...The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: An Analysis of Pap’s Influence The introduction of Pap Finn in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn precipitates a dark and unscrupulous element which shrouds the novel, as his presence in any situation designates obstacles, trials, and neglect. His character is a symbol which exposes the bigotry of white society and the melancholy and taboo element of a dysfunctional family. Despite the abounding negative impacts of his character, his relationship with Huck nevertheless manages to generate constructive developments in Huck’s character. Their impaired relationship possibly elicited Huck’s compassionate and empathic approach to Jim’s predicament, as he himself endured mistreated and captivity from his father....
Words: 613 - Pages: 3
...Mark Twain’s widely known and appreciated novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn follow countless boyhood adventures between the rambunctious young boys, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. While Twain’s novels depict long playful summer days spent in the sun, his work is far from children’s literature. Twain’s novels include dark adult themes such as death, ignorance, physical punishment, deceit and most prominently, racism. Twain modeled both novels based on his own life experiences growing up along the Mississippi River (Frost), hoping to mirror how one's surroundings influence their character development, furthermore shaping who they will become. To do so, Twain creates a world of struggle for his protagonists,...
Words: 1536 - Pages: 7
...The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the sequel to the Adventures of Tom Sawyer. This book was written during 1883 and took place during the early 1800’s, in Mississippi with a young boy named Huckleberry Finn. He lived with Miss Watson and would occasionally see his father Pap who was known as the town drunk. Huck soon becomes fond of one of Miss Watson’s Slaves, Jim, who later escapes at the same time Huck makes a run from his abusive father and coercive school life. Huck makes an escape from his fathers cabin and sets off during moon rise to Jackson Island where he meets Jim, a run-away slave of Miss Watson. Miss Watson was planning to sell him for 800 dollars and he wouldn’t be able to see his family. This bond between Huck and Jim began...
Words: 392 - Pages: 2
...Basic English Department, Dezhou University, Dezhou City, Shandong Province, China Email: dz_syx@126.com Abstract—Huckleberry Finn is one of Mark Twain’s outstanding masterpieces. Superficially, it tells a story about a 13 or 14 year old boy’s adventures with Negro Jim on the Mississippi river. In fact, it reflects the growth process of Huck through adventures. His growth is embodied by his choice on independence, his change of attitude towards Jim, his moral growth, and the different social roles he plays. Huck’s growth is influenced by the inner and outer factors. On the one hand, friendship, nature and society make up the outer environment for Huck’s growth. They have great effect on the development of his growth. On the other hand, his own instinct and his sound heart finally decide the direction of his growth. Index Terms—growth, the influence of Jim, nature and society, instinct, sound heart I. INTRODUCTION Mark Twain is a giant in American literature. He is a great realist and satirist in late 19th century. His delicate familiarity with children’s psychology, his thorough understanding of Americans and American society, his great contribution to American English and his immense witty humor have won great respect and reputation among the people around the world. Of all the works Mark Twain accomplished in his life, the Adventure of Huckleberry Finn is the most successful. This remarkable masterpiece brings the world prestige to him. It is the combination of simplicity and...
Words: 3622 - Pages: 15
...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
...Real Book of a Realistic Story Huckleberry Finn is a very important example of realism because is one of the most well done novels using this technique and it had a great influence in the history of writing. “The adventure of Huckleberry Finn” is a novel by Mark Twain set in the 19th century in the south of USA along the Mississippi river. But what is Realism? It is a part of literature characterized by faithful representation of life, pessimistic mood and anti-heroic characters tormented by ethical dilemmas. As in many realistic novels, Huck Finn is characterized by real life experiences, the protagonist is an anti-hero and he is afflicted by dilemmas, usually about his ethic. Materialism and underlying drama are other important characteristics....
Words: 593 - Pages: 3
...of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain has caused quite the controversy over the past century, this novel happens to be a great American classic. However, many believe that this novel should be removed from public schools because of its negative impact on children. The fact that this book is still relevant in today's literature since 1884 proves its importance, otherwise it would have been obsolete by now. Therefore, this book should not be banned. Instead, a censored version of Huckleberry Finn should be taught in public high schools. First of all, the adapted version will help resolve the conflict with the n-word. One of the reasons the n-word is a conflict is because of the humiliation it gives to black students. Eliminating...
Words: 958 - Pages: 4
...One has the right to live for who, what, where, why, and how one desires to which in simplicity is also known to be freedom. Depriving one of their basic human rights dependent on one’s skin pigment and complexion now to most of society is outrageous, inequitable, and unjust yet that was not always the case. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the setting takes place before the Civil war, about 1835- 1845 in Petersburg, Missouri and along the Mississippi River. In the novel the main protagonist, Huckleberry Finn is a young, witty, intelligent boy despite his lack of an education. He is adopted by Widow Douglass, a civil and strict lady. Eventually Widow Douglas and her sister Miss Watson, the slave owner to...
Words: 1377 - Pages: 6
...Huckleberry Finn which tells the story of a boy, Huckleberry Finn, who runs away from his old life, by faking his own death, and, as the title of the novel suggests he goes on adventures with a runaway slave, Jim. During their audacious journey, they meet a variety of characters including a con artist who portrays himself as a duke. Throughout the novel, readers see how outrageous the Duke’s actions are, but as they string along we see how his moral conscience kicks in and doesn’t always agree with the conducts that he engages in and starts hesitating with certain actions willing to be taken persuaded by other characters in the novel, much like Huck. Through Twain’s use of characterization, Huckleberry Finn and the Duke reflect each other’s personalities. Topic 1: Throughout the novel, we find that Huck and the Duke share similar actions such as pretending to be someone that they are not for their own personal benefit. The first act Huck initiates in, which is rather harmless, is when he pretends to be a little girl by the name of Sarah Williams. He imitates being a girl to get updated about what the town thinks happened to them. He, however, fails at this attempt because the stranger he is receiving information from asks suspiciously “come, now – what’s your real name? … Is it Bill, or Tom, or Bob?” (114). The stranger realizes that its an entire misrepresentation, and tries to get him to confess his real name. She, however, does not get what she was wants as Huck lies to her...
