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Literary analysis on the adventures of Hucklebery Finn
Analysis of mark twain
Mark twain and american literature
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Twain’s famous novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, plays on the mentality and social structure of his time and its people. He saw the critical weaknesses in our values and ideals as a society during his life. He wanted to express his satirical views to the public and bring light to our society’s problems. Twain had successfully accomplished his task when he published the controversial book that is still argued today. Huckleberry Finn shows how major themes like education, religion, and morality, can be seen in his view. Huck Finn, being the young, uneducated boy he is, cannot fathom how the idea of religion and praying can help him. He frequently is taught lessons in Christian beliefs, but he takes them literally, and doesn’t understand the ideas. He tries multiple times to pray, but the concept doesn’t make sense to his realistic, one way thinking. This mindset is what makes Huck who he is, the adventurous, practical boy who likes to live his life away from the shackles of society’s values. “Miss Watson she took me in the closet and prayed, but nothing come of it. She told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for I would get it. But it warn 't so. I tried it….” (Twain 23). This constant battle to understand religion …show more content…
He constantly inserted sarcastic comments of his own feelings into the character of Huck Finn. “There was the Sunday-school, you could a gone to it; and if you 'd a done it they 'd a learnt you there that people that acts as I 'd been acting about that nigger goes to everlasting fire." (204). He shows how easily religious people are led astray when the King makes up a story to get the sympathy and donations of all the churchgoers. The King knows that they are emotional, generous, and good-spirited people, and yet uses his education and experience to trick them into getting free money. Twain wanted to make a point that the churchgoers were naïve and
The act of Christian men and woman, such as in the Catholic faith, is often contradictory as to how they believe they should live their lives. In the book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain strikes a parallel between two feuding families, and the contradictory patterns of the Church they attend. This parallel is first grazed on when upon attempting to explain to Huck why the feud started, Buck Grangerford declares that "Oh, yes, pa knows, I reckon and some of the other old people; but they don't know what the row was about in the first place" (Twain 108). From this it is evident that the two families have no idea what they are fighting about.
Mark Twain throughout the book showed Huckleberry Finns personal growth on how he started from the bottom as a lonely, racist, immature kid who knew nothing to where he is now, by finally breaking away from society’s values he was taught in the beginning. He has alienated himself from the from that society and revealed how in fact these values were hypocritical. He realized that he can choose his own morals and that the one he chooses is the correct one.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is the story of a young southern boy and his voyage down the Mississippi River accompanied by a runaway slave named Jim. Throughout the journey Huck and Jim face numerous obstacles and encounter a variety of interesting characters. These experiences help Huck to develop physically, intellectually, and most importantly, morally. Throughout the long expedition, readers can observe Huck’s transformation from an immature boy with poor values and ethics, to a matured young man with a moral conscience and a heightened sense of what is right and what is wrong despite what society says.
