Debate+notes+-+symbolism+v+themes+v+characterisation

__**Symbols**__


 * The formation of an 'unlikely friendship' is symbolic. But symbolic of...???
 * Symbols add depth - the book itself is a symbol. Twain examines what was at the time an unusual friendship over social boundaries. This is a motif of course.
 * Essentially everything can be seen as symbolic - in fact what isn't symbolic? If the burgeoning friendship is a motif and the Mississippi is symbolic then by definition everything else must be,.
 * Different types of knowledge are symbolic....(Jim's knowledge versus Huck's knowledge versus etc)
 * The Mississippi river symbolises the opposite of restriction. Why not a road' because roads end and are restricted. Why not an urban setting ? because they are restrictive. The width of the Mississippi makes contact with others more affecting.
 * The novel focuses on Huck and Jim - 'the child and slave' who symbolise a strata of society who do not normarily have a voice. Twain gives this strata of society a voice
 * Cairo - the turning point at the Mississippi - where Huck and Jim miss their turn. Interesting that Twain relates this to Egyptian society - symbolic of a great empire which showed great cruelty through its exploitation of slaves.
 * Do all the characters we see symbolise different aspects of Huck's character???????
 * romanticism v realism exploration is conveyed through symbols - Walter Scott, Tom, Emilyne Grangerford pictures.
 * Each episode is symbolic....but symbolic of what?????
 * Unbalanced government symbolised by judges - especially new judge
 * each character symbolises a certain group or social strata

__**Characterisation**__
 * Picaresque is not really a narrative structure but more of a genre
 * Because the narrative is first person the narrative intention is clearly to draw us close into the character of Huck. A third person narrative would have allowed Twain to have a much more thematic approach. Narrative voice in the first person is a vehicle to show growth. However, to be didactic one does not have to be explicit which a third person narrative would be.
 * Themes and symbols are essential elements of any novel but in this novel they clearly relate back to Huck. Twain uses themes and symbols to ultimately show us Huck's growth as a character i.e. the episodic description of different characters show different sides of society which Huck reflects.
 * Characters in general are symbolic but it is essentially conveyed through characterisation - this would be superficial if there was no character development.
 * The fact that Huck is the narrator gives on a deeper insight into him as a character.
 * The relationship between Huck and Jim is personal to Huck and therefore pivotal to his growth. This is a novel about Huck's growth.
 * The novel is character driven....clearly. The central ideas of the novel are related to character, relationships and character development.
 * We only start to consider themes after we understand Huck's character development.

__**Themes**__
 * Without a theme then everything falls apart - nothing can be viewed in isolation.
 * __I__t's enough in this novel for us to '__consider__' themes. We ease into the thematic ideas in this novel.
 * Is a theme the hypocrisy of religion or is Twain saying something else about religion. If it is about hypocrisy then is religion a microcosm of society.
 * The prevalence of oppression and slavery across society - even in the 'sivilised'
 * The hypocrisy of a disjointed society - reflected in religious hypocrisy, 'white' hypocrisy, middle class hypocrisy
 * How so called 'sivilised' communities can forget and let down individuals.
 * The inner conflicts of morality versus immorality - the struggle to overcome ingrained and nurtured beliefs even if they lack morality.
 * 'show not tell didacticism' - this is not a history book but a novel and therefore this approach to narrative structure is clearly appropriate. It is a book which teaches. If you are not addressing themes what are you addressing?
 * It is the themes which expand the characters not the characters who expand the themes.Although Hero of our Time is a portrayal of a character more than thematic??? (brilliant drawing by Mr. Shirley)