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SUMMARY
After a much-needed sleep, they laze around, smoking and Huck reads out some books to Jim. He tells him about Kings, Dukes and Earls, their peculiar ways of dressing up and talking. Everything seems very enthralling to Jim. He is extremely intrigued with the fact that, despite just setting around", "hawking" and "fussing with the parliament", Kings get so rich. Huck explains the concept of harem and that of "a million wives" that a King had. Jim feels captivated by this account as he can't help but imagine the ruckus that so many wives would create.
Then they talk of King Solomon, the wisest man, and have an argument about his prudence in judgement. When two women, claiming to be the mother of the same child, want the matter settled, King Solomon orders that the child be cut into half - a verdict that Jim vehemently dissents to.
Then they move on to other subjects and Huck tells him how people, from different nationalities, speak different languages. Due to lack of exposure, Jim is so insulated from the outside world that he can't understand why all human beings don't talk the same language. Huck tries to explain things as best as he can by citing examples from everyday life. After a couple of futile arguments, Huck gives up on him.
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| The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Chapter 14 |
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is another chapter that is infused with the concept of racism. We notice the covert racist mindset of Huck. In the beginning of the chapter, when Jim recounts his apprehension of being caught (or drowned) in the wrecked steamboat incident, Huck acknowledges that Jim was right and that "he had an uncommon level head for a nigger". Why is it so surprising if Jim shows a "level head"? Is it because niggers and slaves aren't supposed to be sensible? Jim's correctness in assessing his situation, according to Huck, deserves a louder applause because he is a "nigger". He has shown an attribute that is believed to be the province of the white man.
Again, at the end of the chapter, Huck has a veiled streak of discrimination when he acknowledges the futility of arguing with Jim because "it warn't no use wasting words you can't learn a nigger to argue". Through this assumption, Huck tries to uphold his superiority as a white man and make up for having lost the argument.
In his heart of hearts, Jim also concedes to his inferiority. He says that if someone were to come up and say "Polly voo-franzy (Parlez vous francais), he wouldn't take the insult and would "bust him over de head" - dat is, if he warn't white. I wouldn't low no nigger to call me dat. Maybe, he would not be as vociferous when confronted with a white man. "White" men are, after all, better educated and have an authority over niggers.
This chapter also reveals Jim's balanced, sense of judgement. The fact that he dissents to King Solomon's verdict, about dividing the child into two halves, shows that the former possesses a sound and rational mind.