I thought that Azar Nafisi wrote a powerful piece about empathy. Empathy is “the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another” (www.dictionary.com). The author used a vital comparison to Huckleberry Finn as an argument, along with several others as arguments. The key concept or moral of this short piece is simple. Are you willing to stray away from society’s beliefs to do what you think is right?
Visualize being a little boy, being told that if you were to free slaves you would go to “everlasting fire.” Imagine the twists and knots in the little boy’s stomach. He is having little spurts of good memories filled with happiness and laughter with his friend. His black friend. A slave. Huckleberry Finn decides to screw it and he’ll go to hell. He was following what he thought was right. Not everyone can do that, it’s quite tough to go against everyone else’s beliefs and do as you please. Azar Nafisi used Huckleberry Finn’s story as an example of an argument with emotions. She was smart to use him because of the child innocence shown in Huckleberry Finn’s persona .
Azar Nafisi also wrote of a very personal experience that divulged empathy of others. She recalled a time when she taught at the University of Tehran in an extremely radical period in Iran. She, among others, were expelled. Two students who she regularly has heated arguments about their differences stood up for her. The two students were actively involved at the University’s Muslim Students’ Association, but despite their obvious differences, the two students did what they thought was right in their hearts. And that was to support her in a time of need. One of the students said, “Remember your own lectures on Huck Finn? Let’s just say, he is not the only one who can risk going to hell!” (Lunsford, p. 910) This is an example of an argument based on character and moral values.
When it comes to empathy, I do not think there should be arguments based on reason and facts because sometimes reason and facts just do not have much of a role and not nearly as important as emotions, character and values. Who can be as brave and courageous as Huckleberry Finn, a stubborn ten-year old boy? Would you be willing to burn in everlasting fire? Spend eternity in hell?
I like how you write with details and descriptions. I think ending that with those questions were good, it made me think.
ReplyDeleteSame thing what Evey said, I like how you ended your blog with questions to involve the audience more.
ReplyDeleteI like your perspective about how the little boy, huck is feeling when he heard the sunday school sermon about Jim. And I like your ending with questions.. You made me to think.
ReplyDeleteI like how you close this blog with questions and it is like you give your audience some time to think about how courageous that ten-year boy really is. :)
ReplyDeleteI say, I am impressed with your choice of words, definitely academic ones. Unlike first three bloggers above, the last sentence doesn't make me think because after all, Huckleberry Finn is a fictional character wrote by Samuel Clemens, also known as Mark Twain. As TheLiteratureNetwork (http://www.online-literature.com/twain/) mentioned that Twain was well known for his sardonic wit and incisive satire, and through his works, he illuminated the absurdity of humankind. That is why I believe that Huckleberry Finn shares no equivalent human characteristics with all of us.
ReplyDeleteThat's very strong conclusion!
ReplyDeleteI really love it!
"Would you be willing to burn in everlasting fire? Spend eternity in hell?" That is a good question, but that was just what people told him. Let's pretend that Huck was a real person. Obviously, I am not God and decide who goes to heaven or hell, but I don't think Huck belonged to hell for what he did. He did the right thing. Only people said he will go to hell. I think the question was if you are willing to go against the society instead of if you are willing to go hell because that's where Huck would not have went.
ReplyDeleteYou connected with us, the audience very well. :)
ReplyDeleteEven if the Huck Finn is a fictional character, I believe there is at least someone out there that is similar to us. I would be willing to spend eternity in hell for what I believe is right.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't think it's that hard to go against what society wants you to do. Yes you have to fight to push your way out of the crowd of people all doing what they're "supposed to do". But in doing so, you'll find who your true friends are. Who are the people that stay by your side? Those are the people you'll have for life. They will push you to where you want to go. With them by your side, nothing is difficult. That's how I got here as a hearing girl. Pushed against the crowd and made it all the way here after 4 years of pushing.
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