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What is the goal of life? Does one live just for the sake of it? Despite the illusion the permanent nature of life, the past has indicated that the belief is a fallacy. Where does one go after dying? Do the actions of a person affect where he or she goes after death? Is there a shared destiny for all the people after they die? Death is inevitable as Edgar posits in his poem Lucinda Matlock “ … eight of whom we lost… I had lived enough” Existence of hell and earth has dominated the minds of the people for long time. Spirits do not vanish after death as it is indicated in “ it was fabled that the spirits … within its verge.”( Hawthorne, par 3)
Attempts to explain the idea of where the soul goes after death has culminated in the creation of different religions. C.S Lewis wrote The Great Divorce as a reply to a previous book by Blake named The Marriage Of Hell And Heaven. The Great Divorce is an expression of what the writer believed to the representative of the real scenarios surrounding the debate of the reality of hell or heaven (Hart, 55). This book will seek to evaluate the depictions of heaven in the allegory novel and make inferences on the actual meaning that the author wished to convey to the public (Lewis, 21).
At the time when the author wrote the book, there was a widespread philosophy that the actions of any person did not affect his after life (Inge, 14). This is the same ideal that Blake purports to hold in the previous work that led to the writing of the book. However, Lewis sought to dispel the notion that the final destiny of the human being is predetermined and that there is no possibility of any person redeeming himself (Hart, 37). Through this mythical work, Lewis present both hell and heaven as rewards for the actions that a person undertook in his normal life. Some of the ideals that are held in the novel are directly translated from the bible. In the fantasy of representing the imagined experiences of the human soul after death creates a worthy contest of the philosophy that all people move to the same place after their demise (Inge, 14-32).
Heaven is presented to the audience as a place of rest and vast possibilities. This is a contradiction to the representation of the hell in the novel since it is comparatively or even exaggeratedly smaller than heaven (Lewis, 32). This purposeful representation of heaven as a bigger place leads to the notion that there are more people that are worthy to be in the place. Heaven is a place of possibilities and abundance. People have more than they may demand and there is definitely better than the physical world. Heaven is a reward for the people that have virtues. This is the final outcome that people have at the end of the “moral journey”.
The depiction of the people in heaven is better compared to the one used to refer to the people from hell. Lewis creates a mental image of the people in heaven as bright and solid. This depiction makes the notion of a second life that has pervaded most of the religions real since the people in heaven are almost as real as those on earth. He notably changes how the people in hell are. They are not actual people (Lewis, 15). They lack the solid nature and they are just spirits or phantoms. The use of the above contrasts makes heaven more appealing to the reader compared to hell.
Lewis’ heaven is a better than hell since it is filled with colors that almost make the people disappear. The earlier description of the people as bright and solid is left out at this point since the colors in heaven almost make them disappear. The changing focus or depiction of the people in heaven from bright and solid to spirits serves as a reminder to the reader that the people in heaven are also ghosts and not real. This clarification comes later on in the novel after the author works hard to influence the mental visualization of the phantoms in heaven as real people (Lewis, 21).
Choice as a theme comes out clearly in the novel. People make many choices as it is indicated in The Hill …
Who played with life all his ninety years,
Braving the sleet with bared breast,
Drinking, rioting, thinking neither of wife nor kin,
Nor gold, nor love, nor heaven?
Most of the phantoms in hell opt to remain in the small area since they have the power to choose what to do. This is a feeling that they are accustomed to in their normal life. However, the depiction of heaven is that it is a place of serving. However, the servants in heaven have more space for themselves compared to the phantoms in hell. The idea of heaven being a place of servitude and hell being the absolute place of leadership creates a contradiction (Lewis, 24-50). The expansive nature of heaven compared with the small size of hell leads to an instant ideal that heaven is full of freedom. Going ahead to state that there is more free will in hell than in heaven contradicts the earlier literal description of heaven.
