The Life and Childhood of Huckleberry Finn
             In the book Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck does not have a childhood because he is forced to grow up without any moral guidance and forced to fend for himself in the world. In this essay I will cover Huck's growth from the start of the book, Huck's life on the river, and the ending of the book when he meets back with Tom Sawyer and realizes that he has outgrown his childhood buddy and is ready to move on.
             At the beginning of the book Huckleberry Finn, Huck lives with Ms. Watson and the Widow Douglas in a house up north off of the mighty Mississippi river; "The Widow Douglas she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize me" (Mark Twain 11). With this approach to raising Huck, the Widow Douglas and Ms. Watson enroll Huck in school, where he learns to read and write, and starts wearing appropriate clothing. Even though it seems that Huck lives a dull life with Ms. Watson and the Widow Douglas he is able to have adventures and a little excitement with his good friend Tom Sawyer. "Now, we'll start this band of robbers and call it Tom Sawyer's Gang" (17). Just to name an adventure where Huck, Tom, and some other friends pretend to be robbers and go and capture Arabs and Spainards. Towards the end of the first couple of chapters, one gets the sense that Huck needs to grow fast after Pap shows up. Pap, Huck's drunken and broke father, reunites with Huck in chapter five and comes to town demanding money, "That's why I come. You git me that money tomorrow-I want it" (29). A comment made by Pap before Huck tells him that he gave the money to Judge Thatcher. Later, Pap is given custody to Huck and Huck is forced to move back with his father. After a couple weeks living with Pap and tired of the constant beatings and emotional abuse from his father Huck decides to leave. "I wasn't ever going to get out an...