Skip to main content

What symbolized bad luck for Huck and Jim?

In Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jim proves to be a very superstitious character, as he interprets a variety of signs as omens of both good and bad luck. The most prominent symbol of bad luck for Jim, however, is handling snake skin, an assertion that Huck initially scoffs at. This derision proves unwise, as Huck's handling of snake skin in Chapter Ten (which is appropriately called "What Comes of Handling Snake Skin")...

In Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jim proves to be a very superstitious character, as he interprets a variety of signs as omens of both good and bad luck. The most prominent symbol of bad luck for Jim, however, is handling snake skin, an assertion that Huck initially scoffs at. This derision proves unwise, as Huck's handling of snake skin in Chapter Ten (which is appropriately called "What Comes of Handling Snake Skin") ultimately results in a snake biting Jim and infecting him with poison. Now, there's no reason for the reader to necessarily believe that true bad luck is at work in this scenario (although it is an unfortunate turn of events, to be sure); Huck's foolish decision to kill a snake, lay its carcass in Jim's bed, and attract its live mate is more to blame than fate or bad luck. However, this sequence is valuable because it illustrates the superstitious nature of Jim and Huck's society, and so it provides an insightful look into the thought processes of a bygone era in American history. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more