...Conformity & Civilization in Huckleberry Finn A main issue in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the conflict of conformity and civilization. From the beginning of the novel, Huck struggles with what he thinks of society while living with Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. As the story elevates, Huck goes to live with Pap and develops further opinions about society. Many of Huck’s values are tested when he escapes to live with Jim on the river on the search for their freedom. Arguably, Huck learns the most about society from his adventures on the river with Jim. Huck’s moral development over the novel advances in many different stages, while different people and events influence Huck. Huck’s first exposure to the idea of trying to civilize someone is while living with Miss Watson and the Widow Douglas. Huck may have utterly despised the idea of living with them at first, but after a while Huck started to rather like the idea of having proper clothes and being clean. Although he started to like some aspects of living with them, it is not to say he completely enjoyed all the aspects of his new life. Huck found a lot of discontent in the moral convictions in his new life. The Widow told Huck “to pray every day, and whatever I asked for I would get it.” Huck knew this wasn’t true, commenting “but it warn’t so. I tried it” (Twain 8). Additionally, Huck didn’t see how it was right for Miss Watson to say that smoking was bad while she snuffed. Huck did not know whether he agreed with the...
Words: 1062 - Pages: 5
...themselves first before they look to others; many characters in Huckleberry Finn are guilty of this. People may say that this is the big problem with society today, because people are too concerned with what is going on only with them and not what is going on around them. With society being to self-serving we are missing things that are going wrong that could easily be fixed in our world today. Most characters in this novel fall guilty to this one time or another and some fall more than others do. Two big examples of this theme in the book Huckleberry Finn are the King and the Duke. Huck and Jim first encounter the King and the Duke when they are on the raft and the King and Duke being chased out of a town and they jump aboard the raft. As soon as they are on the raft the King and Duke make up stories on how they are royalty. The Duke does his story first saying he is the rightful Duke of Bridgewater by decent of his great-grandfather who was the eldest son of the old Duke of Bridgewater. The Duke because he was a “Duke” had Huck and Jim call him names like “Your Grace” “Your Lordship” and etcetera. After hearing this, the King then tells a story on how he is the late Dauphin “Looy” the seventeen, son of “Looy” the sixteenth and Marie Antonette. He also goes on saying how he should e the rightful king of France. The King made them call him names like “His Majesty” and another names fitting of a king. He also had Huck and Jim give him special privileges like waiting on him to eat first...
Words: 434 - Pages: 2
...Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, Huck is just a confused thirteen year old boy growing up in the racist American South. He is the son of an alcoholic and is often misunderstood. Those around Huck consider him to be immature, such as Ms. Watson who acts as a caretaker for Huck throughout his father’s absence. As a child, Huck is able to view the world differently than all the adults around him. His experiences throughout his adventures down the Mississippi river force him to question the things society has taught him. During this adventure, he tends to care more about the opinion of others than his own, however his opinion changes in time. Huck’s biggest test of morality is his relationship with Jim, the escaped slave of Ms. Watson. Huck has always been taught that slaves and those of color are below him just because he is white. This is an internal moral struggle for Huck, because he knows to society he is “wrong,” but to him their friendship makes it “right.” The concept of being wrong in the eyes of society and making it right goes beyond just Huck and Jim’s bond. The relationship that Jim and Huck develop over the course of the story is important because the experiences that they share teach Huck to think for himself, allowing him to trust his morals. Huck has grown up in an environment in which Jim is nothing more than the slave of Ms. Watson. From the beginning of the story Jim is not viewed as an actual human, but “property”. Huck has been taught that...
Words: 2096 - Pages: 9
...Mark Twain: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The public debate surrounding Mark’s Twain’s Adventure of Huckleberry Finn has fair ground to be disputed in terms of context. However, to band the novel for the use of its language being brought in the text of the story may not be so justified. In order to get a positive understanding, you would have to take into the consideration Mark Twain’s possible motive, and question yourself if his true intention was to just depict the life of individuals along the Mississippi river before the civil war or was he trying to portray a difficult time in American history, and reveal how society in that time contradicted themselves in terms of their own personal morale? Surely, today I would not recommend reading the book to put my child to sleep at night, but I would not band the privilege of allowing other at certain grade levels to analyze Mark Twain’s story, and try to find what his main intentions were. My position would be not to band the novel and to change the words, but to use the book to reference a land mark in American history for older student to learn. In depth, the book has a bigger meaning and valuable lesson to learn about history, life, humanity, morale, society, law system, race and religion. The novel was published in England in December 1884 and takes place forty to fifty years ago from when it was published. Evidently, this took place well before the civil war period and what was mostly disturbingly common in society during...
