Dialetic Journal- chapters 16-30

Chapters 16 and 17: " They went off, and I got aboard the raft, feeling bad and low, because I knowed very well I had done wrong, and I see it warn't no use for me to try to learn to do right; a body that don't get started right when he's little, ain't got no show." (pg.85)

Comments and Questions: I think that this quote is very important because Huck Finn takes an inside look at himself and realizes that helping Jim wasn't the best choice. This develops Huck Finn's character because it helps realize what he has done was wrong and in the end decides to not think about it anymore. This says that his character doesn't really know how to deal with his own thoughts. This also points out that this has been a problem since he was little.

Chapters 18 and 19: "Well," says Buck, " a feud is this way. A man has a quarrel with the other brothers, on both sides, goes for one another; then the cousins chip in- and by-and-by everybody's killed off, and there ain't no more feud. But it's kind of slow, and takes a long time." (pg.100)

Comments and Questions: In this part of the book the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons are going against eachother. Huck Finn doesn't know what a feud is and Buck explains it to him. Huck Finn seems surprised when Buck tells him this because he doesn't understand why people are being killed and asks Buck many questions. The people that live there are also very aware of what is going on because they bring their guns to church and Huck isn't use to this yet.

Chapters 20 and 21: " Well, for the next day or two we had considerable trouble, because people was always coming out in skiffs and trying to take Jim away from me, saying they believed he was a runaway nigger. We don't run a day-times no more, now; nights they don't bother us." (pg. 116)

Comments and Questions: This shows that Huck Finn really cares about Jim and looks at him as a friend. Huck is concerned that they are going to Jim away from him and he doesn't want that to happen. I think Huck looks at Jim is a father figure and wants him to stick around because he wants someone to be able to talk to and have as a friend in general at this time.

Chapters 22 and 23: "But dis one do smell so like de nation, Huck."
"Well, they all do, Jim. We can't help the way a king smells; history don't tell no way."
"Yes, a duke's different. But not very different. This one's a middling hard lot, for a duke. When he's drunk, there ain't no near-sighted man could tell him from a king." (pg.141) What was the use to tell Jim these warn't real kings and dukes? It wouldn't a done no good; besides, it was just as I said; you couldn't tell them from the real kind." (pg.142)

Comments and Questions: The first quote is when Jim and Huck are talking about the kings and dukes. It seems as if Huck is trying to convince Jim that the Kings aren't who they really are. He also explains that the duke can be mistaken for a king because he is doing all the same stuff. Huck decides to not tell Jim that these aren't real kings and dukes. It makes me womder why he decides to not tell Jim because they are such good friends, I thought he would want him to know.

Chapters 24 and 25: " Well, if ever I struck anything like it, I'm a nigger. It was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race." (pg. 149)

Comments and Questions: This has to deal with the time period and history. They segergated whites and blacks and it was a big deal back then on which race you were. People didn't associate with the opposite race and they used the word "nigger" to explain someone which isn't used to describe people now. They also would say that if you were black then you were most likely a slave and the white people had higher rank over you. This quote is explaining that they are ashamed of their race because they are black and it relates to the time period.

Chapters 26 and 27: " I says to myself, this is another one that I'm letting him rob her of her money. And when she got through, they all jest laid theirselves out to make me feel at home and know I was amongst friends. I felt so ornery and low down and mean, that I says to myself, My mind's made up; I'll hive that money for them or bust." (pg. 160)

Comments and Questions:  This is important because Huck starts to kind of mixed emotions about what to do about the money. He feels the duty to help Mary Jane or to stay loyal to the king and the duke. I feel as if Huck starts to realize what is the right thing to do even though they have treated him so well. Huck does feel mean and low but he knows its the right thing to do. Huck makes up his mind to get the money and help her. This a breakthrough for Huck.

Chapters 28 and 29 and 30:  "It made my eyes water a little, to remember her crying there all by herself in the night, and them devils laying there right under her own roof, shaming her and robbing her; and when I folded it up and give it to her, I see the water come into her eyes, too; and she shook me by the hand, hard, and says: "Good-bye--- I'm going to do everything just as you've told me; and if I don't ever see you again, I sha'n't ever forget you, and I'll think of you a many and a many a time, and I'll pray for you, too!"-- and she was gone." (pg. 174)

Comments and Questions: This is important because it explains the relationship between Mary Jane and Huck Finn. They have become very good friends and he is now sensitive to her emotions. This is sad because he made a friend and now she is going to leave and they might not be able to see eachother for a long time. They also trust eachother and Mary Jane believes what Huck says. This is important because Huck Finn's relationships might come later in the book.