Quote Analysis
Quote: "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. But Tom Sawyer he hunted me up and said he was going to start a band of robbers, and I might join if I would go back to the widow and be respectable. So I went back.”
Analysis: In other words, this quote means that Huck did not like society's definition of being civilized and did not want to be apart of it. Society sets up standards for Huck and others to follow in order to be considered civilized. Society expects you to be educated, religious, tell the truth, have nice clothing, follow the law, and not to smoke. Huck thought it was like a trap and very hypocritical. But he only went back to join a gang and be near Tom Sawyer because if it was up to Huck, he would be far away from society and it's expectations. Huck is apart of the lowest level of the white society, poor, has rags as clothes, smoked, and is not educated. But society expects him to change his ways because that is what they consider is correct. This is an example of societal expectations in the book, society expects Huck to do all of these things to be viewed better and he was trying to escape all of that.
Quote: "It was a close place. I took . . . up [the letter I’d written to Miss Watson], and held it in my hand. I was a-trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: “All right then, I’ll go to hell”—and tore it up. It was awful thoughts and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more about reforming.”
Analysis: This quote shows how Huck was conflicted, but picks his sound heart. This quotes means Huck has two options either turn in Jim or keep living with him like he is not a runaway slave. He decides not to tell Miss Watson were Jim was. This is important because Huck picks keeping Jim over doing the right thing. Huck loves being with Jim. That is very rare because back then it was not right to see African Americans and Whites hanging out or being friends. This is an example of Huck choosing his sound heart over society’s deformed conscience. In that quote he says he rather go to hell than ruin his friendship with Jim. He rather go with his gut feeling than following society’s norm. In the book, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn there are quite a few examples of expectations society creates for everyone. One example was that African Americans and Whites were not suppose to be friends. And the right thing to do was to turn in a runaway slave when found.Whites were ranked higher than African Americans because African Americans were slaves and thought not to be treated or seen as humans.
Quote: "But I reckon I got to light out for the territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before.”
Analysis: In other words, Jim is now free and Huck began to like Aunt Sally and Silas. Both of them are civilized and apart of society. Aunt Sally’s intentions for Huck centered around what society thinks every young boy should have. Those things were religion, clean clothes, education, and knowing right from wrong. Huck does not want to be civilized again and he does not like it. He does not agree with everything society says. He believes he can do just as good or even better on his own than by being civilized. Huck thought society was hypocritical because they expected so much and set the standards high up. Society wanted to improve his behavior and did not allow Huck to smoke, but the Widow could do it. It was wrong for Huck to do it, but the Widow can do it because that is something she likes to do.
Quote: "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make him feel that way.”
Analysis: This quote shows how Huck knew he made a mistake and did what he thought was the right thing but something society would look down on. Huck did not want to apologize to jim for playing a mean joke on him earlier, but in the end he still apologized. Back then, Huck apologizing to Jim is not considered the correct thing to do since Huck is white and Jim is black. Whites are suppose to act superior and by apologizing Huck is allowing them to be seen as equals. Society expected Huck not to care for hurting Jim because they viewed slaves as property. There was a difference between the morals of society and the morals Huckleberry had.
Quote: "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 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.“
Analysis: In this quote, Miss Watson and Widow Douglas were teaching Huck about heaven. Based on what they told him, he thought Heaven is pretty dull and boring. This matters because Huck was not really religious, but society made it seem to be civilized you have to be religious. Huck did not care for it and would rather be with Tom Sawyer whom would not be in Heaven. Society was basically saying "Here, do all of this and you get to go to Heaven". Huck thought that if he did not follow the rules for civilization he would go to hell and he chose hell.
Quote: "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. But Tom Sawyer he hunted me up and said he was going to start a band of robbers, and I might join if I would go back to the widow and be respectable. So I went back.”
Analysis: In other words, this quote means that Huck did not like society's definition of being civilized and did not want to be apart of it. Society sets up standards for Huck and others to follow in order to be considered civilized. Society expects you to be educated, religious, tell the truth, have nice clothing, follow the law, and not to smoke. Huck thought it was like a trap and very hypocritical. But he only went back to join a gang and be near Tom Sawyer because if it was up to Huck, he would be far away from society and it's expectations. Huck is apart of the lowest level of the white society, poor, has rags as clothes, smoked, and is not educated. But society expects him to change his ways because that is what they consider is correct. This is an example of societal expectations in the book, society expects Huck to do all of these things to be viewed better and he was trying to escape all of that.
Quote: "It was a close place. I took . . . up [the letter I’d written to Miss Watson], and held it in my hand. I was a-trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: “All right then, I’ll go to hell”—and tore it up. It was awful thoughts and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more about reforming.”
Analysis: This quote shows how Huck was conflicted, but picks his sound heart. This quotes means Huck has two options either turn in Jim or keep living with him like he is not a runaway slave. He decides not to tell Miss Watson were Jim was. This is important because Huck picks keeping Jim over doing the right thing. Huck loves being with Jim. That is very rare because back then it was not right to see African Americans and Whites hanging out or being friends. This is an example of Huck choosing his sound heart over society’s deformed conscience. In that quote he says he rather go to hell than ruin his friendship with Jim. He rather go with his gut feeling than following society’s norm. In the book, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn there are quite a few examples of expectations society creates for everyone. One example was that African Americans and Whites were not suppose to be friends. And the right thing to do was to turn in a runaway slave when found.Whites were ranked higher than African Americans because African Americans were slaves and thought not to be treated or seen as humans.
Quote: "But I reckon I got to light out for the territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before.”
Analysis: In other words, Jim is now free and Huck began to like Aunt Sally and Silas. Both of them are civilized and apart of society. Aunt Sally’s intentions for Huck centered around what society thinks every young boy should have. Those things were religion, clean clothes, education, and knowing right from wrong. Huck does not want to be civilized again and he does not like it. He does not agree with everything society says. He believes he can do just as good or even better on his own than by being civilized. Huck thought society was hypocritical because they expected so much and set the standards high up. Society wanted to improve his behavior and did not allow Huck to smoke, but the Widow could do it. It was wrong for Huck to do it, but the Widow can do it because that is something she likes to do.
Quote: "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make him feel that way.”
Analysis: This quote shows how Huck knew he made a mistake and did what he thought was the right thing but something society would look down on. Huck did not want to apologize to jim for playing a mean joke on him earlier, but in the end he still apologized. Back then, Huck apologizing to Jim is not considered the correct thing to do since Huck is white and Jim is black. Whites are suppose to act superior and by apologizing Huck is allowing them to be seen as equals. Society expected Huck not to care for hurting Jim because they viewed slaves as property. There was a difference between the morals of society and the morals Huckleberry had.
Quote: "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 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.“
Analysis: In this quote, Miss Watson and Widow Douglas were teaching Huck about heaven. Based on what they told him, he thought Heaven is pretty dull and boring. This matters because Huck was not really religious, but society made it seem to be civilized you have to be religious. Huck did not care for it and would rather be with Tom Sawyer whom would not be in Heaven. Society was basically saying "Here, do all of this and you get to go to Heaven". Huck thought that if he did not follow the rules for civilization he would go to hell and he chose hell.