[H] Evan: Chapters 01-03

From the first chapter of the novel there is a theme that emerges, whether to do the right or wrong thing. Tom Sawyer symbolizes the wrong path, or as the Widow Aunt Polly says, the path to hell. The Widow herself symbolizes a path to self-righteousness and more importantly, a sure way to heaven. Huck Finn, seems to be caught between the two worlds, one “good” and one “bad”, however he makes it clear that wants nothing to do with the good one. While the literal theme of heaven versus hell might not continue in the novel, the contrast and struggle of right and wrong choices most likely will. Thus, it will serve as an interesting thing to track throughout the novel.

The slave Jim, who later joins with Huck Finn on a long journey, is described in a similar way as Huck, foreshadowing their future friendship. After Tom plays a trick on Jim, Jim begins to think that witches came to him. He formulates a fictional story about his necklace that was said to be a charm that the devil gave him allowing him to cure people and summon witches. Everyone believes the story and Jim has a wonderful time as slaves line up to see the charm. Then later Huck Finn joins a band of robbers with Tom Sawyer. They sign their name in blood and promise kill people and their families who had done anything to someone in the band of robbers and if someone told the secrets of the band, their throats would be cut, and they would be burnt. These two fantasies, one of a group of robbers living off their steals, and another about the power to heal and summon witches, are two similar childish beliefs. In this way Jim and Huck are connected, as people who fantasize about an alternative reality, one away from slavery, and one away from a strict religious mother. Also, when talking to the Widow, Huck said, “I wished I was there,” in reference to hell. Mirroring this, Jim has a “relationship” with the devil in which he was given a necklace. The author sets up their similarities most likely to foreshadow their future friendship, and sets up the idea of right and wrong, to relate to the obstacles either might face in the novel.