The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Review By Mark Twain - Research Paper Example

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Review By Mark Twain The adventures of huckleberry Finn demonstrates few significant issues which were presented during the post civil war era, for example the issue of slavery is raised again and again in the novel. The author of the novel tries to amend the image of the runaway slave and the concept of considering black slaves as inhuman through the relationship between the characters of Huck Finn and Jim. Author has touched every important aspect in a human life as loyalty, companionship, punishment, greed, education and control. The book, since published, is considered as the magnet for the controversies although the basis of the controversies evolved from time to time. It was highly criticized and scrutinized because of its over adventurous nature to the racial content, but anyone who reads and understands will not have any doubt about the intention of the novelist or the novel itself. Even after 200 years of its publication it is still considered as an important part of the American literature which is thought to have been shaped by the presence of it. Huckleberry Finn is described by Twain as “a book where sound heart and a deformed conscience come into collision and conscience suffers a defeat” (Twain, 1992 p xvii). The novel portrays Huck’s moral development as he ends up in different circumstances but is able to maintain his freedom and security The author wants to impose the importance of freedom for every human being and tries to justify it as a basic necessity. However, the novel is also criticized on its racism by few critics because of the use of the racist slur “nigger”, but author clearly tries to show that Jim is a very loving and caring person. Even Huck is also confused sometimes by the voices of his inner conscience that tells him to like Jim but the socially accepted treatment for the slaves at that time, told him to do otherwise. In this way this novel also conveys an idea about the effect of the society in a person’s acts and decisions (Alberti, 1995). Twain’s novel brings into consideration this very important point that one’s opinion must not be influenced by that of society. Twain also demonstrates the psychic struggle going on between the morally right and legally and socially enforced decisions. In the beginning, Huck also considers himself as a slave because he is oppressed by the ideals of society. He is a freedom loving person and enjoys his less restricted life style. He acquires it by means of escape; this is what satisfies Huck (Jarnow, 2004 p 41). In the course of the novel two seemingly opposite people become friends and their friendship prospers in the rest of the novel. Their relationship becomes as important as that of a father and son which seems like impossibility in reality. By this portrayal the aim of author was to show the absurdity of the idea that was felt by the society and the reader. It also shows the misjudgment prevailed in the society. Regardless of immorality and inhuman behaviors of white people, they were considered superior and virtuous than black. This is shown when Huck’s drunkard father gets his custody legally. This decision of the society shows its instability in regard of equality and logic. Society’s criteria or priority was laid for only white skin people. The fact was clearly ignored by them that beneath skin, they all are human with same will and passions. Huck realized this after meeting Jim and he wanted to treat him as a person and not as a slave whose only fault was his dark skin (Jarnow, 2004 p 51). By the character of Jim, Twain has taken a risk by creating it as a person who is loving, intelligent but on the other hand, is breaking the rules of slavery and escaping (Johnson, 1996 p. 109). He portrayed Jim as a person to whom the readers will sympathize but conflicted it by his anti slavery attitude, who is in search of freedom and against the rules of the society that implies only on a slave. In the beginning he is shown as an ignorant and disobedient even then the author was aware of the potential of his writing and chose Jim to reveal his true nature slowly. While Jim’s courageous and caring nature in the rest of the novel clearly neutralizes his initial impression and he becomes a fatherly figure for Huck. After bearing so much trouble caused by tom he still nurses him after he is shot in leg. This act of Jim was the most gracious part of the novel. While Jim is considered as inhuman; he still carries the most important role in the life of Huck by protecting him and taking over the nightly watch shifts. Regardless of the color of skin, Huck realizes the compassionate nature of Jim and starts liking him as his companion. The intention of the author behind the character of Jim is so visible and must be understood by the reader. Identification of will, intention and caring approach matters rather than mere speeches, debates and talks in the long run. Huck is portrayed as a sensitive boy who has been experiencing the hard realities of life since his early childhood. He belonged to the lowest level of white society. His father was an alcoholic. Although Widow Douglas tried to fill the religious, academics and social values which were missing, she remained unsuccessful due to the unwillingness of Huck. His practical and satirical views provide humor in the novel. He is habitual of observing his surrounding and being rational about it which is exactly opposite to Tom’s perceptions. Huck’s true and honest nature creates greatness in the novel. It is the falseness