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Huck
Norman is a Black man whose complexion is light enough for him to pass as a white person. While he escaped his enslaver, his wife was left behind. Norman works for Daniel Decatur Emmett’s Virginia Minstrels in the hopes of raising enough money to buy his wife from her enslaver. As the only other Black minstrel, Norman sees through Jim’s “slave talk” and understands his frustration with being Emmett’s indentured servant. Norman is deeply conflicted about his ability to pass as a white person, even when he uses it to his advantage, as when he disguises himself as Jim’s enslaver. He tells Sammy that he still identifies as a Black man because he does not want to be white, associating whiteness with dehumanizing cruelty. By the end of the novel, Jim feels partially responsible for Norman’s death, having chosen to save Huck from drowning instead of Norman.
Norman Quotes in James
The James quotes below are all either spoken by Norman or refer to Norman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part 2, Chapter 6
Quotes
“We’re slaves. We’re not anywhere. Free person, he can be where he wants to be. The only place we can ever be is in slavery.” She looked at Norman. “Are you really a slave?” she asked.
“I am.”
“And you’re colored,” she said.
Norman nodded.
“Who can tell?”
“Nobody,” Norman said.
“Then why do you stay colored?”
“Because of my mother. Because of my wife. Because I don’t want to be white. I don’t want to be one of them.”
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2, Chapter 8
Quotes
Massa Corey bring me cone bread,
Hoo Ya Hoo Ya!
Massa Corey bring me cone bread,
He makes da boat go.
I opened an eye and watched him awhile, then shut it again because I did not like the sight. Unfortunately, neither I nor the engine’s roar could block out the sound of his dreadful singing.
[…]
I imagined Norman upstairs, nervous, but perhaps physically comfortable, not hot and covered with soot, but no doubt more frightened than I was, more lost. I wondered if he was angry. I wondered if I had ever not been angry.
Part 3, Chapter 1
Quotes
“Why me, Jim?”
Maybe because I was tired of the slave voice. Maybe because I hated myself for having lost my friend. Maybe because the lie was burning through me. Because of all of those reasons, I said, “Because, Huck, and I hope you hear this without thinking I’m crazy or joking, you are my son.”
Huck shot out a short laugh. “What?”
“You are my son. And I am your father.”
“Why are you talking like that?”
“Are you referring to my diction or my content?”
“What? What’s content?”
Get the entire James LitChart as a printable PDF.
Norman Quotes in James
The James quotes below are all either spoken by Norman or refer to Norman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part 2, Chapter 6
Quotes
“We’re slaves. We’re not anywhere. Free person, he can be where he wants to be. The only place we can ever be is in slavery.” She looked at Norman. “Are you really a slave?” she asked.
“I am.”
“And you’re colored,” she said.
Norman nodded.
“Who can tell?”
“Nobody,” Norman said.
“Then why do you stay colored?”
“Because of my mother. Because of my wife. Because I don’t want to be white. I don’t want to be one of them.”
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2, Chapter 8
Quotes
Massa Corey bring me cone bread,
Hoo Ya Hoo Ya!
Massa Corey bring me cone bread,
He makes da boat go.
I opened an eye and watched him awhile, then shut it again because I did not like the sight. Unfortunately, neither I nor the engine’s roar could block out the sound of his dreadful singing.
[…]
I imagined Norman upstairs, nervous, but perhaps physically comfortable, not hot and covered with soot, but no doubt more frightened than I was, more lost. I wondered if he was angry. I wondered if I had ever not been angry.
Part 3, Chapter 1
Quotes
“Why me, Jim?”
Maybe because I was tired of the slave voice. Maybe because I hated myself for having lost my friend. Maybe because the lie was burning through me. Because of all of those reasons, I said, “Because, Huck, and I hope you hear this without thinking I’m crazy or joking, you are my son.”
Huck shot out a short laugh. “What?”
“You are my son. And I am your father.”
“Why are you talking like that?”
“Are you referring to my diction or my content?”
“What? What’s content?”
