The theme of supersition is a key element of this novel in
the way that Jim is shown to be subject to the belief in superstition and how it impacts
on his life. In Chapter Ten we have but one example of this, as Huck mocks Jim for the
way that he believes that talking about the dead man they discovered would bring bad
luck. Note what Huck says to him after they discovered some money from the clothes they
took from the dead man:
No you think it's bad luck. But what did you say
when I fetched in the snake-skin that I found on teh top of the ridge day before
yesterday? You said it was the worst bad luck in the world to touch a snake-skin with my
hands. Well, here's your bad luck! We've raked in all this truck and eight dollars
besides. I wish we could have some bad luck like this every day,
Jim.
However, Jim maintains
that bad luck is "a-comin'," as is shown by the subsequent snakebite that Jim suffers.
Clearly Huck is initially sceptical about Jim's supersition, but as the novel
progresses, Huck gradually is shown to gain in respect for Jim and his deep
understanding of the world and nature that has so much to teach Huck. Thus, who knows if
Jim's bite was the result of superstition? What is important to ask is how supersition
is used in the novel and in particular in the maturity of Huck as he comes to find a
deep-seated respect for somebody that he initially regards as being "under" him because
of the colour of his skin.
No comments:
Post a Comment