"All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn. " Many would agree with Earnest Hemingway broad statement, but it takes a keen eye to detect and appreciate the brilliant satire that Twain has interwoven throughout his novel. The most prominent topic of his irony is society. Twain questions the "civilized" nature of white society, which heavily dollies slavery.
Huckleberry is given nothing but contradictory ideas about what kind of boy he should be---on one side he has the "civilized" white members of society who seek to improve" him, but are not always the best people.On the other hand, Jim, whose character is Just a lowly slave, is portrayed to be humane and kind in comparison to his superior counterparts. It is emphasized throughout the novel that Jim, a slave, is the better half of society, for Houck turns out to be an admirable character by the end of the novel, despite his white upbringing?this is due to the time that he has spent with Jim on their adventures. Mark Twain effectively interweaves his heavy criticism of what a "civil society' is thought to be in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", a attire of the American upper-middle class society in the mid-nineteenth century.The numerous characters in the novel that are seen as superior in society turn out to have twisted and hypocritical personalities?their actions have acceptable intentions, but their true natures are revealed with their interactions with other characters. Widow Douglas and Ms.
Watson are the two sisters who adopt Houck and make their attempts at "civilizing" him at the beginning of the novel. Though they seem like good, religious women helping a boy with nowhere else to go, they are slave owners. This is not a big deal, for a large portion of the population were slave owners at the time, but Ms.Watson was planning on illegally selling Jim in New Orleans for $800, as said on page 51 . No matter how innocent these women may seem, they are racist and opportunistic, and not characters that a young boy should have as role models.
Husks father is another questionable figure of authority. When he kidnaps Houck on page 28, his true character is revealed, and it is horrific. Pap's endless string of cursing establishes him as a heartless man who sees his son as nothing but meaner of acquiring money for alcohol.Twain showcases Pap's uncivilized and inhumane ways, which include erratically beating and abusing Houck or cursing the government.
Pap symbolizes a white man with every opportunity to improve his terrible life, but one who continuously refuses it, and chooses instead to get drunk and beat his son. He represents the worst of society as the embodiment of the typical white man who is brutal, hateful, racist, and yet part of the "superior" group of society; he is clearly inferior when compared to Jim the slave's good-hearted nature.After Houck has escaped from his father and unites with Jim on Jackson Island, he encounters a woman, a minor character on page 67, who is another representation of the moral inversion of white society. On the exterior, the woman is seen as sweet and kind, offering to help the poor young boy who has shown up on her doorstep.
As the scene progresses, her racist nature is revealed as she expresses her excitement for hunting down the "Niger" that has escaped from his owner for a reward of $300.Her personality is filled with hypocrisy, which is something that Houck is encased in within his society. Further into the novel, two feuding families, the Shepherdess and the Exaggerators, are encountered by Houck. Twain uses them in his general critique of American society, especially showcasing the hypocrisy of religion?the two families attend church on page 29, and learn about "brotherly love," but have absolutely no qualms about shedding each other's blood promptly afterwards.
The family is a mix of contradictions?sweet for so easily accepting a seemingly lost and innocent boy into their family, yet at the same time, they are aimlessly murderous. All of the bloodshed that happens during his stay with the Exaggerators leaves him scarred, or he begins to cry with the death of his brotherly-friend, Buck. The tone of the story changes into something darker at this point, and we are reminded that Houck, although easily forgotten, is still a child that is supposed to be influenced by his environment.Incredibly, this is not the case with Houck, for his morals are still good, despite all of the twisted and contradictory characters that have been in his life.
Houck is always trying to escape from this cruel society, and ironically, he seeks out the presence of Jim. Whereas Pap symbolizes cruelty and ruthlessness in a father wrought his abusive tirades, Jim symbolizes the compassionate and caring figure that Pap, and all of the "superior" members of society, should be.Jim portrays the better half of society, and he ironically happens to be a slave, the ultimate inferior of society at the time. Twain uses Jims character to show how ridiculous the white society's application of slavery and human inequality truly is.
On page 92, Jim reflects on the story of King Solomon chopping his child in half. He says that if the king had many children, it would be acceptable for him to chop his child in half; in slavery, one life earns little and is easily replaceable.Jims ideas seem appalling, but with deeper speculation, the reader can see that this is only what Jim has witnessed in his horrible experiences with slavery. Jim possesses a uniquely humane way of thinking, one that has not been tainted by the grime of society, and this is seen on page 94 as he tries to explain to Houck that a French man is still a man, regardless of his background. This is a vital moment in Jims character in comparison to the "higher society". Jim sees all men as equal, whereas this is difficult to do for others.
