"It's the way I feel too, Jim. But we've got them on our hands and we've got to remember what they are, and make allowances. Sometimes I wish we could hear of a country that's out of kings."
Page 155, Chapter 23
What is revealed in this quote concerning: 1) Huck's tendency to aviod conflict and 2) Twain's view on aristocractic vs. democratic social institutions?
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12 comments:
Patrick Roderick
The last part of the quote is the real kicker for Twain's views. Here is Huck living in the land of freedom and democracy where there are no real kings and Huck is looking for a country without kings.
I agree with Twain that the Southern White Society is very aristocrical. With so many levels ranging from the rich platation owners all the way down to the black slaves that work those plantation there is many different levels of society. So much that Twain feels that it can almost be related to Kings and Serfs where one side siphons off the strength of the other while giving nothing back.
Twain feels that an aristocratic government isn't what a society needs, people in a society don't need to be controlled by one person, they should be able to live free in a democracy and do whatever they want as long as it's legal. Huck is trying to avoid the conflict between being free and having a king as the ruler. He doesn't want to have to deal with a king as a ruler.
Shelby Gluck
Before the King and Duke came into his life, Huke had virtual freedom. Now he has his decisions mostly chosen for him. This shows that Twain does not society with powerful rulers, symbolized in the King and Duke. Huck wanting a country with no kings shows that people under powerful rulers are not content and happy. When Huck tries to escape from them, that may symbolize people revolting against the rulers.
The first part of this quote shows how Huck always tries to avoid conflict. He thinks it's best if everyone's at peace, therefore he does not want to argue with the king and duke. This quote shows how Twain thinks it's best to have a democratic government, because society can't be peaceful when nobody wants someone to rule over them.
Huck grew up in an abusive household.Where he was taught to just avoid all conflicts at all times, even if it means telling a lie. So,his tendenacy to avoid conflict comes from his diffcult childhood. Twain is completly againist aristocratic governments. Huck says that he wishes they could even hear of aristocratic government. TheyHe is saying that arisocratic governments should not even be heard of.He also, feels that many people do not do their part in order to create a successful democracy.
Now that the king and duke have entered Huck and Jims' journey, their actions are controlled and restricted. They are forced to follow the command of the King and Duke because of the aristocratic social scheme. Huck longs to return to the time when he and Jim owned the raft. Twain calls attention to the need for democracy instead of having a few people or social classes determine the fate for all people. Because of the high positions of the king and duke, Huck is afraid to confront them. He is afraid also because of the way his father treated him growing up.
-Mariel
Vinny says....
Huck wants to get out of trouble. That is why he is trying to get away from the King and Duke. Twains views are kinda odd. He feels the white big plation owners are kings of the south. They own alot and control alot. Huck feels that deomcracy should rule. That basically mean Twain feels the same sence he wrote the book.
Although I agree that Twain presents as partial to republican, rather than aristocratic society, I believe his opinion is based on more than a dislike of oppresive elitist rule.
In an aristocratic society social hierarchy is dependent on birth, not merit. In other words, to become an influential member of society, your father must have been as well. In such a society, intelligence & potential are insignificant if there is no one of "significance" to recognize it.
When the duke and the king came onto the raft along with Huck and Jim, Huck was very hesitant to create any kind of conflict. This quote shows this hesitancy. Huck finds it so much easier to leave things the way they are with the king and duke. He would rather let everyone believe that king and duke really were what they thought they were. Huck would follow along and do things to satisfy the king and duke rather than creating an unpleasant environment by opposing them. The quote also shows that this is the kind of attitude that people have toward aristocractic institutions. People follow along with what is going on rather than being individuals. Therefore, a democratic social institution would provide more ideas and a more voiced society rather than a non independent one.
Huck sounds almost like he believes we should all work together and put in our 2 cents. With such a calaboration of ideas, Twain deos believe we can reach success. Huck has a tendancy to flee any type of structure and rules. twain is trying to show that democracy is better because like I said it is a calaboration of ideas.
Gretchen Heine
Huck will do anything to avoid confliict. He will lie, cheat, steal, and apparently obey any orders. Though he wishes that the King and Duke would be out of his life, he doesn't take any action. The reason Huck does this is because that's how he was raised by his father. He was a drunk, and was abusive toward Huck, so Huck learned to lie to avoid being beaten with a stick.
Shelby Gluck
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