Socratic Seminar, Huck Finn: Ch. 17-22

Socratic seminar Questions

Question one:

Why is Huck perfectly unopposed to helping these to 'criminals' away from the law, yet he thinks twice when helping a in previous chapters?

Projected answers:

I believe that Huck was raised in thinking that black are merely property, not free people. The people Huck helps are white, so they are free entities as opposed to , who are property. I think that if the refugees were , Huck may have thought against saving them.

Question two:

Why does Jim willingly and happily agree to serve Bridgewater, as if he was a slave again?

Projected answers:

I think that Jim is so used to the lifestyle of a slave, that he is okay with serving.

Jim may be a serving person, meaning that is the way he communicates how he feels for a person, etc. This may be a side effect of having been a slave.

Jim may also enjoy it more now, because he has no risk of being sold, beaten or treated like a . He may also enjoy the feeling of making his own decision to serve the Bridgewater.

Question three:

Why doesn't Huck let the men and Jim realize he knows that they aren't really kings or Dukes?

Projected answers:

I think Huck is trying to figure out who the men really are, maybe if they are possibly dangerous, before he makes them upset at him. Huck may also want to se if he can make any profit out of the odd situation. It is also possible that Huck thinks they may betray them/ Jim if he tells them he knows for some reason.