Premium Essay

How Did Huck Finn Change

Submitted By
Words 783
Pages 4
According to Merriam-Webster.com, change is defined as “to become something else.” Elie Wiesel in Night and Huck Finn in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn change very much throughout the book in various ways. Although their stories are very different, Huck in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Eli in Night are similar in that they start as young, innocent boys who grow and change throughout their lives. Most importantly, Elie changed drastically throughout the novel Night. First of all, Elie lost his faith. The story states, “For the first time, I felt anger rising within me. Why should I sanctify His name? The Almighty, the eternal and terrible Master of the Universe, chose to be silent. What was there to thank Him for?” (33). Elie …show more content…
Most importantly, Huck began to realize that slaves are people too. The story states “I says: ‘Now, old Jim, you’re a free man again, and I bet you won’t ever be a slave no more’” (247). The author put this quote in to show how astonishing this event was because Huck called Jim, who was a positive character that influenced Huck, a free man and finally saw him as a person and not a slave. As well as Huck changing his views on race, his views on society changed also. The story shows the positive event of Huck deciding to go out on his own by stating, “ ... because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me and I can’t stand it. I been there before” (263). The author wrote this to show Huck’s change from desperately wanting to be a part of society despite how different he was to deciding that he was better off by himself. Additionally, Huck changed by becoming less childish. The story states, “I didn’t do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn’t done that one if I’d a knowed it would make him feel that way” (81). The author wrote this to show how Tom Sawyer, a negative character, influenced Huck to play tricks on people, but then Huck turned around and decided that what he had been doing was wrong and that he needed to change. Moreover, Huck’s views on religion changed from being confused about it but willing to listen, to completely disregarding it. The story showed Huck’s

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Paper

...Halter English 103 6 February 2014 Huck Finn growth essay Huckleberry Finn changed throughout the book. He changed in three ways, socially behaviorally, and spiritually. There was one character that influenced these changes and that would be the runaway slave, Jim. And throughout this here essay, I will show you how Jim affected Huck in those three ways. One way Huck was changed spiritually is when he is writing the letter to Miss Watson about Jim when he discards it saying “well, then I will go to hell!” (twain170) This shows that Huck is willing to go to hell to help Jim and steal his family. Jim affected this change by being the reason Huck decides to do such a thing. This shows how Huck was affected spiritually. A second way Huck was changed was behaviorally. He was changed when they painted Jim blue so that “You don't have to be tied up all the time” (twain). Jim affected this change by being the one that they paint. This causes Huck to change by going along with the king and the duke’s plans and that shows when they are in public. The third way Huck was changed was socially. He was changed said “I knowed he was white inside” (twain225). Jim affected this change by being the one Huck is talking about. This causes Huck to change by going against society by saying that he did a good thing by helping tom. Saying he was white inside means that white people do good things and therefore Jim did good. These are all ways that Huck Finn changed throughout the book with Jims...

Words: 321 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Why Should Huck Finn Be Banned

...Should Huck Finn be Banned Throughout history there have been various books banned. From religious books like the Bible to books like The Diary Of Anne Frank and the list goes on and on. However the book “ Huck Finn” should not be one of the books added to this list. For a couple of reasons like the life lessons taught in the book, the ability for the author to right about there surrounding, and to see a perspective of a slave trying to escape to freedom. Which leeds me to believe that Huck Finn should not be banned. We all have those moments in life where we do something wrong and learn from it. Just like the life lessons Huck Finn learned on his journey to help free Jim. For instance in chapter 15, page 94, and paragraphs 2 and 3 the author...

Words: 519 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Analysis of Huckleberry Fin

...Analysis of Huckleberry Finn Samuel L. Clemens, also known as Mark Twain, was one of the first American writers to truly express realism in his writing. (A&E) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published in 1884 and quickly became a novel of controversy for its intense language. (A&E) The novel is about a young white boy and runaway slave who take on the Mississippi River and experience a wide variety of adventures. Along the way Huck finds himself fighting an internal battle of his morals vs. his conscience. According to Gemma Marshall not only was it a controversially themed book based on race, but a story of a young boy’s battle within himself to join society or follow his heart in the matters of black people. After reading the novel, I found myself drawn to Huck and his internal struggle. I found it to be a novel that can overwhelm you with different emotions that sneak up on you. Huckleberry Finn is about a young white boy named Huck and a runaway slave named Jim who travel on the Mississippi River seeking freedom. You can quickly see Huck’s contempt for a civil life style and his irritations with the “do as I say not as I do” environment he is in. At this point Mark Twains establishes that internal battle between Huck’s morals and his conscience. The book introduces a variety of characters, which throughout the story will affect Huck’s life and this internal struggle. As you are introduced to Jim, the runaway slave, you will quickly see how regardless of his...

