Huck and Jim are unlikely friends, but in a way they complete each other. Jim is very superstitious, which is in contrast to the Christian morals that Miss Watson and the widow Douglass were trying to instill in Huck. Huck attempts to talk Jim out of his superstitions, but they turn out to be right most of the time. Jim seems to be the most wise adult in the novel, and Huck learns to appreciate him for it. Huck learns to judge situations and people for himself, rather than letting the words of Miss Watson take over his judgement. He grows because he learns to tell right from wrong on his own. He makes very brave and unusual decisions for the time period. The most moving part of the novel is when Huck decides that he must not write Miss Watson to turn in Jim. He claims that he'll just go to hell for it, but in reality, he made the most moral decision of any character in the novel. Jim challenges Huck to see the world through his own eyes and to trust his own gut feelings. We see true humanity in both Jim and Huck. Jim is a loving and wise man who longs for his family, while Huck is a young boy struggling to discern right from wrong in a world where hypocrisy runs rampant.

It is amazing to be reading this book now that I am 22-years-old. In the first few chapters, a huge theme jumped right out at me; the contrast between slavery and pap’s abuse and the “Christian” actions of the widow Douglass, Miss Watson and the rest of the adults. Miss Watson demands that Huck prays and desires heaven. In the beginning of the first chapter she is teaching him about Moses. At the same time, we hear Huck describe the slaves as if they are ignorant animals instead of humans. Jim uses magic to make the hairball tell Huck’s future, which is in complete contrast to having any Christian faith. In addition, we know that Huck’s father comes back and beats him even while he is suppose to be under Miss Watson’s care. Although Miss Watson is a Christian woman, we as readers are slammed in the face with her hypocrisy. She does nothing to stop Huck’s father from beating him and she is a slave-owner. Judge Thatcher and the unnamed judge also do very little to help. Obviously, Huck needs protection from his abuser. No one has the courage to do what is right; they all want to mind their own business.

Yes, Harry Potter is definitely a bildungsroman. Harry experiences a true coming of age in this last book when he turns 18. Once he turns 18, he faces a whole new set of adult problems whether he is ready for them or not. He is no longer protected and is forced to flee for his life. He must kill Lord Voldemort, or else be killed himself. In the beginning of this book, I don’t think Harry was ready to turn 18. He was still unsure of himself and unsure of what was expected of him. The moment that Harry accepted that he had to die was the moment that he completed his maturity. Ron and Hermoine also experienced the culmination of their maturity. Ron had to leave the group and do some thinking on his own, but when he returned and saved Harry, he experienced a growth in his maturity. I would argue that Hermoine showed a great amount of maturity during her torture. All three main characters experienced a coming of age that was illustrated by these three events.

(I know this is late but it completely slipped my mind until about right now!)
I think Hermoine is my favorite character. I couldn’t figure out what Rowling was trying to say with Hermoine’s character in the beginning. At one point, I thought that Hermoine represented a typical woman’s role because she often acted as the motherly figure. She was responsible for preparing the meals, and Ron and Harry simply waited to be fed. However, I started to change my mind when I considered how much respect Ron and Harry had for Hermoine. Also, she was often the one to organize the plans and get the team out of sticky situations. She was very intelligent, and Ron and Harry knew it. My mind was completely changed when Hermoine was tortured for information while Ron and Harry were locked helplessly in the basement. Hermoine seems to be a strong, brave, intelligent and caring woman. I ended the book really liking Hermoine’s character because I think she represents a true woman, and I think she is a good role model for young women. (Unlike Britney!)

This was my first time to read any of the books in the Harry Potter series. I was completely unfamiliar with the story. One important theme that stuck out for me was the hatred that prejudices bring out in people. I think Harry Potter has a lot to say about the danger of prejudice in a society, and the importance of overcoming it. Throughout the book, the conflict was often centered on the differences between muggles, wizards, witches and mudbloods. In particular, one scene concerning the power of prejudice stuck out in my mind. After Snape was killed, Harry was able to go back and see his memories. Harry saw the interactions between his mother, Lily, and her sister, Petunia, when they were little girls. Lily was a witch, but Petunia was not. This caused a huge conflict between the two sisters. Petunia was jealous because she could not attend Hogwarts and she “spat at her sister…and flounced off to where her parents stood” (Rowling 670). Petunia called Lily and Snape freaks and refused to give her sister a proper good-bye. This episode illustrates that prejudice is often so powerful that it can tear families apart.