However, the reign in hell is not worthwhile since most of the people in hell have less inclinations to work towards a common rule. This means that hell’s ideal of reign is all in the minds of the characters, hence, abstract. “Milton was right," said my Teacher. "The choice of every lost should can be expressed in the words, 'Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven.' ..... There is always something they prefer to joy --- that is, to reality." (Lewis, 41) Insertion of this issue of power to choose in the novel is important. It helps highlight the proposed notion of freedom by Blake as a fallacy (Hart 56). The idea that one can follow his or her selfish intent, work against the moral grain of the society and end up in heaven with the rest of the people is a lie that Lewis exposes. People in hell are the ones that followed their selfish motives in their previous lives. Therefore, entry into heaven is not guaranteed. Heaven is a place created as a reward to the people that can follow the laid rules.
Works cited
Hart, James David. The Oxford Companion To American Literature. 1st ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1983. Print.
Inge, M. Thomas. Literature. 1st ed. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2008. Print.
Lewis, C. S. The Great Divorce. 1st ed. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1946. Print.
Critical analysis of the novel
In this section, regarding the literature research paper, the paper will focus on the analysis of the characters as presented by the author. This is an essential sector of the paper, as it will aid in understanding the roles played in demonstrating the main themes.
Analysis of major characters
The main character of this particular novel is Huck. Huck is thirteen years old and a son of a local drunk in the town of Missouri, a place in Mississippi River. Huck is forced to live on his wits and always some bit of an outcast to the society as he questions what the society exalts. Huck is thoughtful ad willing to come to the truths about most of the important matters that he has come across (Clemens 33). He is still a young man however, and receives much support from his friend Tom. From the beginning of the novel, Twain makes it very clear that Huck is a small boy coming from the lowest levels of the society. His father is known to be a drunk and a ruffian who disappears many months on the end. Huck has been described as dirty and homeless. In spite of the attempts that are made by Widow Douglas to have him reformed, he is resistant and keeps maintaining his independent ways. The community has failed miserably in providing protection for this young boy from his father, and though the Widow finally gives Huck some of the necessary schooling as well as religious training that he has missed, and had not been indoctrinated to social values as the way a middle-class boy like Tom Sawyer has been. Huck is very skeptical of the world around him especially since he had been separated from the mainstream society.
His distrust as well as experiences forces him to question most of the things which the society has taught him (Clemens 27). According to the law, Jim is Miss Watson's property, but according to him, it seems very right to help him out. His natural intelligence as well as his willingness to think through each and every situation on its own merits as well as demerits led him to coming into conclusions but would be very shocking to the society as a whole. Huck discovers, at time when he and Jim meet a group of slave-hunter, that telling a lie could help on at times. Since Huck is a child, the world seems to be new to him. Everything which he encounters forms an occasion for thought to him. His background however makes him to apply the rules which he had seen and taught, he creates his own rules. He must however struggle with some of the preconceptions especially those relating to the blacks which the society has ingrained in him, and as the novel comes to an end, he demonstrates his will to follow Tom Sawyer's lead. He is just a boy and is therefore fallible. As imperfect as he is, Huck represents what anyone is capable of becoming which is thinking, a human feeling rather than just the mere cog in the society machine.
Jim
Jim is a man of remarkable intelligence and compassion. He is the companion of Huck. When looked at a glance, Jim appears to be superstitious to the point of becoming an idiot, but a careful reading of the time that Huck as well as Jim spends on Jackson's Island reveals the fact that Jim's superstitions hide a great deal of knowledge of the natural world and represent an alternative form of the intelligence. Furthermore, Jim has one of the well functioning and healthy families in the whole novel. Although he has been separated from the family as well as his wife and children, he is able to miss them terribly, and the only thought which motivates his criminal act is that of permanent separation from them (Lester 47). On the river, Jim becomes a surrogate father to Huck as well as a close friend that Huck can tell anything. He takes care of him without being smothering. He cooks good food for the boy and provides shelter from some of the worst horrors which they encounter in the course of the friendship including the difficult times of the passing on of his father. Although there has been critics on Jim being too passive, it is of utmost importance to remember that he only remains at the mercy of every other character in the novel among them, the poor- thirteen year old Huck. This is demonstrated in the letter that Huck nearly sends to Miss Watson demonstrates. Just like Huck, he must find the way to accomplish his goals without having to incur the wrath of those who could easily turn him in. According to him, he is not able to speak out his mind. In spite of all this misfortunes, Jim is able to act as a noble human being as well as a loyal friend. In fact, he sets the guidelines which help the poor and unfortunate Huck to follow.
