The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

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Everyone has his or her own opinion of society. Some opinions are negative, others positive. In “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, Mark Twain clearly expresses his opinion through the characters in the story. Whether it be through Huck, Jim, Miss Watson, Widow Douglas, or even the King and the Duke, Twain uses each character to show different parts of society. Mainly he displays his words through each individual character to show the reader how he views society and civilization himself. Twain implies a more negative perspective of society throughout the book, But also shows some positive views as well.
The beginning of the book starts out with Huck being taken in by the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. These two ladies try to shove manners and obedience down Huck's throat, especially Miss Watson. Huck claims he does not want to be “sivilized” he has no respect for Miss Wataon because she is rude to him and is too pushy. One would think that Huck would be grateful that someone took him in and fed him, but he would rather live in the woods than be trapped in a house with the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson."After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers; and I was in a sweat to find out all about him; but by-and-by she let it out that Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so then I didn't care no more about him; because I don't take no stock in dead people." (Twain 132) Huck had never been taught much of anything so he does not understand why the Widow Douglas is putting so much emphasis on someone who is deceased. This goes to show that society at the time was to raise a child up with discipline and manners. If the child did not listen, the parent or gaurdian did not back down. Children did ...

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...ith the characters. However, there were also parts that were light hearted and funny. Regardless if the parts were funny or not, Twain wanted readers to find a little of themselves in Huck. Huck represents a confused person that does not know which road to go down half the time. Everyone feels that way at one point in their life. This is why Twain incorporates different aspects of society into the novel. Once Huck realizes the kind of person he wants to be, he starts to become even more brave than he already was. Twain wants the readers to connect with story, and he also wants to challenge the reader to find the Huck in themselves.

Works Cited

Baym, Nina, Wayne Franklin, Philip F. Gura, and Arnold Krupat. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 8th ed. Vol. C. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2007. 130-309. Print.

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