Adventures of Huck Finn - Assignment Example

Exam Questions Question The Simpson’s season 4, Twains Adventure of Huckleberry Finn, and Wharton’s The Custom of the Country are pieces of art that symbolize the American deep sense of racial discrimination. Moreover, the books and the movie series the Simpson highlight the kind of life people live within the States of America. Themes of discrimination, racial prejudice, divorce, and poverty are evident from these pieces of art. Through use of humor, the authors and director of these pieces of art have satirized social critics within the life of blacks in America. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a book that has many controversies since it was written in 1885. The book focuses on African- American relationship of Jim a young man who lives in the Mississippi river. One of the major concerns is the use of the word ‘nigger,’ which is disliked by most readers and critics. In estimation, the word appears 215 times making the book to be banned from most of the classrooms in United States. The writing styles, the themes, and the language are not fit for the book to be used in a classroom setting. A major concern is the type of language used and the nature of racial discrimination that is illustrated by these pieces of arts (Born to Trouble). The books and the movies show in details the origin of the word ‘nigger’ and how the blacks were mistreated, hanged, and killed while being called the name. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn book is important as a historic book drawing a clear line on the treatment of the blacks by the whites. The book is most important in the curriculum since it clearly speaks and brings out the issue of racial discrimination, racial language, racial inequality, and many racial concerns that most white Americans fear and always avoid. It is for this reason that most of the parents and critics advocate for its banning. Twain himself shows a greater understanding of racism (Classic Literature). From these pieces of art, immorality has been expressed which is one of the shortcomings that has embraced most of the cities and states in the US. For example, Twain’s phrases that clearly indicate that the book is both immoral and vulgar in the way it presents itself hence not fit for the society. Twain writes, "Those idiots in Concord are not a court of last resort and I am not disturbed by their moral gymnastics.” From the Simpson’s we also observe cases of immorality especially when Homer the Heretic decides not to go to church but watch TV while drinking waffle batters and loafs while wearing his underwear. In addition to this, women have been used as symbols of sex and are observed as objects for sexual gratitude. For example, in the episode, I love Lisa, Lisa give Ralph a valentine’s card and Ralph interprets this as Lisa being in love with him. In the book the Custom of the Country, Ralph also considers Undine a sexual object. This is also widely shown with Twain in his book in abusive ways. Women have also been portrayed as lonely and hopeless people in these pieces of art. This is evident when Undine in the book Custom of the Country becomes pregnant and later neglects her son. This is because she did not like her in-laws and therefore felt so lonely to an extent of neglecting her own son. On the other hand, the Simpson season 4, Aunt Selma believes that getting a baby is the only way, which is able to relieve her of her loneliness. Question 2 Mad men season 1 themes of immorality, corruption, lies, and deception can be compared to Wharton’s The Custom of the Country. Peggy is suffering from sexual harassment from her male colleagues at work. Peggy sleeps with Pete Campbell on his bachelor’s party just the eve before he gets married who is her junior accounts manager. On the other hand, Don is cheating on her depressed wife Betty. Roger Sterling is also cheating on his wife Mona. All these are cases of immorality in season 1 of the mad men. In comparison to The Custom of the Country Undine although married engage in an affair with Peter Van Degen while in Europe. Themes of corruption are also evident from the two pieces of art. Undine is forced to blackmail Ralph so that she can access her son whom she wanted to raise in Europe. Comparatively, mad men season 1 is full of corruption cases. Don bribes Adam with $ 5000 and tells him to disappear never to contact him again (Jon Hamm). In addition to this, Pete confronts Don asking for blackmail in form of promotion threatening to reveal his real name to the public. Both pieces show characters committing suicide due to fear and dissatisfaction in life (Edith Wharton). Wealth and social status in these two pieces of art took the center stage with wealth taking a central role in determining ones social status in the society and power. It is also interesting to compare the way in which both pieces show negligence in terms of children. When Undine gave birth to her son, she neglected him. When Peggy gave birth, the doctor advises her to take hold of the baby but she refuses and the child is put under an adoption program. Theme of conflict has played a major role in mad men season 1 something that is not so much dominant in Custom of the Country. The two pieces of art also differ in terms of lifestyle. Undine the key character lifestyle indicates riches and wealth. This is the reason that makes her marry all the wealthy people despite getting married to Ralph who was poor. Undine even wishes that she gets married to an ambassador. The last paragraph of the novel is an imagination of Undine thinking of what its really like to be an ambassadors wife and indication that she is not satisfied with what she has. This flashy lifestyle is not present in mad men season 1 although some characters like Don are wealthy. Works Cited Born to Trouble. Adventures of Huck Finn. 2004 December 2007. 2012 . Classic Literature. What Have Writers Said About Huckleberry Finn. 2004 December 2007. 2012 Edith Wharton. The Custom of the Country. New york: Oxford, 1913. Mad Men (season 1). Dir. Kiernan Shipka. Perf. Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, Bryan Batt, Michael Gladis, Aaron Staton, Rich Sommer, and Maggie Siff Jon Hamm. 2007. Read More