Tom Sawyer
Tom Sawyer is the same age as that of Huck and his best friend. Tom has been raised in a comfortable upbringing as opposed to the upbringing of his friend Huck who had a rough time growing up As a result of the environment of his upbringing, his beliefs are a very unfortunate combinations of what he had learned from those adults he had around him as well as the fanciful notions he has gleaned from his art of reading romance and adventure novels. Tom is more inclined to playing according to the rules of which most have nothing to do with style than with morality or anyone's welfare (Lester 12). His beliefs and behavior make him the perfect foil for Huck: his strict adherence to the rules his precepts contrasts him with the tendency of Huck to question everything around him and think for himself rather than following what everyone thinks is right. Although most of his escapades are often funny, they demonstrate how cruel the society could be. Tom is well aware that Miss Watson had died and that Jim is a free man, yet he is very willing to have Jim remain a captive while he is busy entertaining himself with plans of escaping. His plotting is not only hurtful to Jim, but also to Aunt Sally and Uncle Silas as well. At the end, Tom embraces what a young, well-to do white man is brought up to become in the society of the time: self centered and having dominion all over him.
Pap
Pap is Huck's father, the man who drinks daily and does not do very well. He is a wreck when he is first introduced in the novel, having disgusting clothes, tattered clothes and a ghost-like look. The illiterate man disapproves Huck's education and often beats him. Pap represents the general debasement of the white society as well as the failures of the family structures.
Huckleberry Finn, a classic novel by Mark Twain, tackles versified complicated themes and highlights the long and hard reputation of the south central during the 19th century. Despite the generalized representation as a young boy story, the novel develops a comprehensive attitude and analysis of different themes such as racism and as well highlights on the transitions that happened in the South during this time. Apparently, in his great work, the author highlights on the changes experienced by these people as they coped and made efforts of keeping up with the dynamic society. An in depth evaluation of the great work by the author reveals the different methods applied by these people in their quests of combating with the changes that they could not endure. As the story developed in the book develops, it is hard to notice the importance of some aspects such as Mississippi River as it is directly related to the characters and the overall description of the South during the changing times.
In many ways as used in the story, the river is a metaphor and perceives the life of these people during the mid-19th century. The description made on the nature of the river, flowing ceaselessly and changing, the river follows its paths to its destination. In comparison to the nature of people’s life, they continuously under carry their quest of coping with the changes presented by the society. Lastly, since the book was set at a time when slavery was common in the society, the book demonstrates some aspects of racism oppression to people. Henceforth, the novel has a strong attitude towards changes in the society during the 19th century making it an interesting and knowledge fulfilling text. The paper is an annotation of the themes presented in the text, aimed at developing an all-inclusive overview and evaluation of sources for the final research paper.
Doyno, Victor. Writing Huck Finn: Mark Twain's Creative Process. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991.
While evaluating the themes presented in the novel, it is essential to have a historical attitude and analysis of the author. Particularly, in this text, the authors extensively evaluates the nature of idea presentation in the novel. Victor precisely focuses on the process of composition and revisions made by Twain throughout the novel. In his great work, Victor continues an evaluation where he discusses how the ideas arose in the author. Information presented by the author in the book raises many concerns to the reader, as there is a massive transition between the presentations of ideas. The book is significant in the evaluation since it highlights how the idea of the novel came to Twain’s mind while slavery and oppression still existed but changed once it was outlawed in the society. The source is significant and crucial in the research paper as it provides an extensive elaboration of how the author of the novel tinkers with the relationship between the characters Jim and Huck in the various drafts of the novel until it struck the right chord of social protest with him. In other words, the source is crucial due to its evaluation of the development of the great work of Twain.
