Thursday, March 26, 2009

Blog #6

I don't know is Jim is a minstrel or not. Jim can be interpreted as be a minstrel of as being a realistic interpretation of an African American at that time in history in that region. I see shades of both in Jim. Sometimes the way he is written about makes it seem like he is ignorant and overly superstitious. It seems like Twain is making up a fictional charater based on how many people viewed African Americans at that time. Drawing upon prejudices he and other people had at that time. Twain could also be trying to show realistically how Jim would have been because of the poor education and the poor conditions for African Americans at that time. I think Jim is a reflection of how people in white society viewed African Americans at the time. I am leaning in the direction that Jim is suppose to be a more accurate depiction on an African American in the South And mark Twain is not trying to poke fun at African Americans.
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4 comments:

  1. CharleneMarch 26, 2009 at 9:51 AM

    I agree that people can see it one way or the other. Jim doesn't have much education and is portrayed as ignorant and superstitious. Twain may not being trying to make fun of him and just writing what he sees.

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  2. ZsofiMarch 26, 2009 at 9:51 AM

    I really like your idea that Jim is just a made up character based on the stereotype how black people were viewed in that time period. I agree with the idea and Jim could be a person that a minstrel made up but i dont think he is one.

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  3. mywong495March 26, 2009 at 10:10 AM

    good point in your story bout Jim and Twain. i think so too that Twain just describe Jim as how he is in that time and not to make fake story bout it.

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  4. PBouquetMarch 30, 2009 at 6:37 PM

    Cody, welcome to the group! I think that you're absolutely right about Clemens not poking fun at African Americans. He was satirizing white attitudes about African Americans in my opinion. And, he was as you point out depicting conditions as they were for African Americans. I've never read the book before, but I am really growing to like it for its effectiveness at satirizing an awful set of attitudes and conditions. Thanks for your post.

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