of the society that repels his nature and he finds solace in the serene life of the river, he is subjected to insurmountable troubles when he steps on land. While his life on land or river, was not safe for both Jim and Huck (Kupersmith, 2009 pp. 47-51) In one of the scene Huck apologizes jim over the trick he had played on him in the fog, without Huck’s true honesty there would never have a scene of Huck being humble to a slave, it was his nature that he let his ego settle down and truly judges his actions as wrong or right. The most important dispute in the novel was the use of the word nigger because of the sensitivity of the African American towards it. However inhibiting the use of a word for its emotional aversion will only increase its offensive power, although banning a literary novel over this cause while media is embracing the same word is an unjust act. Not only media or modern culture but a lot of other literary novels contain coarse language but still they are a significant part of the literature. Twain, in this novel, criticized his own society. He was a revolutionary writer by creating a character as Huck, who was honest, bold, curious and sometimes dangerous. He showed his own point of view about the society and its injustice towards less fortunate people; as slaves. He was an advocate of the slavery and injustice during the nineteenth century. He was quite the opposite to what he and his work are portrayed to be. He did not reinforce racism but he tried to diminish it. He once said” Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest” (Krieger, 2002 p. 76). True to his words the book contained many issues which were unacceptable to a lot of people of his time but he had a higher vision and could see beyond his time. Less than a year after the book’s publication it was banned and was challenged many a times. Huck’s best friend Tom plays a relatively unfair part in the novel he tricks both Huck and Jim in order to enjoy the working of his escape plan. Tom is the perfect foil for Huck. Tom came from a poor family and Huck enjoyed the sound status which brought a lot of social and psychological differences in between them. Tom’s thinking is dominated by the opinions of adults around him and his reading of romance and adventure which makes it a little fancy. He strictly follows rules and expects other to do the same. He seems self centered and shows lack of feeling for others. Where as Tom’s counterpart Huck possess exactly the opposite qualities. Twain’s aim was not to put a moralistic or plot based story in front of his readers but instead he wanted to paint a vivid picture of live incidents through fiction. He wanted his readers to experience the thrill and dismay as Huck feels. More to it, he also wanted to ensure that his readers should put themselves into his shoe and judge from being right into the experience instead of talking about rules from their comfort zones. Empathy for Huck and for Jim is his main objective. The book contains plenty of humor, reality and facts with deep cynicism and satire on society. He has an ability to keep his readers interested in the story till the end. The main themes of the novel are difference between natural and civilized life, honor, and food, mockery of religion, superstition, slavery, money and freedom. The book contains social analysis of a society shown by the interactions of the individuals of the society which highlights the insensitivities of that era for common people to observe. Huck Finn flees from the society which tries hard to civilize him and starts his raft journey with Jim. On his journey he learns about love, loyalty, responsibility and about moral values. According to Twain “classic” is a book which people praise but don’t read, whereas huckleberry Finn is an exception to that. In this book society’s hypocrisy is shown towards two “socially outcasts” persons, when one is not accepted by the society is a human being and the other does not accept that society which is so morally weak and unjust. Although huck is adopted by a widow Douglas and was living in a community of st. Petersburg, he felt repelled towards the decorum of that culture but he also does not belongs to the world his drunkard pap lives in, and thus he makes a decision and flees from both. The novels ask this significant question from the society that the abolishing slavery is an enough action while racism is still dominant? The book gives a prominent negative idea about the slavery and describes it as in immoral act. At some point Huck is also compelled to return Jim to its owner as a run away slave because he was affected by the reputation of a black slave. He was confused and could not take a decision but in the end, he decides against it and says to himself” I should go back to hell”. He could not judge due to his past racist views puts off the old theories and builds new one through experience. He discards the idea of racism and slavery and considers Jim as his companion and an equal human being. This novel shows Huck’s inner moral struggles. Huck learns through the coerce of the story and trusts his inner instincts in the matters .While several different sets of rules presented to him, he tries to reconcile with them but at the end he comes out with his own unique rules and believes them. Which are entirely distinct from the society and were true to be followed. Twain has clearly distinguished between harmless lies that could safe somebody from trouble and misery and morally corrupt ones. Huck, on every occasion enjoys lying but he is still a child of thirteen and an uncivilized one at that, but even his conscience does not allow him