The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Disclaimer: I am sorry that all of these blogs will be out of order to the way we read them in class. My thoughts just wanted to start with this one and will work backward from here.



In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, one thing that caught my attention was the ultimate humanity of the characters within the text. For example, the two main characters, Huck and Jim both care for each other in capacities that neither should by social more. What is beautiful about Huck Finn is that it breaks that more--the social construct that Jim was less than Huck because he was a slave. This isn't the only social construct that is toppled by the text. Certainly Huck is known throughout the text as a "rapscallion", yet we see that he is taken in (even if unwittingly) by people who are "civilized". And even though Huck "won't stand for it", he in a way shows that those with more should help those with less.

But social construct is only the surface of the humanities shown by both Huck and Jim. As we discussed in class, Huck Finn is about race relations, or to be more clear, how race is viewed in society. Obviously the debate of whether Twain is racist has been and will continue to be raised (as long as people read literature out of context), so there is already that element to the reading of the text. Huck Finn, though, is much more than the question of Twain's view of races, it is of his whole view of society. As said above, Huck is described as a "rapscallion", but he is introduced to the "civilized" society. Huck's denial to be "civilized" may in a way be Twain saying that because both sides of society have their ironies, discrepancies, and contradictions, aren't they all equal. So Huck's refusal is not because he is a "bad" boy, but because he sees the contradictions of the "civilized". The best example of this in the text is the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons.

There were moments while reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn when I had to stop and consider myself and how I treat others. One thing that I am glad about is that Twain did not make a perfect character in anyone. For example:

• Huck is often deceptive. He is a habitual liar, but often his lies benefit Jim or himself from being caught.
• Jim is a runaway slave, a fugitive. He technically is a criminal, but he cares for Huck as he would his own. He is also on the run so that he can find his family.
• The river is often oppressive for Huck, Jim, really for everyone who is on it. But the river can be beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing.

I have only outlined a few of the many character dualities; there are many more. What I was trying to say is that I often feel like a nice person, but I also have a duality. Reading this text defined that a bit better for me.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of my favorite pieces of American literature and I think it always will be, solely because of all life lessons that one can learn from it, even if it is done with satire and humor.