drags on and on (very annoying) - knowing the ending now, I was angry at how pointless the chapters on plotting the escape were since Jim had been set free by the Widow. Twain could have easily written a believable plot by having Jim sent back north after being betrayed by the King, while Huck has the moral dilemma of heading off on his raft or keeping his friend company back to Missouri. Instead we have Jim sold to a plantation owner who happens to be Tom Sawyer's uncle while Tom just happens to be visiting the same week that Huck ends up in the house. Completely unnecessary 'farce'.
A few years back, I read about an effort to expel Huck Finn from classrooms & school libraries. The folks wishing to expel Huck Finn had counted how often the word nigger was used, and it must easily be over 100. I can understand how the novel would rub today's blacks wrong: Jim & another slave both believed in witches, and overall the blacks are painted as Stepin Fetchit types given to superstition & silliness, but this is not hate writing. The most bigoted character, Huck's father, is also a villain of the piece. The king, who betrays Jim, ends up tarred-and-feathered. Save your efforts for novels that do preach hatred instead of reflecting how people of a given era spoke. Huck Finn has its flaws, but it's iconic status earns it the right to be maintained by every school library worth its salt.
- Pudd'nhead Wilson - typical Twain
- Life on the Mississippi - inconsistent, especially the second half
- Tom Sawyer - everyone on vacation including the authour
In addition to the separation i mentioned in the first half review of the novel, the highlight of the book concerns the King & Duke attempting to steal the gold from some orphans. For the entire episode, Jim is back just hanging out on the raft for days. Later when the King betrays Jim by brokering him back into slavery, Jim disappears again for several more chapters. Would guess that Jim is missing for roughly ½ of the novel.
As a 10 year old, I enjoyed the re-introduction of Tom Sawyer, but now as an adult, it's not Tom playing a trick on the other characters, it's Twain playing a trick on the reader. The planning of the escape just drags on and on (very annoying) - knowing the ending now, I was angry at how pointless the chapters on plotting the escape were since Jim had been set free by the Widow. Twain could have easily written a believable plot by having Jim sent back north after being betrayed by the King, while Huck has the moral dilemma of heading off on his raft or keeping his friend company back to Missouri. Instead we have Jim sold to a plantation owner who happens to be Tom Sawyer's uncle while Tom just happens to be visiting the same week that Huck ends up in the house. Completely unnecessary 'farce'.
A few years back, I read about an effort to expel Huck Finn from classrooms & school libraries. The folks wishing to expel Huck Finn had counted how often the word nigger was used, and it must easily be over 100. I can understand how the novel would rub today's blacks wrong: Jim & another slave both believed in witches, and overall the blacks are painted as Stepin Fetchit types given to superstition & silliness, but this is not hate writing. The most bigoted character, Huck's father, is also a villain of the piece. The king, who betrays Jim, ends up tarred-and-feathered. Save your efforts for novels that do preach hatred instead of reflecting how people of a given era spoke. Huck Finn has its flaws, but it's iconic status earns it the right to be maintained by every school library worth its salt.