Fishkin, Shelley Fisher, ed. A Historical Guide to Mark Twain. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
The novel by Twain contains different aspects that may be addressed as essays. Additionally, ideas from the book can as well form a basis of versified arguments and debates. Fishkin and Fisher, in their great work, develops a comprehensive collection of essays on different topics on Twain. These essays have differing aspects and attitudes of the novel. More than half of the essays developed in the collection presented by these authors are confined on the moral dimensions and evaluations of Twain’s writing. In the final research paper and review of Twain’s novel, this source will help in establishing how the author wrote Huckleberry Finn. On a different perspective, due to the moral lessons presented by the novel, it can be perceived that the great work by Twain incorporates and evaluates differing aspects of cultural issues during the writing period. Henceforth, this source is as well crucial as a response to certain cultural issues of his time. Additionally, as developed in earlier the novel comprises of different aspects and parts of speech that pose a challenge while understanding the topics. Nevertheless, while using this source, some interpretations of the novel are presented and thus aids in comparing the depiction of Jim with Stowe’s depiction of Uncle Tom the novel.
Kolchin, Peter. American Slavery, 1619-1877. New York: Hill and Wang, 1994.
Slavery is a major aspect focused in the novel. More so, the novel was written depicting a society with different aspects of oppression and slavery. While evaluating the aspects and themes developed in the novel, it is essential to have a significant grasp the historical perspective of slavery in America. This source provides an extensive exploration of the historical perspective of the history of slavery in United States. Apparently, the most useful segment of the book is in the final chapters that focus on the way the abolitionist movement gained strength in the middle 19th century. Particularly, the book contains a segment in the book that focuses on the role of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in galvanizing public sentiment against slavery. Concurrently, it as well contains a chapter highlighting on how institutions and cultural practices that dated back to slavery actually lasted well beyond the end of the actual practice of slavery. Thus, following this strong ideas presented by the authors, the source gains some credibility to the final research paper.
Horwitz, Howard. "Can We Learn To Argue? Huckleberry Finn and Literary Discipline." ELH 70 2003: 267-300.
It is always important to have a different anticipation and evaluation of ideas basing arguments from other people. In his argument, Howard postulates that the novel is prone to future critics while used in literature. Additionally, he continues with the argument where he develops a critical analysis in defense of the novel basing the arguments on the grounds of irony. His arguments while using the classical approach have a significant impact on modern literature. He traces the historical perspective of the ironist argument from the manifestations presented in the early reviews of the novel. Apparently, the source is credible to the literature research as it has some reviews of other essays and reviews of the novel Huckleberry Finn. Despite the author’s failure of directly entering the debate on whether the novel should be included in the contemporary literature study, while reading his points of view, he suggests that the novel presents solutions to the contemporary ideas and questions on the value of the literary representations. Its credibility is magnified as the author continuously gathers information from external sources in the quest of supporting his arguments.
Smiley, Jane. "Say It Ain't So Huck: Second Thoughts on Twain's Masterpiece." Harpers Magazine January 1996: 61-67.
Normally, while reading the novel for the first time, it is likely to develop differing attitude and perspective from other people. According to an argument presented by Jane, she states that after reading the novel for the first time, she was shocked by its prevailing consideration as a great novel. While in the quest of analysis, she evaluates the standard but critical defenses for the novel. Her argument and point of view to the novel is credible to the research paper due to her achievements in literature. The source presents a versified point of view to the research paper where the author evaluates the relationships by comparing characters such as Uncle Tom and Huck, postulating that their actions partially related. Additionally, through the arguments and thoughts presented in the book, the source provides a diverse reflection of the themes presented in the novel.
Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Lodi, NJ: Everbind Anthologies, 2002. Print.
The novel, subject of the literature research paper, “The adventures of Huckleberry Finn” explores different aspects and subjects of social importance and themes of social imbalances during the 19th century. In his writing, the author presents his ideas in a chronological manner. Major issues addressed in the book include; racism, greed, social classes and oppression of people. The development process of the ideas in the novel begins with the story of the Hulk, the young boy, who is placed in a society and environment where he experiences domestic abuse. In the quest of escaping from the oppression, he flees home and befriends another runaway slave, Jim. Apart from the story being enthusiastic, it portrays a great extent of that is difficult to understand. On a different point of view, mostly based on the ideas presented in the book, the massive use of figurative language aids in relating the setting context of the novel to the issues facing the real life American society. Despite the great ideas presented in the novel, it is among the most banned literatures in America. The source will be credible for the final literature research paper as it challenges different elements of the American society.
Marx, Leo. "Mr. Eliot, Mr. Trilling and Huckleberry Finn." Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Norton Critical Edition Second Edition. New York: W.W. Norton, 1977. 336-349.
The novel, “Adventure of Huckleberry Finn”, is among the most criticized and reviewed literature works in America. Heated debates have been continuously erupting from the versified points of view of different people regarding the points and ideas presented by the author in the novel. In this article, the author evaluates the different arguments used while defending the novel aiming at developing a comprehensive fault of these arguments. In his evaluation, Marx identifies the flaws of the novel illustrating that Twain betrayed his characters. He continues with his critiques where he focuses on the author’s change of humor use in the novel in the last chapters. More so, as the arguments heat up, Marx highlights on the aspect of Mississipi River, where he highlights that the use in the novel is inapplicable. Initially, the author uses the river as benevolent symbol. However, according to Marx, the river as well takes Huck and Jim to the dangerous slavery territories. The source is relevant to the final literature research as it presents a comprehensive evaluation of the ideas presented in the novel hence eliminating the complexity of understanding the themes in Twain’s work.
Lester, Julius. “Morality and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Case Study in Critical Controversy. Edited by Gerald Graff and James Phelan. Boston and New York: Bedford Books of St. Martin’s Press, 1995. 340-348.
According to Lester, Huckleberry Finn is an immoral book. Which he finds demeaning to the black. In his argument related to his perspective and attitude of the book, he points out that the treatment of Jim in the novel is a vivid evidence of Mark Twain’s racial perspective. Additionally, he views these actions as disregard for the entire experiences of the slaves. Concurrently, the argument provides parallel views of slavery and child abuse. In his evaluation of the ideas presented in the book, it becomes evident that Lester has a strong negative attitude and strong critiques relating to the novel in an instance where he states, “Twain’s stereotypical depiction of Jim as passive and meekly faithful to whites.” On the other hand, the Lester develops a strong argument postulating that Twain does not precisely make a description of the occurrences that engulf Jim’s wife and children. Despite the strong attribute of racism in the text, Lester goes ahead arguing that is not necessarily the worst occurrence in the novel. In his idealization, he has an immature vision of freedom while evading the postulated aspects of the community. Normally, morality aspects in the society are characterized by the strong and brave acts of taking responsibility of individual actions and problems. Similarly, an ideal situation as well entails taking care of the issues facing the society. However, as in the case of the novel, Huckleberry Finn develops a sense of bias where he presents “a dismal portrait of the white male psyche” whose fantasy of escape is a parody of true freedom (348). The source is credible to the research paper as it provides an evaluation of the shortcomings and the inaccuracy of the novel while developing the themes.
