[F] Chloe: Chapters 38-40

In the last entry Noah posed the question of why is Tom listened to by Jim and Huck. In these chapters that question is even more important. Tom’s elaborate plan for Jim’s escape continues to become more and more convoluted. Tom decides that it is necessary for Jim to have a coat of arms. This is perplexing because normally only nobility have a coat of arms. Tom uses the work nobility to describe Jim on page 195. However, Tom also refers to Jim as a prisoner. It is interesting that both terms, which are both describing Jim, are used so closely in the reading but have such different meaning and connotations. When Tom is asked why all of these details are necessary for Jim’s escape he answers, (on page 195) “because he is going out right”. The word right in this context could have two different meanings, it could just mean the way Tom wants him to, or it could mean going out with morality. In class we talked about why Twain forces us to watch Jim endure all of these hardships before finally escaping. Tom forces Jim to live with rats and he says, (on page 201) “between rats, snakes and stone there was no room for him”.

We also discussed what it meant for Jim to be free, and if it was ever possible for him to be free. On page 207, Jim is told, “Jim you’re a free man again”. We talked about at what point during the book was Jim free. Cairo was the point in which Jim was the closest to being free. Aaron made a comparison between Jim and Caliban and posed the question of whether or not Jim would be like Caliban and just always live the life of a slave regardless of whether or not he was legally free.

The theme of silence and Huck really being unable to speak is also in these chapters. On page 205 Huck says, “and I couldn’t answer”. We discussed what is keeping Huck from speaking up and making Tom stop these ridiculous plans. Another important question was whether or not Tom could ever come to conscience and if so what would it take to make him realize his mistakes.