As for Tom Sawyer, his imaginative ideas are questionable to Huck. Although Tom and Huck are best friends, they are foils for one another, meaning they are “character[s] that show qualities… [whose actions are] in contrast with the qualities of each other (Literary Devices Editor 1).” Tom is a childish person who asserts make-believe adventures are conducted “by the book.” While he attempts to emulate the romance novels, which are unrealistic, Huck is a practical character who is skeptical about religion. Throughout the novel, Huck is able to question society and their bigotry because of the negative experiences he had from “civilized” society, whereas, Tom can afford to accept the hypocritical and nonsense of society due to his wealth. An
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Because of the adventure books, he wants Jim to inscribe his coat of arms on the rocks. Even though Jim does not understand what coat of arms is, Tom insists on this plan since it was in the books. Therefore, while this does not help Jim escape prison, it only makes his imprisonment as a slave longer. Tom continues to view Jim as a “nigger” and decides to use him for entertainment; his selfish method of escaping Nigger Jim only dehumanized Jim. Jim “found so much fault with it [the plan], and with the work and bother of raising the mullen, and jew’s-harping the rats, and petting and flattering up the snakes and spiders and things, on top of all the other work he had to do on pens, and inscriptions, and journals, and things, which made it more trouble and worry and responsibility to be a prisoner (Twain 263).” Although Tom believes he is “only playing a game,” his selfish acts are brutal and discriminatory. Through these actions from Tom, it causes Huck to question why Jim is treated ferociously by him and why Tom consistently wants to follow the …show more content…
While helping Jim run away from the cabin, Tom is shot in the leg. After Tom’s injury, Huck leaves him and Jim on the island in attempts to find a Doctor. As the next morning approaches, Huck runs into Silas Phelps who takes him back home, where he encounters a place filled with ignorant and racist farmers and their wives discussing Jim’s shed. Aunt Polly said, “[T]her’s ben a dozen a-helpin’ that nigger, ‘n’ I lay I’d skin every last nigger on this place but I’d find out who done it, s’I… (Twain 279)” One of the wives in the group even states, “Look at that shirt—every last inch of it kivered over with secret African writ’n done with blood! Must ‘a’ ben a raft uv m at it right along, all the time, amost (Twain 279).” Even though Aunt Polly is a considerate woman, she blames the actions done by Huck and Tom on Jim and the niggers, thus, showing her racist side. Her resentment towards the blacks leads her to quickly assume the niggers were the ones helping Jim escape from his cabin. The farmers’ wives, as well as Aunt Polly, did not suspect Tom and Huck were part of the escape plan. Instead, they infer the children were watching day and night without hearing anything and then a nigger escapes. Consequently, this demonstrates “civilized” society draws conclusions too early because of their ignorance and racism; this situation leads Huckleberry
Because of the adventure books, he wants Jim to inscribe his coat of arms on the rocks. Even though Jim does not understand what coat of arms is, Tom insists on this plan since it was in the books. Therefore, while this does not help Jim escape prison, it only makes his imprisonment as a slave longer. Tom continues to view Jim as a “nigger” and decides to use him for entertainment; his selfish method of escaping Nigger Jim only dehumanized Jim. Jim “found so much fault with it [the plan], and with the work and bother of raising the mullen, and jew’s-harping the rats, and petting and flattering up the snakes and spiders and things, on top of all the other work he had to do on pens, and inscriptions, and journals, and things, which made it more trouble and worry and responsibility to be a prisoner (Twain 263).” Although Tom believes he is “only playing a game,” his selfish acts are brutal and discriminatory. Through these actions from Tom, it causes Huck to question why Jim is treated ferociously by him and why Tom consistently wants to follow the …show more content…
While helping Jim run away from the cabin, Tom is shot in the leg. After Tom’s injury, Huck leaves him and Jim on the island in attempts to find a Doctor. As the next morning approaches, Huck runs into Silas Phelps who takes him back home, where he encounters a place filled with ignorant and racist farmers and their wives discussing Jim’s shed. Aunt Polly said, “[T]her’s ben a dozen a-helpin’ that nigger, ‘n’ I lay I’d skin every last nigger on this place but I’d find out who done it, s’I… (Twain 279)” One of the wives in the group even states, “Look at that shirt—every last inch of it kivered over with secret African writ’n done with blood! Must ‘a’ ben a raft uv m at it right along, all the time, amost (Twain 279).” Even though Aunt Polly is a considerate woman, she blames the actions done by Huck and Tom on Jim and the niggers, thus, showing her racist side. Her resentment towards the blacks leads her to quickly assume the niggers were the ones helping Jim escape from his cabin. The farmers’ wives, as well as Aunt Polly, did not suspect Tom and Huck were part of the escape plan. Instead, they infer the children were watching day and night without hearing anything and then a nigger escapes. Consequently, this demonstrates “civilized” society draws conclusions too early because of their ignorance and racism; this situation leads Huckleberry