Words: 1615 - Pages: 7
...The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the noblest, greatest, and most adventuresome novel in the world. Mark Twain definitely has a style of his own that depicts a realism in the novel about the society back in antebellum America. Mark Twain definitely characterizes the protagonist, the intelligent and sympathetic Huckleberry Finn, by the direct candid manner of writing as though through the actual voice of Huck. Every word, thought, and speech by Huck is so precise it reflects even the racism and black stereotypes typical of the era. And this has lead to many conflicting battles by various readers since the first print of the novel, though inspiring some. Says John H. Wallace, outraged by Twain’s constant use of the degrading and white supremacist word ‘nigger’, "[The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is] the most grotesque example of racist trash ever written" (Mark Twain Journal by Thadious Davis, Fall 1984 and Spring 1985). Yet, again to counter that is a quote by the great American writer Ernest Hemingway, "All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn…it’s the best book we’ve had…There has been nothing as good since" (The Green Hills of Africa [Scribner’s. 1953] 22). The controversy behind the novel has been and will always remain the crux of any readers is still truly racism. Twain surely does use the word ‘nigger’ often, both as a referral to the slave Jim and any African-American that Huck comes across and as the epitome of insult...
Words: 390 - Pages: 2
...created equal. We commonly refer to it as “the American Dream.” This phrase was first used in 1931 to describe the attraction that brought immigrants to America. The pursuit of the American Dream is still something that is chased by the masses today. Huck Finn, Jim and Pap were all seeking to achieve that dream, though it had different meanings for each of them. Huck’s pursuit of the American Dream had to do with being able to be free to go where and when he wanted, without seeking permission from anyone. Huck felt if he were free to do as he pleased, then he would be a rich man. His happiness had nothing to do with financial wealth. Huck stated that fact to Judge Thatcher. I don’t want it at all-nor the six thousand, nuther I want you to take it; I want to give it to you-the six thousand and all…Don’t you ask me no questions about it please. You’ll tale it-won’t you?...Please take it..and don’t ask me nothing-then I wont have to tell no lies. (Twain 25). When Huck saw money, he did not equate that with happiness. Instead, he saw trouble from Pap. Huck felt he was in bondage to his alcoholic father and was finally set free from that fear. Huck did not need material possessions or social standing to be happy. Huck saw the widow and her sister’s social standing as true representatives of the American Dream; however, he could not abide by that standard. In spite of the guilt he felt, he escaped their care and the...
Words: 1024 - Pages: 5
...Southern Negativity “A clear understanding of negative emitons dismisses them” - Vernon Harold. In the book, The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, it shows how some places can be different from others. Twains Novel Huck finn displays the South negatively though discrimination, loss of innocence and religion. The book Huck Finn by Mark twain sows an an exceptional amount of discrimination, while also displaying other negitive subjects. Discrimination in the book leads to different times thoughout the book such as the moment when Jim was talking about his freedom and children. Sadly the southern states did not agree with the freedom of slaves or African amaricans. “Then jum started talking about how he would buy his wife and then buy his children!” (Twain 66). This part within the book shows how Twain understands how different skin color depicted here you and your family would be treated and taught in the south. While also some types of skin had there own social class. While Huck finn was in the middle of the family feud, Huck had to make an escape but first he had to alert his friend Jim, but the other “slaves” had to tell Jim for huck first.”I wasn’t gonn shove off till jack comes and tells me he certen you’s ded”(twain 88).This plays a very important role in the souths part for discrimination becausese the other slaves were all excluded from the current events occurring in the household while they were ignored from society even while others were dieing proving...
