4) Development of Jim throughout the course of the Novel.
Actual Letter:your home
page is very informative and has an excellent overview of the
book."The Adventure of Huck Finn"
If you could, can you analyze the development of Jim's character
from the
sterotypical "step n' fetch" nigger to the fully human
character that he is
protrayed as by the end of the book.and if so can you e-mail.
Answer Given: Umm, well,
let's see, o.k. Well, in the beggining, we have Jim kinda traced
as a stereotypical unlearned southern negro, in that he is very
superstitious, and believes in the arts of Voodoo. In this sense,
he is contrasted from the so called white "proper
society" This contrast is where Jim is portrayed as a
stereotypical negro.
In a way, I don't believe that Jim's character changes much
throughout the course of the novel. Jim's character is static,
that is, he is the same in the beginning of the book, as he is in
the end. In the beginning he is tricked by Huck and Tom, and in
the end, he is tricked by huck and tom. He remains superstitious
and basically as unlearned as before, furthermore, his love for
Huck was the same in the beginning as it was in the end.
There are several instances where Jim is "more Human"
in the novel. The first is when Jim stops Huck from seeing his
dead pap. However, two arguments are arisen from this instance,
the first being that Jim has become more attached to Huck and
would not want him to be hurt by seeing his father in such a way,
or #2 Jim realizes that if Huck sees his dead pap, Huck would
have no reason to run, and would no longer help Jim. But in the
sake that we hope Jim becomes more human, we will accept the
first one. Anyways, another example is when Jim and Huck meet up
with the Duke and Dauphin. We actually find that Jim is able to
play with the black stereotype and fit in with using it to avoid
suspicion.
However, I still believe, that Jim's character was fully
developed in the beginning of the book, especially when Jims
reason for Running was that he could eventually get to see his
wife and children again.
Oh well, hope that helps :)