to lie for his own sake. He was an individual who lied with benevolent aims, which does not cause much harm. Huck at first was pleased by his habit of lying but at the end he realizes how complicated things can become due to them. The negative aspect of deceit becomes clearer to him after observing the activities of the king and duke. Criticism on religion is seen as a common practice in Twain’s novel. Faith seems an immortal quality which is above the human level. People with religious inclination are shown as racist and unsympathetic people without kindness. Rules which religion preaches are inflexible and at some point inhuman. The reason for Twain’s negative approach about religion could be due to three reasons. Firstly, due to his own believes in religion, or due to the common believe in Antebellum South about the inferiority of black, acceptance and agreement of slavery. Lastly because of the conception about church as a satirical object in that time. Huck rejects Miss Watson’s religious beliefs because it was hindering his and Jim’s developing friendship. According to religious beliefs slaves were considered inhuman and property of white. Concept of slavery gave rise to racism which was unethical. The religious concepts of Huck is a controversial issue because, he, on one hand talks against religion and on the other hand he is scared of hell and keeps on praying about his soul being saved. His believes were shattered due to the insensitivity of society against blacks but he did believe in accountability and life after death (Kravitz, 2004). Through different experiences and realizations mental maturity and growth of Huck is evident throughout the novel. All his acts reveal a sense of curiosity. By using his intellectual power, he made the best out of conflicting situations which were appreciable, considering his age. On occasions hack’s own life was big dilemma for him. He was indecisive when it comes to deciding matters of his life. He is strongly attracted towards family life but he does not like the restrictions of the civilized life. It is evident throughout the novel that Huck craved for family life but he flees from the strong shelter provided by Widow Douglas because he preferred to spend his day catching up fish than washing dishes (Jehlen, 1995). Superstition played an important role through out the novel, it showed marked ignorance of religion and with comparison to it believe in superstition by twain. Superstition and believe in supernatural brought Jim and Huck together. Both were tired of religious views and explained any indescribable event through luck or plainly superstition. Some characters manipulated religious belief of others for their personal benefit. It some times appears a contrasting situation as Twain comprehends religion as a form of superstition (Wasowski, 2001 pp. 29-31). During his voyage on the Mississippi River Huck meets a lot of families to whom he deceives about his actual family according to the circumstances. This shows his natural desire of acquiring an actual family with less restrictions and friendly bonding. In the novel he tries himself in different family situations but in the end he finds it in Jim and Tom with whom he had a bond (Budd, 1985 p. 79). Huck’s father is an Alcohol addict and every time any one touches a drop of alcohol in the novel some thing harmful comes, like the King sold Jim for his whisky binge. Alcohol is depicted as an abusive and insane tonic after which a man can be insensitive and insane. It is shown as a contemporary part of southern culture and Twain condemns it due to its affects on others. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a thrilling and a captivating novel. It has lightened a lot of controversies in its time, but has also left a question about birth rights and inhuman behaviors which were commonly practiced then. The novel also conveys a message that a child always looks for some protection and care but in a friendlier manner. Moreover, it puts forward the idea that ethics can be taught in early age otherwise the tendency to learn and bringing them to practice decreases. Bibliography: Twain, Mark. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Ware, Hertfordshire: Wordsworth, 1992. Print. Alberti, J. (January 01, 1995). THE NIGGER HUCK: RACE, IDENTITY, AND THE TEACHING OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN. College English, 57, 8, 919. Jarnow, J. (2004). The adventures of Huckleberry Finn and race in America. New York: Rosen Central Primary Sources. Johnson, C. D. (1996). Understanding Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A student casebook to issues, sources, and historical documents. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. Krieger, R. A. (2002). Civilizations quotations: Lifes ideal. New York: Algora Pub. Kupersmith, A. (2009). Twain and Freud on the human race: Parallels on personality, politics and religion. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland. Wasowski, R. (2001). Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. CliffsComplete. New York, NY: Hungry Minds. Budd, L. J. (1985). New essays on Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The American novel. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press. Jehlen, M. (1995). Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Classic American Literature in Robinson, F. G. (2007). The Cambridge companion to Mark Twain. Cambridge collections online. Cambridge [England: Cambridge University Press. Kravitz, B. (January 01, 2004). Reinventing the World and Reinventing the Self in Huck Finn. Papers on Language & Literature : Pll, 40, 1, 3. Read More