Words: 829 - Pages: 4
...It is said that one of the best ways to learn about the present is to look to the past. History does indeed tend to repeat itself and thus, we look to the past as a guide to the future so as to choose the correct course of action. Oftentimes, literature depicts circumstances in which one can extrapolate meaning and relate it to life. Such is the case in Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In the book, Twain expertly illustrates the character of Huck Finn as well as southern society. Through his storytelling, one can find lessons that are vital to society today such as the consequences of being dishonest, the negative impact of the prevalence of racism, and the importance of choosing your own morality. Lying – it is something so innate to us humans that many of us do not think about it at all. Odds are every single one of us tells multiple lies each day, no matter how small. The con men of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the Duke and the Dauphin, are two pathological liars who use their craft to beguile unsuspecting victims for monetary gain. Again and again, the pair of con men performed the play “The Royal Nonsuch”, a performance that was advertised by them as being something worth seeing but in actuality was a scam. They narrowly escaped persecution on several occasions due to luck being on their side. Ultimately, Twain shows how there was consequences of the repeated deceit of the Duke and the Dauphin with them being tarred and feathered. In taking...
Words: 836 - Pages: 4
...as bad as it sounds.” (Huckleberry Finn) Compare how the theme of outsiders is presented in Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, D.B.C Pierre’s Vernon God Little and Sylvia Plath’s Ariel. Throughout the history of literature, the idea of an outsider unable to find his place within society is explored frequently in all three texts. The theme of the outsiders is presented in all novels but separated due to the different time periods in which they were set, thus resulting in controversy and criticisms making it difficult to find a place within literature. Mark Twain’s ‘Huckleberry Finn’ is the story of a young boy, Huck Finn, who is faced with a restraint enforced upon him by society and later acknowledges this restraint once he comes to the realization that there is no escape from the society. ‘Vernon God Little’, like Huckleberry Finn, is also a story of a young boy framed as an accessory in a High School Massacre and is rendered to be an outcast in a society which revolves around manipulation and gullibility. Both Pierre and Twain portray the limitations and issues placed upon a young boy growing up in society. Sylvia Plath was viewed as a feminist icon, her collection ‘Ariel’, adopts the theme of outsider, as she believed women were classed as second-tier in a male dominant society and posed as a response to patriarchy in which oppressed women. The three texts intertwine in the portrayal of the outsider and act as a commentary on the societies in which these writers lived in....
Words: 3720 - Pages: 15
...Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain, who is a realistic fiction writer, incorporates satire and humor in his writing, including Archetypal elements to modify how the reader interprets the story. He uses many archetypal characters like Huck and Jim who both can be argued as the heroes. They both have good intentions and help others. Mark Twain portrays Jim as a deeply caring and loyal friend. Jim becomes a father figure to Huck, helping him realize the human face of slavery. Twain Portrays Huck as a young and naive boy who has been under the wrong influence for a long time. Another archetypal element that Mark Twain uses is Jims Quest for freedom. This was a quest for most all African Americans, to run away north so you could be free. But Jim was one of the few who was brave enough to do so; that’s he can be classified as the hero in the story. But Jim’s life is not too bad compared to historical records about the lives of slaves. Even though he had to struggle for his freedom, he didn’t have any good reason to leave. His life contested of helping round and not doing hard enduring work like some of the other slaves. The way Jim’s life is portrayed in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Mark Twain criticizes the life of African Americans at the time. During times of slavery, every African American in the south was either a slave or a free African American. “She treated me with respect” (Twain 5). Jim said when he was asked about how the Widow Douglass treats...
Words: 1254 - Pages: 6
...My literary critique on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is focused on the confusion of the message being given to the reader do to the conscious struggle between right and wrong, an example of that would be the decision of stealing from Ms. Watson and freeing Jim, or not stealing from Ms. Watson and leaving Jim as a slave. Huck did decided that even though stealing from Ms. Watson would surely send him to “Hell” he still went with his gut and freed Jim, But with that later in the story shortly after Ms. Watsons death Huck and Jim found out that in her will she had freed Jim anyways. The ending of that situation in this story is what I choose to critique because of the cloudy message that is being given to the reader. It does not support...
Words: 1462 - Pages: 6
...The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain, author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, created a very controversial book because it spoke very sensitive topics such as slavery. Throughout the book, we follow the adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a fictional character, as he travels the Mississippi River. Highlighted during Huck’s journey, slavery and greed are attributed to many American norms. Huck is confronted with these societal issues such as slavery with a slave Jim, owned by Ms. Watson. Huck also faces greed when Pap returns to claim him. Greed is also very evident when he meets the fake dauphin and duke, two con artists who scam many characters in their journey. Twain is very clear on his opinion about slavery and greed in America. Twain is very clever in allowing the reader of the book to connect with Jim on an emotional level, and not portraying slaves as property like many did during that time. Additionally, many of the antagonists are driven by self-serving greedy motivations which portrays Twain’s opposition to greed. This...
Words: 1216 - Pages: 5
...were forced to face in America. The March on Washington was not simply a protest, but also a statement. A statement that the status quo was not always right and was meant to be challenged. While the March on Washington is sometimes thought of as one of the first oppositions of the status quo, authors have been challenging society and its norms for centuries. Three books that challenge several elements of the status quo are The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo, and Othello by William Shakespeare. These three...
Words: 1485 - Pages: 6