Aside room having more humane thoughts than the other characters in the novel, the reader can easily detect Jims love for Houck, which is not something that many characters in the novel truly possess. Jim and Houck are separated by fog, and when Jim realizes that Houck played a trick on him he hysterically cries, saying "En when I wake up en fine you back aging, all safe en sound, De tears come en I could a got down on my knees en kiss you foot Xi's so thankful" (99). Through this event the reader understands that Jim truly cares for Houck because he shows so much Joy and relief when he sees.Through the character of Jim, Twain wanted to show that the "superiors" and "inferiors" of society were nothing but ridiculous titles, and that the inferiors are much more caring and humane than any superior, despite their constant repression. Twain's intention with this book was delivered by making Jim, and not the other twisted characters, have the biggest impact on Husks moral development.
Huckleberry Finn is a very complex character?he is a young child, yet possesses the characteristics of a middle-aged adult recreating their understanding of the world, with the help of Jim.Houck has been around people that would eave ultimately led him to become as racist and close-minded as the rest of the society, but because of him breaking away from society and spending time with Jim, this was prevented. Going even further, he also developed morals that are unique to that of the rest of the prejudiced society. From the beginning of their unlikely friendship, Jim and Houck have been equals.
They have never been in charge of their own fates, what with Jim being a lowly slave and Houck being a child, but once they escape society together, their fates rest completely on their own shoulders.This is a powerful factor, nice it shows the power that "uncivilized" members of society can possess when released from the shackles of society. The two friends develop their morals together throughout the novel, such as when they have conversations about stealing and what is acceptable, on page 78. Houck is still a young and impressionable boy, and he has grown into liking Jim as a close friend, which makes him question the teachings of society up until this point.On page 102 when Houck tricks Jim into thinking he was dreaming as they got separated by the fog, Jim gets very hurt because he thought Houck was in real danger. In response, Houck feels terrible for his tricks, and he says "It made me feel so mean I could almost kiss his foot.
.. I didn't do no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd known it would make him feel that way. " Houck is forced to question what society has taught him about blacks, because he is having a different experience as he realizes that Jim is genuinely good human being.There is a big moment in Husks moral development on page 107, when Houck was provided the opportunity to turn Jim into the men looking for runaway slaves, but he instead chooses to trick them into leaving them alone. This is a vital point, for it confirms his theory that his previous teachings were wrong, and that slaves are Just as good, if not better, than whites.
Twain makes heavy social commentary with this scene as he shows that society is always grappling with right and wrong, even though the clearly correct choice, not turning Jim in, was engraved into society's brains to be incorrect at the time.At the end of the novel, after Houck and Tom have set Jim free from Tom's aunt's land, Houck says "l couldn't understand until that minute how he could help set a Niger free, with his upbringing" (335). The key word in this sentence is "his" upbringing; Houck has differentiated between the right and the wrong in society, for he denied to use the word "our" upbringing; Tom and Houck were raised by people with the same views on the topic of slavery, but with this sentence the reader sees that Houck has come a long way since his escape from society, for he sees equality for what it truly is.Twain illustrates that once a person escapes from the poisonous teachings of society, they see the light and realize right from wrong.
T. S. Elliot once said that "A river, a very big and powerful river, is the only natural force that can holly determine the course of human peregrination...
. Thus the River makes the book a great book... Mark Twain is a native, and the River God is his God. " Elliot is saying that a big force can control one's destiny.
It can be argued that a river would represent society, but as seen with Husks character, one can break free of society and learn different things, as well as see old teachings in a new light. These old teachings may be questioned once one breaks away from society, as Houck questioned the oppression of slaves such as Jim. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a skillfully crafted novel that would seem eke a humorous tale on the surface, but can truly deliver some powerful messages with a closer reading.Mark Twain saw society for what it truly was in the mid- nineteenth century, and made a point to critique what he saw through the light- toned narration of a child. A child would still be innocent and naive, and Husks view on society is what is truly out there, for he is not biased due to his few years of being exposed to society's teachings.
Houck and Jim represent the outliers of civilization, and as portrayed by Twain, those that escape society tend to be more humane than those that get caught up in the lies and tricks of it.
