The term homosexual is defined as being sexually attracted to someone of one’s own sex. It’s a romantic love between two people of the same gender. In his essay, Come Back to the Raft Ag’in, Huck Honey!, Leslie Fiedler suggests that the relationship between Huck and Jim is expressed as homosexual attraction involving a young White boy and an older African-American man. Although Mr. Fiedler thinks that Huck and Jim’s activities translate to a homoerotic relationship, I disagree with him because Huck and Jim’s relationship is more like one between a father and son. They have a certain love for one another but without romantic connections.
In the story, Jim calls Huck, “honey,” which signifies the way old people talk to younger children. It shows a stronger development relationship between two people. Moreover, Jim is using the word, “honey” because Huck is more like a son to Jim. Mr. Fiedler is overstating his case that the word “honey” expresses homosexual behavior. He says, “. . .he will fold us in his arms saying “Honey” or “Aikane!”, he will comfort us, as if our offense against him were long ago remitted, . . .” (525). Mr. Fiedler is using the word “Aikane,” which is a traditional Hawaiian same-sex relationship or extended family often including same-sex relationships, to support his point of view. The word “honey” that Jim uses to call Huck has completely opposite meanings from the word “Aikane.” “Honey” for Jim is just how he expresses his feelings toward Huck like a father-figure. Jim doesn’t do anything else or have a physical attachment to Huck but just treat Huck well.
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I guess your thesis is about the relationship between Jim and Huck is not the homosexual relationship. It's a good start for your essay, Veeya. Maybe, for this first bodyparagraph, try to put your thinking about the reason why Fielder says this but you disagree. I can see that your first body paragraph support your thesis, just make it stronger to defend your opinion about this relationship.
ReplyDeletecomment on the writer's integration of sources, critical thinking, and development/support of the thesis.
ReplyDeleteI think you want to find a different quote because I don't fully understand the point you are trying to make with it. Why does Jim use the term honey? Is Honey a term two men would use for erach other? No man has never called me honey. you should find some more support that shows the use of the word honey is not homosexual.
You have a good start, and your thesis, you disagree with Fiedler because you think that the relationship between Huck and Jim is like a father and son, is very clear. Your first body paragraph is also clear and it contains all the steps that a critical essay should have, I think this a very hard and challenging essay and you had been doing it very good. For your next paragraph you would talk about the difference of ages, and maybe that Jim was like a father for Huck because he was much older than him. You can also talk about Jim, He treated Huck like that because he was the only friend he ever had.
ReplyDeletegood luck on the rest!
I know this essay is interesting, challenging and confusing somehow. It needs a lot of understanding especially on the writer's part of interest. I agree with you though, I don't see and can't think of a reason that Jim is homosexual at all. He was just portraying a father-figure to Huck. Good luck on your essay! Good start too:-)
ReplyDeletei actually like the ideas you have on this draft becauseb they are very interesting...i like the way you are expressing the word honey but i dont think the quote goes with the reasoning you are making...maybe for huck its his own way of expressing his feeling towards jim but i dont think that huck should be calling jim "honey"...but you also have some pretty good ideas....!
ReplyDeletegood luck!!