I agree with your opinion. In the beginning of the book, we can see the struggling relationship between Huck and pap, and how it affects Huck and what he does. Huck is in strain with being with pap, but he also decides on his own to fake his death to escape from pap’s captivity. Do you think this was the first step in Huck’s developing maturity? We can also see his developing maturity throughout the book, but we also see the contrast of Huck being a follower. In the beginning of the book, we see Huck following Tom Sawyer’s lead, later the king and the duke, and finally near the end with Tom Sawyer. Throughout the book, Huck never learns to be a leader instead of following one, and maybe Twain made it this way to show Huck’s continuing steps in life to improve his own thinking and leadership skills.

Hadley I agree with you that Huck is an easily swayed character and I agree with you that his tendency to listen to what he is told to do has prolonged the suffering of him and his acquaintances. I think if Huck listened to his gut more often like he did near the end of the book Jim and him would have escaped to the free states and he wouldn’t have gone through the mess he did to find out his trip was useless.
Huck Finn grows throughout the book. Where do we first see him make a moral decision for himself? Personally, I think he makes his first moral decision when he lies to the men catching runaway slaves on the Mississippi River. I think when he hid Jim’s true identity from the men he made his own choice. Do you think that Huck only listens to people he sees as more powerful than him? Do you think Huck only opposes the social constructs formed by wealth and civility?

I think its very good that you talk about this terrible problem. One of the problem is that nobody talks about it, the most humans dont think about animal testing when they buy cosmetic. Animal testing is a cruel thing, they have feelings and they should be free.

It is really good that you spoke about the topic.

I agree with you Hadley. It really is hard to believe the inhumanity that animals have to suffer by the hands of humans. You wrote that “countless studies have shown that not only is it excruciating physically but also mentally for the animals.” If you write on this subject again, I would be love to know which studies specifically show the psychological pain that these animals experience, and how they have been able to record and measure that data in order to come to that conclusion. I found an article about alternatives to animals testing that I think you may be interested in, https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/alternatives-animal-testing/. Thank you for sharing about this deeply important issue, I look forward to reading more of your posts!

Hadley, I really admire your work ethic, and I too believe that hard work pays off. You’re right that it is completely different than natural talent. Hard work shows a certain mental and physical dedication that talent doesn’t possess.

Hadley,
Way to work hard and prove hard work pays off. I do however think talent wins when the kid with the natural talent works hard.

Hi Hadley! Thank you for sharing your piece. I agree with your stance to some degree. However, I do think that there are certain things that are not in our reality. For example, I know that I will never be capable of being an Olympic figure skater. So, hard work can always lead to results but maybe not always the results we want.

Hadley, your work is great. Hard work does pay off when you are dedicated to any sport. Natural talent can always be improved when you get the little spark of motivation. One sentence you wrote that stands out is, “I have dedicated myself to the sport and the team.” This sentence is important to me because I have worked and learned to put my team first and it has payed of as a leader and player.

Hadley, I would like to say that it is amazing how you put so much dedication at something you thought you weren’t good at. This piece really connected to me because I once thought I wasn’t good at a sport because of my size and weight but I continued to push my self and gained weight and worked out constantly, I made it my mission to be the best I can be. So I really am inspired by this essay because I have a connection with this essay that I haven’t realized until I was finished reading.

I completely agree with you that Huck’s perception of the Grangerfords is that they are good people but a bit twisted. I appreciate that you spoke about the fact that the Grangerfords actions are both helpful and hurtful. I would look into what characters like their slaves or Jim thought of them as Huck is an unreliable narrator.

I agree with Evan, Huck definitely thinks of the Grangerfords as good people, but what I question is how they, as well as Huck, threat the slaves. Huck doesn’t even mention their names, or how much work they actually did. I think there is much more to address with the feud, like maybe looking at it like a symbol for every conflict? Every conflict does much more harm than good, but the people involved all think they are right and it is good.

Hi Hadley,
I agree the Grangerford’s are good people but they are living a very messed up life.They are in this feud which has no reason what so ever but they are very good people to Huck. I think that this topic should really be looked at because the Grangerford’s have two different sides to them a very nice side and an evil side.

Hadley,
I also found this part intriguing! I think Huck made a real connection with this deceased child and I think that shows a lot about his character. He doesn’t care about who people are, just what they have to say. I also couldn’t help but think of how Twain had to become a different author in this section! I rarely think about how an author has to change tones for each character, but when he actually had to write something for another character, it stood out much more.

Hadley, I really like the message of your video and the way you portray it. By adding the voices of different girls, you diversified the facts being presented and added a more personal aspect to the piece. If every man watched this video and thought of each girl speaking as their sister, their cousin, or their aunt, I’m sure rape would not be such a pressing issue in our world. I’m glad I got to help you with your project!

Hadley,
I am so impressed with your video! When you told me that you would be piecing together several different girls speaking about rape, I wasn’t sure how it would actually turn out, but it turned out so well! I think it was very bold and impactful, and hearing all of the voices was so impressive. Rape is a very important topic, and making this video with all of the different girls speaking showed the severity of it. Thank you for making this, and letting me help you!

Hadley,
Your video was very powerful. I think this is a very important issue that needs to be address, and needs to stop being swept underneath the rug. It’s sad that us young girls have to live in a society where we are constantly in fear of our safety and well being. Also I like the photo you chose of the sign saying “teach don’t rape, not don’t get raped”. It’s appalling how society blames the victims for being raped based on the clothing they were wearing, if they were under the influence, etc. Rape is Rape and it should never be justified.

I am your secret writing pal!

Hadley,
This is a very power piece and it is a very serious topic that I hope is addressed in the upcoming future. Women/girls shouldn’t be treated like this. I hope our country can learn from the mistakes and improve.

I hate the song Blurred Lines and I hate how popular it is. My homecoming dance was last Saturday and they played it and I was upset because schools should not play songs condoning rape.

I completely agree with everything you said. Media portrays rape in so many aspects and it isn’t right. Back to when you talked about blurred lines, they played that at the homecoming dance. Which isn’t right to play a song about rape at a school. I also agree we need to make the charge for rape worse like a longer sentencing and parole.