In the novel, when they are freeing Jim from aUnt SAlly's cabin, Huck says he knows Jim is white inside. WHat exactly does he mean?
2006-09-05 00:31:00 · 7 answers · asked by bookwurmgurl 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Huck has been taught by his society that the "colored" people are ignorant and a little less human that the whites. After spending so much time with Jim he realizes that Jim is just like him inside, no less ignorant, no less human, and that Jim has no need for someone to tell him what to do. Jim can take care of himself. It was often taught back then that the slaves needed whites to take care of them because they couldn't do it themselves. He realizes that Jim has a family he loves and dreams and ambitions that he can achieve with education and freedom.
2006-09-05 03:20:48 · answer #1 · answered by psycho-cook 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
During the period the novel was set, white people did not see blacks as people with feelings and general human 'attributes'. They were just seen as properties. Huck saw Jim in this light as well. Now on numerous occasions during their adventures, Huck saw the 'human' side of Jim which he equates with being 'white' and thus the comment.
2006-09-05 11:58:56 · answer #2 · answered by Sherona B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree completely with puppy. The odd thing about this book is that so many people think it racist when in fact Twain was the predecessor of the modern anti-racist. I think it was because he used the n word when that was considered
a terrible thing. Of course Twain was merely showing the unvarnished truth, how people spoke.
I think Twain is The Great American Writer.
The particular line got used in a lot of old blues songs:
...from 'Black and Blue' (Sonny Boy Williamson)
"I'm white inside,
But that don't help my case.
Cause I can't hide
What is on my face..."
2006-09-05 10:07:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jim has lived with white people and so though he is black, has the mannerisms of whites. So only his appearance is black. The book has plenty of racial overtones which Mark Twain brings out this way.
2006-09-05 09:49:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Today we would view it as racism... then it would have been a compliment. Twain is trying to invoke some humor here... for his time, it probably got a laugh; now, it falls flat.
2006-09-05 07:37:31 · answer #5 · answered by Mike S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he meant that Jim was a "decent" person.
2006-09-05 08:23:20 · answer #6 · answered by Whitney K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That we are all the same inside. It is a childish way of not being racist.
Nice comment on auntie.
2006-09-05 07:37:09 · answer #7 · answered by Puppy Zwolle 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