Mark Twain's Portrayal of Jim

I believe that the second picture, the one of Jim and Huck wading throught he river with the raft, is the most faithful illustration of the text.  It is a lot more subtle and difficult to interpret than the other pictures, but I think it works the best because it seems to be the least exaggerated.  I contend that Mark Twain portrays Jim as more of a character, rather than a charicature.  Yes, Jim seems to be a bit of an exaggerated character, but he also seems quite real and extremely tangible.  He is not the stereotypical slave of the time; he is knowledgeable in a number of areas, and he is extraordinarily opinionated.  Jim is clearly his own, unique, living, breathing, human being.  I believe that Mark Twain fairly portrays Jim in a way that any human being deserves to be portrayed--as a human being.

Photos of Jim from the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Pictures that agree with my description of Jim

Jim's face just radiates kindness and a love for being with people.  Looking at the picture, Jim seems like a nice and easy-going guy, and that is how I read him to be.  In reading about Jim, he is someone I would like to spend my time with, and this picture certainly portrays that sort of a person.

I was drawn to this picture because it shows the sadness that Jim experiences on a daily basis, thinking about his family and how he might never see them again.  I also saw this picture as Jim being helpful, and I think that is something for which he always strives.

Pictures that do not agree with my description of Jim

This picture portrays Jim as being a lazy, uncaring person, something that I do not believe him to be.  The way his is dressed makes him seem almost ignorant and incapable, when the truth of the matter is that he knows a lot

I was particularily bothered by this picture because it makes Jim look almost wild and crazy, like some sort of a deranged animal.  He also looks completely out-of-it, and that is simply not true of Jim and his character.

Jim- from the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Words that describe Jim in terms of his beliefs, actions, and feelings

caring
kind
helpful
stubborn
woeful
gullable
knowledgeable
easy-going


Words that describe Jim in terms of his physical appearance

big
tall
muscular

Emerson's "Self-Reliance" Essay

"The inquiry leads us to that source, at once the essence of genius, of virtue, and of life, which we call Sponteneity or Instinct. We denote this primary wisdom as Intuition, whilst all sater teachings are tuitions."