The Life of a Slave Girl by H.Jacobs and Huckleberry Finn by M.Twain - Thesis Example

The Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs and Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Introduction A theme of freedom is of crucial importance for American literature. The authors of different epochs tried to depict the way American nation has been struggled against racial discrimination, sexual violence and other kinds of repressive actions against the nation. On the example of two novels by Harriet Jacobs and Mark Twain a theme of freedom will be discussed further on. Twain is widely recognized as a writer more appealing to the society and represents freedom for freedom. Jacobs depicts slavery as oppression of freedom or social restrictions of slaves’ rights for further existence. Therefore Twain and Jacobs provide two different approaches to freedom as essence of human life and as a means of further existence. Thesis: Freedom for Americans is not a means, it is the main goal. Jacob’s reflection of freedom Slavery as a drastic oppression against Afro-Americans was depicted by Jacobs basing on her own experience of being oppressed. The main goal of slaveholders was to gain money and they tried to destroy a family unit among their slaves. In this paradigm the readers can trace the way a theme of freedom is depicted by Jacobs. The facts of oppression by slaveholders are scaring. Slaves didn’t have a chance to realize their dreams and to live the lives they wanted. A constant destruction of family values prevented slaves from creating their families. The main character of the novel, Linda is shown as a fighter for her freedom. A desire for freedom is also shown by another character of the book, Benjamin. Therefore, two heroes Linda and Benjamin are striving for freedom and do not want to take the line of the least resistance; they are selfless fighters for freedom. These characters are perceived by readers as real heroes, full of desire to live free lives with no oppression. An atmosphere of Linda’s childhood is full of a gender and racial bias. Though Linda is persuaded to stop fighting against enslavement and advised to adapt to her daily hardships under oppression, she doesn’t hesitate and gives birth to her children, her followers of fighting for freedom. Being a mother, she fights for her freedom and freedom of her children. She says: “…I would not have taken it [freedom] at the expense of leaving them in slavery” (Jacobs 89). Linda opposes to the slaves who are satisfied with their existence as slaves. Freedom is not a material thing for Linda and it surely can’t be bought. Thus, Jacobs make readers to think what freedom means nowadays? Modern people perceive freedom as is, as a non-material privilege of making a personal choice. In order to realize the real value of freedom in the modern society, it is necessary to read such kind of books. In this case, freedom won’t be perceived as a certain entity; contemporaries would finally realize that they have a chance to live the lives they want because thousands of fighters among slaves, revolutionaries and other courageous aspirers for freedom made it the way it is now. Maybe the greatest value of freedom is to live not thinking about what freedom is. Freedom is an unseen doors to a world with endless possibilities. The theme of Freedom reflected by Twain The theme of freedom is evidently shown in Huckleberry Finn. This boy is forcefully subjected to a ‘structural life’. Finn is a fighter for freedom whose intentions are closer to contemporaries. Finn doesn’t fight for freedom, as all of us do not currently. He looks for possibilities to make his life better and more comfortable for him. He wants calmness and comfort; he wants escape for escape and adventures for adventures. Finn is more wanderer and adventurer than a fighter. He protects his possibility to make a choice and exist beyond oppressive social bounds. Another character, Jim is a fighter for freedom. He wants freedom as a means to step over social bounds. He wants to fight against oppression otherwise he won’t be able to live a productive life. Thus, for this character freedom is the most important thing in the world; it is a means to be release from ‘iron hands’ of the society. Jim wants freedom to be happy and be released from social norms: “Jim said it made him all over tremble and feverish to be so close to freedom” (Twain 97). Both Huck and Jim are truly inspired to reach freedom. Still, Finn experiences and tastes ‘savor’ of freedom; he has this privilege even without fight, like all of us do. Huck’s goal of ‘being boss to himself’, reechoes American idea of individual’s freedom and liberties. Finn doesn’t want anyone to interfere in his freedom. The real experience of freedom is when Huck and Jim both naked on the boat. No social attributes of oppression (such as clothes), no shame…Huck loved freedom for freedom. Finn is unable to fit into society; he prefers wanderings and ‘talking about nothing’. Moreover, Finn feels "mighty free and easy and comfortable on the raft" (Twain 128). Finn wants to be free like a bird, to look at the river and to eat dinner right away when he sits at a table with no ceremonies. Freedom is for freedom, it is beyond social restrictions and norms. Contemporaries experience freedom, like Huck did. We can do whatever we want, because there are hundreds of opportunities in the modern world. There is no more need to fight for freedom, it is time to appreciate it. Conclusion As far as we can see, both novels are devoted to the discussion of the theme of freedom. Unlike Jacobs, for Twain a concept of freedom is of a broader character. His heroes are able to ‘taste different flavors of freedom’. Freedom is a multi-sided aspect for Twain’s characters; it goes further beyond the matter of enslavement. They feel ‘free and easy’ on the raft. Thus, modern readers would find this book as a more understandable explanation of what freedom is. A modern society tries to ‘smooth sharp corners’ and we are taught to appreciate every moment we have. These ideas are primary for Finn. Jacob relates a theme of freedom to her main characters in another way. A taste of freedom can’t be really appreciated if there was no prior fight for it. Freedom is a means to continue Linda’s further successful life. It is a stage she has to reach for further existence. Currently, this attitude to freedom may be misinterpreted. Nevertheless, it is possible to suppose that contemporaries should read and grasp the ideas of these two books. The book by Jacobs is the first stage to realize the real value of freedom and the book by Twain allows readers to ‘taste its flavor’. An easiness of freedom depicted by Twain wouldn’t be so fascinating without Jacob’s depiction of fighting hardships for freedom. Works cited 1. “Huck Finn in Context: A Teaching Guide”. Available at: PBS.org. 2. Jacobs, Harriet. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1987. 3. Twain, M. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. University of California Press, 2010. Read More