Practice Free Response 8

Huckleberry Finn never had a father. He had a tyrant: a master, a manipulative despot who squeezed every penny out of Huck that he could – all to use for himself. The description of Pap completes the picture of the desperate and despicable villain that he was: “He was most filthy...His hair was long and tangled and greasy; and hung down...It was all black, no gray; so was his long, mixed-up whiskers. There warn't no color in his face, where his face showed; it was white...a white to make a body sick, a white to make a body's flesh crawl – a tree-toad white, a fish-belly white.” (pg. 19 old book) Not only was his outward appearance filthy, but his intentions, motives, and morals were also as muddied as the rags that he wore. His dream for Huck was that Huck would make him rich. As such, he did what any sensible father would do: he kidnapped his own son and held him for ransom. With a parent like that, Huckleberry had little hope of ever experiencing the love of Family. The closest example to a doting parent that Huck ever encountered was that of Jim. Although Jim is in no way the ideal father and does not exhibit all the expected “parenting attributes” in his relationship with Huck, his care, his loyalty, and, above all, his love open Huck's eyes to grasp the true meaning of the word “Dad.”

Without doubt, Jim is the character that is closest to Huck. From the minute they meet on the island to the minute they set him free from the Phelps', Jim sticks by Huck through thick and thin. The minute that Huck realises a search party is coming to the island he rushes back to inform Jim. Without a word, the two set to escaping: “Jim never asked no questions, he never said a word...[Soon] everything we had in the world was on our raft...we got out the raft and slipped along down in the shade...– never saying a word.” (pg 62) The mutual understanding keeps them alive as they seek freedom. When Huck gets lost in the fog, brave Jim battles long and hard to keep up with him, fighting sleep and doubt so that the two can be reunited. However, Huck, in his ignorance, causes Jim, who was so broken at Huck's disappearance and so relieved at his return, great heartache by playing a trick on him. Yet, in his shame, Huck learns a lesson. He understands the measureless care of the runaway slave. His heart yields to the honest devotion of Jim, and Huck vows to never hurt Jim again.

With this in mind, one could say that the relationship between Huck and Jim is hardly father-son. In what world does a father see his son as an equal or allow himself to be tricked by his son? However, the complexity of the bond between the two is deeper than the hierarchy of respect. It is not the surface level relationship that influences Huckleberry, but the complete humility that Jim displays. Like any father, Jim is willing to give up everything to save Huck. Like any father, he seeks every possible way to keep them together. Like any father, he mourns the loss of the Prodigal and rejoices unashamedly when he returns. Like any father, his heart is broken by rejection but still holds onto Love.

Perhaps the most telling thing about Jim is the way in which he relates to Huck everything about himself – things he may never have told anyone else. In the same way, he tells Huck things that Huck may never have heard from anyone else. Firstly, Jim recounts the story of his daughter; he scolded her for not obeying, although he didn't know she was deaf and dumb. The emotion in the story is too much for Jim who cries bitterly at the end, and even he says "I doan' skasely ever cry. His self-abuse and self-blame drive him to make up for his mistake in everything that he does. As such, he is the only character to call Huck "honey." The first mention of this "pet name" is when the two are on Jackson Island, after Huck has run away from his cruel father. Never does any other character call Huck a pet name (that is, while they know him as Huck and not as Tom Sawyer).

As such, Huck is suddenly exposed to love. He has never felt it or understood it before. It was either in the form of a fist or a starched-collar and Bible. However, with Jim, he gets the bare-bones of pure, simple love. The honest tears Jim cries when Tom and Huck come to break him out, his uncompromisable trust in Huck, the sacrifice he makes for Huck – all these influence Huck to a level where he suddenly cries out "All right, then, I'll go to hell," defying all strictures, all codes, all morals, all understanding. Where does this outburst come from? From the heart. It is nothing more than the pure response of a heart to love. Huck has felt it, and though he can't begin to understand it, he will do everything he can to see that the love is not returned void.

After all that the two raft-riders have been through, it is possible to say that they are just the closest of friends. It is true that Huck is far more educated than Jim. It is also clear to see that Jim respects Huck's opinion far and above his own. These are not attributes of a father and son. However, what is most important in the relationship between Huck and Jim is that Jim is constant. Huck flounders and flurries from side to side, but whenever he comes to Jim, he is greeted with open arms. In some ways, we see ourselves, as a fallen human race, running ourselves ragged to fulfill our pockets and our adventurous spirits, always on an emotional roller coaster, tossing our decisions to the wind, but on returning empty to the arms of our ever-caring, ever-loyal and ever-loving Father, we find peace. Huck knows this is true when he, after escaping the surreal world of the Grangerfords, says, “There warn't no home like a raft, after all...You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft.” In Jim and the raft, Huck has found Dad and Home.

R + J essay; question 3

The belief that “destiny is written in the stars” often infuses events and situations with a nihilistic apathy. People just aren’t interested to do anything because in the end what they do won’t matter! In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare begins the story by foreshadowing the fate of “star-crossed lovers” who will “take their li[ves].” Does this reference to the stars finalise the play, leaving no more need for exposition, or does it weave a story of mystery and intrigue as the role of stars suddenly comes into light? The former creates only static characters, who will reach the same conclusion in all circumstances. The latter allows the characters to have a chance to make decisions, to write their own fate – to become heroes in their own right! As such, the mystery of the stars adds to the intricacies of the plot, while at the same time, letting the reader comprehend the bigger picture that the characters will paint.

For the fate of the two lovers to be written in the start, may initially deem the play as useless. One may as well turn to the last page, read the end, and put the book down: you already know the whole story! However, the genius of Shakespeare is in his creativity. It is not important whether the reader knows the end or not: the art is the true jewel of the story. As such, the knowledge that fate, the stars, and destiny are all guiding the writer’s hand does not make the characters any less exciting, the writing any less beautiful, or the craft of the artist any less valuable. Additionally, the heroes, Romeo and Juliet, will be created as only Shakespeare can create them. The knowledge of their fate will not taint the emotions evoked in the reader, as we read of their beautiful love and tragic end. In fact, the heroes can be seen as they truly are, since we are already witness to the big picture.

Indeed, knowing the path that the plot will take, guides the reader to the end. When events unfold, there is no ambiguity. In fact, Romeo, the tragic hero, is better understood in context of his fate. Romeo’s foreshadowing of his own end in Act 1 Scene 3 adds suspense to the story. His meeting with Juliet confirms the outcome of our hero, and yet, the reader is all the more desperate to know how the stars will direct the two lovers. This allows the bold and passionate decisions made by both Romeo and Juliet to fit into the context of fate, and the heroic nature of the two to be further solidified.