Words: 1127 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Huck Finn

...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

Free Essay

Huck Finn

...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

Premium Essay

Huckleberry Finn

...Friendship in Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain a young boy by the name of Huckleberry Finn learns what life is like growing up in Missouri. The story follows young Huckleberry as he floats down the Mississippi River on his raft. On his journey he is accompanied by his friend Jim, a runaway slave. Throughout this novel Huckleberry Finn is influenced by a number of people he meets along the way. Huckleberry Finn was brought up in an interesting household. His father was rarely ever home and if he was, he was drunk, his mother had passed away so Huck had no one to really look out for him or take care of him. Huckleberry had the life that many teenagers dream of, no parents to watch you or tell you what to do, but when Huckleberry finds himself in the care of Widow Douglas and Miss Watson things start to drastically change. Widow Douglas and Miss Watson are two relatively old women and think that raising a child means turning him into an adult. In order for Huckleberry to become a young man, he was required to attend school, religion was forced upon him, and a behavior that was highly unlike Huck became what was expected of him by the older ladies. Not to long after moving in, Huckleberry ran away. When he finally came home he respected the ladies wishes and did what they wanted, but was never happy with it. When Tom Sawyer enters the picture, he is the immediate apple of Huckleberry's eye. Huckleberry sees Tom...

Words: 1025 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Huckleberry Finn Allusions

...Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain is a very captivating novel with much meaning and interpretations hidden in Twains words. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is about a young boy, Huckleberry Finn, who fakes his death, tries to escape to freedom from this father, and along the way has an adventurous and unusual journey. Huckleberry Finn befriends a runaway slave trying to escape to freedom. These two travel closely together throughout the novel running into many endangerments and experiences. Huckleberry Finn, other characters, and the novels events in the novel show plenty of characteristics that closely relate to biblical people and events. There are continuous biblical allusions shown throughout the novel,...

Words: 1779 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Smiley

...SAY IT AIN’T SO, HUCK: A SECOND LOOK AT MARK TWAIN’S “MASTERPIECE” Jane Smiley’s analysis gives a very controversial view on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn due to its subdued thoughts upon what is known to many as classical American literature. Her essay concerns other author’s inspections about the issues upon slavery, and how differently they are represented in other works of literature. Smiley makes her point known that although Huck Finn is what most view as a great novel; she disagrees and states that Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin is more useful as a tool to learn about the problems dealing with slavery. From the beginning to the end of the essay, Smiley’s initial intention to bringing Mark Twain’s novel into to spot light changes. Her essay that was supposed to support Mark Twain moves more interest upon Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and seems to have replaced the luster of Huck Finn completely. She also is under the impression that the character Jim, the runaway slave also Huck’s companion in all of their misadventures was treated so poorly that the the novel as a whole doesn’t stand as an attack on racism at all. Perhaps, she must of read a different book than I, or she maybe had a few too many glasses of wine whilst reading and became over sensitive to the situation. I wish she would have given examples on how Huck’s actions should have played out towards Jim that would make her feel like the novel did suffice. The fact that Huck had several opportunities...

Words: 534 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Racism In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

...The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn a great book. Also called the most racist novel ever. is it racist i don't think so. Others say the book is racist because the book states the n word 217 times by a white man. In my eyes when twain wrote this book he did not care what people were going to think thats why the book turned out as great as i did. most authors think too much about what other people are going to think. when twain wrote the book its was made in 1884 during slavery the word nigger was used very heavily. People focused how much the N word was used but didn't look at how a slave was a friend with a young white boy at the time. The author of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain some say he is racist some say he is just a great author. Is mark twain racist? Most people who read the book say OH! he is racist because he uses the n word and he is white to me he was just creating a good book during a slavery time. A white boy friends with a slave you will never find that in 1884 but in this book...

Words: 615 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Man vs Society in Huckleberry Finn

...Man VS Society in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Through out the story we see Huck go against what society expected of him. Society at that time only knew slavery, and so Huck was given these ideas. However, you can see from the beginning that he knows something is wrong with the way society lives. Huck is much more open minded and free willed. He didn’t want to conform to being civilized, and as society continued to pressure him he begins to get a new perspective on slavery. He experiences it first hand, and he now understands why slaves want their freedom. To continue, Freedom is something that is very prevalent in this story, and it is something that Huck wants. Huck becomes a slave to his father when Judge Thatcher says that he belongs with him, and not with Mrs. Watson who was previously taking care of Huck. Even though Huck’s father is an abusive drunk the government still forces Huck to stay with him. To elaborate, Huck’s father represents the harshness and cruelty of society. Slavery was all anyone knew and so the government didn’t think twice about making Huck a slave to his father. In contrast, Huck began to like his father’s way of life. His father did what he wanted to. He talked how he wanted to do. There were no rules. When Huck was living with Mrs. Watson she made him go to school, talk correctly and politely, and dress appropriately. This was how society said a person should look and act. Huck learned quickly that this was not who he was,...

