In the novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, we are initially introduced to the young rebellious child named Huck. He is unlike any other member of his society (an outcast). He is different and constantly seeks for freedom. Huck is an uneducated child with very few morals and his only role model at the start of the book is Tom Sawyer. Now unlike Huck, Tom Sawyer is a civilized educated child but is also the towns troublemaker. Huck also is defined by his father’s character(the town’s drunk man). His fathers harsh treatment and morals is partially passed on to Huck but his cruel treatment is what leads him to escape and where he grows slowly into his own character in order to face problems while he travels along the river.
Ms Watson and the widow as well as Judge Thatcher try to civilize young Huckleberry Finn but neither prayers nor education seem to work. Huck cares not for the dead but for the ones living with power. It is the main reason why he finds praying to a dead man pointless. He as mentioned before is different with a different perspective of the world in which he seem not to fit in. When Huck sets sail for the river the river becomes a symbolism and reflection of his solitary character.
Huck's character evolves from Tom Sawyer's character because Huck wishes to be like him. In every choice he must face he thinks to himself what would Tom Sawyer have done. For example, when Huck and Jim find the streamboat on the shore Huck suggest stealing it since the owner was nowhere near the boat. Jim decides not to get involved and leaves the boat so no future problems would head there way but Huck is stubborn and his love for danger and adventure is mainly influenced by his best friend Tom Sawyer. When Jim warns Huck he responds “Do you reckon Tom Sawyer would ever go by this thing Not for a pie, he would not. He’d call it an adventure- that’s what he’d call it: and he’d land on that wreck if it was his last act. And wouldn't he throw style into it?-wouldn’t he spread himself, nor nothing? Why, you’d think it was Christopher C’lumbus discovering Kingdom-Come. I wish Tom Sawyer was here.” Again Huck defines his character through Tom.
3 comments:
I agree with how you consider Tom to be Hucks role model in the beginning of the novel, and how you said the townspeople define Huck by his father’s actions. They think less of him and they consider Huck to be a second-class citizen due to his upbringing. I disagree, however, when you said the Widow and Miss Watsons’ attempts to civilize Huck fail. He started to get used to the stuffy cloths and school when Pap came back into his life. Your final quote really exemplifies the fact that Huck built his character off of Tom, but he is not Tom. Later in the story, he will become his own character and separate himself from everyone else.
I to agree with your analysis of Huck trying to find his identity! He does seem to rely on Tom for most of his actions and refer to him during his adventures with Jim. I also agree with you when you say that pap's morals are unfortunately passed down to Huck as well. I really like the quote you used towards the end! It connects the two characters well and shows Huck's yearning to be just like Tom!
I think you bring up a great point - that there is no positive male role model in Huck's life. As we've seen in the book, Jim definitely is there to provide him with this - but their worlds are so different that it will always be hard for Huck to see Jim as a role model. Do you think that any young man has a chance of becoming a strong male if there is no positive male role model? Think about this with a gender lens.
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