Dehumanization In Huckleberry Finn Analysis

First Semester Final I chose my first semester final for my portfolio because I found the theme of dehumanization and how it could be applied to many things from completely different time periods. When I wrote, “Jim is dehumanizing himself by putting a price on what he is worth. This is all Jim has known in his life; he does not know what is it like to be free. Jim shouldn’t have to price himself in any way because he is a human being” I was thinking about this quote from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, “Yes- en I’s now, come to look at it. I owns mysef, en I’s wuth eight hund’d dollars. I wisht I had de money, I wouldn’ want no mo” (58). During that time, I was thinking about slavery as a whole and the horrific treatment African Americans …show more content…
When I wrote “Americans like to figure things out for themselves instead of being told what to think. They do not like people disrupting that process” I was thinking that about this quote from Billington that states ““We are individualistic people, resentful of any interference in our lives by government or society” During this time, I was thinking how Americans have thrived for independence since the beginning of this nation. This whole country revolves around freedom and people come to The United States to experience their version of the “American Dream”. I am linking my piece of writing with the quotation from Self Reliance and Other Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson that says “Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession” (35) because they share the idea of individualism. This quote is extremely motivational because of the message of independence it expresses. Emerson believes everyone will lead a better life if they do things for themselves and not rely on others. Billington and Emerson’s ideas relate because both Americans should be their own person. Billington says that people do not like being told what to think and Emerson is basically saying to …show more content…
When I wrote “I wanted to show that although not everyone agreed with Lincoln and his ideas he changed history by eliminating something that was so awful. I also wanted to highlight that the slaves recognized that Lincoln gave his life for them, so they can be free.” I was thinking about these lines in my poem that states, “I know you gave your life so I can be free. The slave population and me are away from our misery. I applaud you President Lincoln for changing history. This life as a free man is exhilarating and new, but it is something I will gladly get used to. God bless you for eliminating what dehumanized my people and me.” During this time, I was thinking about how much the slaves admired Abraham Lincoln. When they hear his name they will think of him as the man who abolished slavery. African Americans look at him for hope and for their future as free people. I am linking my piece of writing with a quotation from Martin Luther King’s Letter From Birmingham Jail that states “In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action” because they share the idea of African Americans looking up to someone influential and a leader to freedom and justice. Martin Luther King provided the answers Africans Americans need to stand up