As Nina completed reading the novel over the weekend ,we had a dynamic discussion on the flaws of the final chapters as well as the novel's overall more than redeeming qualities. Like many readers, Nina voiced justifiable frustration with the tedious final chapters detailing Tom's melodramatic escape plan for Jim. I discussed these "flaws" in the context of a satire on the popular melodramatic prison escape novels of 19th Century. We then explored how Huck represents an American archetypal hero in his final rejection of society's norms, religions , and rules as evidenced by his "always wanting to start something fresh " and his declaration that he is "lighting out for the territories" rather than be adopted and become"civilized." In this regard, Nina pointed out many of the Edenic settings of the novel and we noted how the theme of America as a corrupted Eden manifests in the novel . We further discussed Huck's full recognition of Jim as a human being equal in dignity to any White member of society.