Words: 1054 - Pages: 5
...In “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, there is many symbols that he uses to tell the story. The two main symbols are the land and the river. He uses the land and the river to show the differences of life on land and life on the river. The land is the symbol for all the bad things that happen and the river is a symbol for all the good. Both the good and the bad help the characters grow from the beginning to the end such as maturing, finding themselves, and meeting their goals of achieving freedom. The land represents the total opposite of the river and is used by Twain to portray what life was really like during that time. The land is symbolic for the bad in Huck and Jim’s life experiences. Anything bad that has happened through the book is originated from the land. Land is symbol of violence, cruelty of society, death, hatred, betrayal, and abuse. Society is very judgmental and unfair. People were racist, and refused to see things any other way. The majority of black people were slaves, slaves were looked at lowest possible class. Therefore, any black person, such as Jim was seen as nothing more than a piece of property. This is what made it so hard for people to understand the relationship between a white boy and a black man. Land means Huck must live in civilization and is forced to be a product of his society. Ms. Watson and the widow Douglas tried to teach Huck manners but he couldn’t be civilized, nor did he want to be for he was much too wild. She...
Words: 1197 - Pages: 5
...novel Huckleberry Finn a “moral code” develops from Huck’s conscience. According to this “code” certain actions by Huck are deemed acceptable but many are viewed as unacceptable by the rest of society. Three aspects of Huck’s conscience moral code can be seen in his views on borrowing, practical jokes, and helping a black friend named Jim. First, Huck Finn has a strange perspective on borrowing. “Pap always it warn’t no harm in borrow things if you was meaning to pay them back some time; but the widow said it warn’t anything but a soft name for stealing, and no decent body would do it.” (Mark Twain 70) Huck definitely took this theory to heart. He believes that if your intentions are not bad or mean, and you plan on giving it back then nothing wrong has occurred. Society’s view is quite different. Society’s interoperation is if you are taking it without asking or prior notice then its stealing. So when Huck takes something and just says he is borrowing it, these actions are viewed negatively by the rest of society. His actions on borrowing are unacceptable because that type of behavior would lead to chaos in a society. People would take from one another and then hide behind the excuse that they were going to give it back. In chapter 12 Jim and Huck buy, hunt, but also steal food when they must. They do feel bad about the stealing and therefore to make themselves feel better they give up a few of the items as sort of a moral sacrifice. This shows that Huck does have a conscious...
Words: 949 - Pages: 4
...special souls is an author by the name of Mark Twain, who used satire and moral critique to make fun of race relations and new American culture hypocrisies. Mark Twain was a social critic who observed a society filled with bigotry and racism, even after the abolition of slavery. Twain lived in a time when there were two very separate and also very different belief systems. The first is a world where every man is equal and every person is entitled to his or her freedom. The second, and sadly more common, is the exact opposite of the first. In this system you were looked at as either a legit civilized member of society or on the contrary, a savage. This belief is what Mark Twain boldly opposed and attacks in his story, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Throughout the story, Mark Twain uses satire and moral critique to make fun of the racial, religious, and social hypocrisies present in the characters and their resulting actions. As we all know, race relations have been a huge factor in the foundation of New America. Slaves were brought over by the hundred thousands to work and serve in the new world. Even to this day, tension is...
Words: 1729 - Pages: 7
...Adventures of Huckleberry Finn resulted in generally friendly reviews, but the novel was controversial from the outset.[13] Upon issue of the American edition in 1885 a number of libraries banned it from their stacks.[14] The early criticism focused on what was perceived as the book's crudeness. One incident was recounted in the newspaper, the Boston Transcript: The Concord (Mass.) Public Library committee has decided to exclude Mark Twain's latest book from the library. One member of the committee says that, while he does not wish to call it immoral, he thinks it contains but little humor, and that of a very coarse type. He regards it as the veriest trash. The library and the other members of the committee entertain similar views, characterizing it as rough, coarse, and inelegant, dealing with a series of experiences not elevating, the whole book being more suited to the slums than to intelligent, respectable people.[14] Twain later remarked to his editor, "Apparently, the Concord library has condemned Huck as 'trash and only suitable for the slums.' This will sell us another five thousand copies for sure!" Soon after, in 1905, New York’s Brooklyn Public Library also banned the book due to bad word choice and Huck having “not only itched but scratched” within the novel, which was considered obscene.[15] When asked by a Brooklyn librarian about the situation, Twain replied: I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote 'Tom Sawyer' & 'Huck Finn' for adults exclusively, &...
