Mark Twain’s, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, recounts the stories of Huck Finn’s adventures down the Mississippi River. The story is set in the town of St. Petersburg during the American pre civil war era, when slavery was legal and the heart of the south was the Mississippi River. Twain attempts to make this book appear as the simple narration of Huck as he recalls his adventures, though Twain uses his characters and settings as an analogy to a much bigger picture of the south and its social codes. Though the Widow Douglas adopted Huck and tried to “reform” his ways, he remains an outsider in society. Through Huck’s ability to separate from society, Twain illustrates that civilized society is marked by, “cowardice, a lack of knowledge, and profound selfishness.”
Huck Finn was born into the lowest level of white society. His father, Pap, who was a drunkard would appear from time to time in Huck’s life, but never showed any characteristics of a father figure. Huck lives with the Widow Douglas and is taught to read and write, until Pap reappears into his life. Pap begins to attempt to gain legal custody of Huck due to a large fortune H
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While Huck is unsure about the morality and legality of helping a runaway slave, he has always considered himself an outsider to society; thus, instead of following societies rules he makes his own, teaming up with Jim. Huck is faced with a decision to write to Miss Watson to tell her where Jim is, but realizes that she will sell him. As he began to pray, Huck realizes he is not able to, as his heart is not set on it. Not feeling satisfied with his decision, Huck tries to pray again, but thinks of all the time he spent with Jim on the river, of Jim’s kind, loving heart, and their friendship. As their friendship grows, Huck realizes that Jim “had an uncommon level head, for a nigger. Huck sat contemplating his options, as he begins to write the letter to Miss Watson. Huck feels he would be ashamed if every one found out that he helped a slave escape. After a few minutes Huck decided, “All right then, I’ll go to hell!” and resolves to, “steal Jim out of slavery. Twain chooses Pap’s “rights” over Huck’s welfare to illustrate that no civilized society owning slaves can be just, no matter how much they believe they are. The Widow Douglas and Judge Thatcher fight for Huck’s custody; yet the new judge believes Pap’s “rights” to his son are more important than Huck’s welfare.
Twain creates Huck Finn as a common person, living a simple life to provide the readers with a character that many readers could easily relate. Feeling uncertain, Huck decides to pray to God since he believed God was punishing him for helping Jim. ” The failures to protect Huck from abuse cause him to not only distrust society, but to question its morals; Huck begins to discard his teachings on race as his relationship with Jim grows. ” Huck takes his first step into adulthood as he took his own stand- to set Jim free no matter what moral or physical cost lie ahead.
Approximate Word count =
952
Approximate Pages =
4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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