Words: 728 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Huck And Society In Huckleberry Finn

...discuss Huckleberry Finn, a very young kid that father was very abusive with no other family members to take care of him. These two older women tried to care for Huck by the name of Widow Douglas and Miss Watson, they tried to raise him the good old-fashioned way but Huck was too street smarts and hyper to listen to abide by the rules anyway, plus his drunken, despicable dad played a part in his action also. Huck was a fast thinker at all times he faked his death, after his dad tried to get the ladies to sell there slave by the name of Jim to give him money if they wanted to continue to raise Huck. After faking his death, he decided to go down the Mississippi River. Jim went with him because he wanted to go and be free,...

Words: 2326 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Is "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" a Racist Book?

...Twain's motivation for writing “The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn”, is not to start a conversation on race rather; to start a conversation on morality of our thoughts and actions. Twain developed his purpose through a story of Huck and the situations that test him. In the society where he resides a common word is “Nigger” in referring to African-Americans who were mostly slaves. This negative connotative word is what changed the focus away from the main purpose of the book. Twain expressed the true message of the book through Huck's “Adventures”, and how he is tested on his morals. During these Adventures Huck does not act in the stereotypical way expected of a boy in this society. This represents why “ The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn” is not a racist book rather a depiction of a boy in a racist society who choose to pick a different outlook on what is morally right. By considering the use of the word “Nigger” throughout the book, analyzing the adventures that tested Huck, and the relationship that developed between Hick and Jim. To make a stereotypical southern society Twain choose to mock the dialect and common language used. He choose to keep the society in the book as similar as possible to the one that would be seen in real life. This leads to negative conclusions on how Huck was raised and also to question the morality of the book. To dispute this Jane Smiley in “Say It Ain't So Huck” is that the use of this word causes there to be a deeper racism in this novel [pg...

Words: 1127 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Examples Of Satire In Huckleberry Finn

...problems. Many authors utilize satire in their stories to express their emotions about certain topics of humanity. Mark Twain is concerned about societal issues, such as violence, racism, and slavery. In all of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jim is treated with no respect and Pap has no sympathy for whenever he hurts Huck physically or emotionally. Twain's satire of human violence and racism/slavery is evident through the satirical techniques of situational irony and exaggeration. Twain satirizes human violence through situational irony. Pap decided to stop drinking and change his life by trying to...

Words: 735 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Huckelberry Finn Abstract

...Friendship in Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain a young boy by the name of Huckleberry Finn learns what life is like growing up in Missouri. The story follows young Huckleberry as he floats down the Mississippi River on his raft. On his journey he is accompanied by his friend Jim, a runaway slave. Throughout this novel Huckleberry Finn is influenced by a number of people he meets along the way. Huckleberry Finn was brought up in an interesting household. His father was rarely ever home and if he was, he was drunk, his mother had passed away so Huck had no one to really look out for him or take care of him. Huckleberry had the life that many teenagers dream of, no parents to watch you or tell you what to do, but when Huckleberry finds himself in the care of Widow Douglas and Miss Watson things start to drastically change. Widow Douglas and Miss Watson are two relatively old women and think that raising a child means turning him into an adult. In order for Huckleberry to become a young man, he was required to attend school, religion was forced upon him, and a behavior that was highly unlike Huck became what was expected of him by the older ladies. Not to long after moving in, Huckleberry ran away. When he finally came home he respected the ladies wishes and did what they wanted, but was never happy with it. When Tom Sawyer enters the picture, he is the immediate apple of Huckleberry's eye. Huckleberry sees Tom...

Words: 987 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Huck Finn Argumentative Essay

...One of my favorite parts in the book, Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn, was Huck Finn. His mischievous ways throughout the story were one of the things that I constantly looked forward too. I could not help but thinking what he was going to do next. His humor was another one of my favorite parts about the book. I loved how he was rebellious to his father, Pap, and the Widow Douglas when they tried to change how he was acting and influence how he saw the world. At the beginning of the book he was just trying to escape from all of his troubles at home. Then once him and Jim met up, it turned into getting both of them freedom from their past. Seeing Huck mature throughout the novel was an interesting thing to follow while reading. He went from a little kid who was forced to...

Words: 448 - Pages: 2