Words: 564 - Pages: 3
... Mark Twain uses his book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, to search and make fun of many problems facing American community. Huck, the leading character, seems to be an untutored young boy who is continually under impression to submit to the "civilized" aspects of nation. Jim, who run with Huck, is a fugitive slave searching freedom from the mankind that has rejected it to him for so farreaching. In his book, Twain uses sarcasm to show many of "civilizations" problems. In the opening of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain interdict his auditory from verdict a cause, virtuous, or delineate. In secondhand oratorical strategies such as sarcasm, ferrous, and satire he defiance the peruser to examine for deeper meanings not only in the Notice, but throughout the whole book. His intention was to emit Life on the unveracious ideals that environment typify as versed through the view of inexperienced youth. The ironical events that interdict Huck from being a energetic nature allude to the defectiveness of hidden religion in people. Twain uses sarcasm to show the contention between enslavement and Christianity. As the peruser we see Miss Watson as a pretender. Huck remark this when he inquire to puff but is not tolerated to even though “she took snuff, too; of course that was all right because she done it herself” (2). The more essential inconsistency is that Miss Watson is a bondman holder. After flowing off, Jim clear up to Huck, “I hear old missus tell de wider she ...
Words: 1805 - Pages: 8
...Huck Finn Huck Finn Questions and Answers: Chapter 1 1. With whom was Huck living at the beginning of the book? The widow douglas 2. Who is the narrator of the book? Huckleberry Finn 3. What relation is Miss Watson to the Widow Douglas? Sister 4. Who takes care of Huck and Tom's money? Judge Thatcher. 5. Who was waiting for Huck Finn after midnight? Tom Sawyer Chapter 2 6. To whom did Jim belong? Miss Watson 7. Who did Jim say gave him the 'five-center piece' he wore around his neck? The devil 8. Who was called a cry-baby? Little Tommy Barnes 9.What was the "line of business" of the gang? Nothing, only robbery and murder 10. Who was elected Second Captain over 'Tom Sawyer's Gang?' Jo Harper Chapter 3 11. Why did huck get a good 'going-over?' Because his new clothes were dirty 12. How did Huck know that his 'Pap' waasn't drowned? Because drowned men don't float face down, only drowned women do Chapter 4 13. Where did Jim get his hairball? from the fourth stomach of an ox 14. What made Huck suspect Pap was back? He found his tracks in the snow 15. Who is Pap? Huck's father 16. Where is Pap at the end of the chapter? In Huck's room Chapter 5 17. How did huck's unexpected visitor get in the room? By the shed 18. What did Pap trade his new coat for? A jug of forty-rod 19. What did the judge recon a body would need to reform Pap? A shotgun Chapter 6 20. What did Pap get every time he got money? Drunk 21. What object did Huck use to escape the...
Words: 1685 - Pages: 7
...Huck Finn is described as being “the juvenile pariah of the village who is “hated and dreaded by all the mothers of the town.” According to all the adults, he is “idle and lawless and vulgar and bad,” and they restrain their children from even associating themselves with him (42). Based on what I have learned about Huck through Ch. 29, this is not an accurate description of him. This is because he is a good person with some admirable traits such as judging others fairly and being loyal to his friends. In the book “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”, Huck is described as being fair to judge others. Some examples include Muff Potter and Uncle Jake in which he judges them fairly and he doesn’t base his judgement on what society thinks of them. He judges Muff based on what he has done for him and the other children. At one time in the book, Huck says that Muff gave him half of a fish when there was barely enough to feed on person and how Muff had repaired the children’s kites when they needed to be repaired....
Words: 532 - Pages: 3
...The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Racism can be a very touchy subject in literature. Some people view The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain as a racist novel. The line between satire and racism is often blurred as is the case in Huck Finn. The novel is not racist however, but rather is satirical of racism. Twain uses offensive language and demeaning situations to satirize the issue of racism within America around the time of the late 1830’s to early 1840’s. The language that Twain uses is a huge reason this novel is viewed as being racist. The frequent use of the n-word is very offensive and Twain used this to his advantage to create satire within the novel. By using the n-word so casually, he wanted readers to question society’s acceptance of this word during the time period in which the novel is set. Twain also uses several demeaning situations that portray racism throughout the novel. One situation is in chapter 15 when Huck apologizes to Jim and thinks, “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger.” This shows that black people were considered lower class citizens, even to someone who is their friend, and don’t deserve the respect of white people. Another situation comes about in chapter 32 when Aunt Sally asks, “Good gracious! Anybody hurt?’ and Huck replies with. “No’m. Killed a nigger.” To which she responds with “Well, it’s lucky,” (Twain 227). Aunt Sally’s casual and relieved reaction depicts the horrid...
Words: 400 - Pages: 2