Adams, Richard P. "The Unity and Coherence of Huckleberry Finn." Tulane Studies in English 6 (1956), 87-103
Based from the title of the book, in his great work, Adams focuses on the unity of people in the novel. While introducing his evaluation, he defines the theme of unity as the development and growth of individual personality. Adam’s analysis is important while evaluating the themes of the novel. His initial approach to the novel by using a character approach provides significant contribution to the accuracy of ideas presented in the novel. Additionally, despite the character analysis, Adams as well discusses different themes in the novel such as the rebirth pattern, and his overall support of the ideas presented in the literature novel. The source selection is relevant to the final literature research paper as it grants a generalized understanding of the novel as a whole. Nevertheless, despite the comprehensive approach applied in the book, the author does not incorporate much of Jim’s actual characters.
Camfield, Gregg. “Sentimental Liberalism and the Problem of Race in Huckleberry Finn.” Nineteenth-Century Literature 46 (June 1991): 96-113.
In his evaluation of the novel, Camfield places a question on the racial politics revealed in the book. He argues that the racial ideas in Huckleberry Finn troubles the reception of the 20th century. Apparently, while reading the novel, through the ambivalent sentiments presented by Twain, modern readers from the 20th century are prone to developing impulses against these claims and sentiments. He continues in his argument stipulating that Twain society is characterized by racial inequality. However, among his strong critiques he states that the perspective of racial equality is not evident in the novel in the demonstration of Jim and understanding of the dynamic nature of the claims. Through his claims, the book becomes significantly essential for the literature research paper as it reveals some essential aspects and need of racial harmony in an ideal society. The analysis presented in the book are comprehensive and as well helpful for the evaluation of the different themes anticipated for evaluation in the literature research. The fact that the author presents Jim in a harsh society, Camfield believes that challenges experienced by modern readers are buried in the extensive irony in the book as the author struggles to reveal racial equality in Jim’s society. The book is a credible source for the final literature research paper as it presents extensive analysis of the different themes in the book thus facilitating an all-inclusive approach to the research paper.
Clemens, Samuel. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter, et al. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Lexington: Heath, 1994. 236-419
The great work by Samuel presents Twain’s novel as another problematic text gearing the controversy in American literature. At this moment, it is evident that the novel has continuously faced attacks and defends in different ways from researchers in the 20th century. In their arguments, most reviewers presented the strengths and weaknesses of the novel. Precisely, according to the evaluation done by Clemen’s analysis, it is evident that the novel was to be done as a mystery. The facts presented by the author while evaluating the adaptability of the novel in the modern society increases its credibility to the literature research as it demonstrates an evaluation of the different themes in the novel.
References
Doyno, Victor. Writing Huck Finn: Mark Twain's Creative Process. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991.
Fishkin, Shelley Fisher, ed. A Historical Guide to Mark Twain. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Kolchin, Peter. American Slavery, 1619-1877. New York: Hill and Wang, 1994.
Horwitz, Howard. "Can We Learn To Argue? Huckleberry Finn and Literary Discipline." ELH 70 2003: 267-300.
Smiley, Jane. "Say It Ain't So Huck: Second Thoughts on Twain's Masterpiece." Harpers Magazine January 1996: 61-67.
Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Lodi, NJ: Everbind Anthologies, 2002. Print.
Marx, Leo. "Mr. Eliot, Mr. Trilling and Huckleberry Finn." Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Norton Critical Edition Second Edition. New York: W.W. Norton, 1977. 336-349
Lester, Julius. “Morality and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Case Study in Critical Controversy. Edited by Gerald Graff and James Phelan. Boston and New York: Bedford Books of St. Martin’s Press, 1995. 340-348.
Adams, Richard P. "The Unity and Coherence of Huckleberry Finn." Tulane Studies in English 6 (1956), 87-103
Camfield, Gregg. “Sentimental Liberalism and the Problem of Race in Huckleberry Finn.” Nineteenth-Century Literature 46 (June 1991): 96-113.
Clemens, Samuel. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter, et al. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Lexington: Heath, 1994. 236-419
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