Twain knows that American society still treated black people were treated poorly. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn took place before the civil war, yet the way people treat black people was nearly the same before and after slavery was abolished. Reconstruction was not effective because people were just as racist after the abolition of slavery. The reforms put in place during Reconstruction in the South were not effective and life changed little for blacks as they remained stuck in their master’s farms (as sharecroppers). Twain uses humor and satire to mock American society so people realize that people still treat blacks poorly without directly mentioning it. The variety of situations that Huck and Jim go through points out the injustice and hypocrisy (such as the family feud, hypocrisy of Miss Watson, the King and the Duke). The absurdness of Tom’s dramatic and ridiculous plans to “free” Jim (when Jim is already legally free) show how little respect Tom has for Jim (not treating him like a proper human). Twain is maybe trying to say that hypocrisy and injustice of Southern society stay nearly the same after the Civil
People adopt such ideals because they learn to do so, regardless of whether they truly consider them ethical or even necessary. However, sometimes the standards of society oppose the inner feelings and beliefs of individuals, and they can slowly renounce outer influences and trust themselves instead. In the case of Huck Finn, society teaches him ideas that limit the scope of his judgement and principles. Therefore Huck, just like any other Southerner of the time, sees blacks as an inferior race. The critic Chad Kleist identifies Huck and his trained attitude towards blacks: “...a young boy who has known only one belief growing up, that is, racism” (Kleist 261). Kleist asserts that Huck accepts slavery and racial division because society teaches him so. Twain conveys the influencing effects social standards have on the beliefs of individuals. Outside influences, Twain communicates, can condition the thoughts and actions of individuals and bring disorder into their lives. Upon embarking on his journey down the river, Huck begins gaining a shift in perspective about concepts he previously considers invariable; as a result, he begins to doubt much of what he knows as acceptable. As time progresses Huck starts to identify with Jim and treat the former slave as more of an equal than he normally would. To demonstrate Huck’s changing attitude towards Jim, even
Religion is sarcastically reflected in Huckleberry Finn by Twain’s sense of storyline and the way his characters talk. A predominant theme, and probably one of Twain's favorites, is the mockery of religion. Twain tended to attack organized religion at every opportunity and the sarcastic character of Huck Finn is perfectly situated to allow him to do so. The attack on religion can already be seen in the first chapter, when Huck indicates that hell sounds like a lot more fun than heaven. This will continue throughout the novel, with one prominent scene occurring when the "King" convinces a religious community to give him money so he can "convert" his pirate friends.
Huck encounters the King and the Duke, two greedy men who use Jim, Ms. Watson’s slave, for money. In the novel Huck, the duke and the king stop at a preaching, and see how a community is enlightened by a preacher. The preacher recites part of the Beatitudes in a high platform, just as Jesus did on the Mount, "Oh, come to the mourners' bench! come, black with sin! (amen!) come, sick and sore! (amen!) come, lame and halt and blind! (amen!) come, pore and needy, sunk in shame! (a-a-men!) come, all that's worn and soiled and suffering! -- come with a broken spirit! come with a contrite heart! come in your rags and sin and dirt! the waters that cleanse is free, the door of heaven stands open -- oh, enter in and be at rest!"(134). The preacher says all stated above will be free in Heaven which brings all sorts of emotions to the crowd, therefore the King and Duke take advantage of the preachings, “He[king] went a-charging up on to the platform, and the preacher he begged him to speak to the people, and he done it” (135). The King creates a touching story in which he supposedly is motivated to be faithful in order to trick the people into offering him money. This observation further pushes Huck from the civilized Southerners. Furthermore, Twain demonstrates how evil men can use religion, a socially accepted practice, to deceive society into accepting certain inhumane
Huck Finn does not fully understand religion. The widow tells him he can ask God for whatever he wants so he thinks of religion as asking God for specific items. Religion is actually a more spiritual concept, and Huck is not mature enough to realize this. This is apparent when he mentions “Miss Watson she took me in the closet and prayed, but nothing come of it. She told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for I would get it. But it warn't so. I tried it. Once I got a fish-line, but no hooks. It warn't any good to me without hooks. I tried for the hooks three or four times, but somehow I couldn't make it work. By and by, one day, I asked Miss Watson to try for me, but she said I was a fool. She never told me why, and I couldn't make it out no way.” This tells us that Huck is very confused about religion and takes things very literally. Huck was not brought up in church, so he knows little about God and religion. Another time when Huck took something too literally was when he went to Tom Sawyer's group to "rob and murder" people. Huck fully expected there to be real elephants and “A-rabs” at their destination. Tom Sawyer just wanted to pretend this was the case, when Huck actually was preparing himself to see elephants.
Initially, Huck Finn’s life is that of a typical white boy during the early 19th century. His childhood primarily consists of two influential figures: his best friend, Tom Sawyer, and his guardian, Miss Watson. During the day, Miss Watson would educate and ‘sivilize’ Huck; while at night, he would furtively escape to enjoy his childish games with Tom. Both of these figures aid in presenting Huck as an innocent teenage male- his daily routine adheres society’s opinion of a standard child. On the other hand, Huck’s father is a violent alcoholic who strongly believes in his patriarchal authority over his son. Huck’s normal life is abruptly interrupted when he reunites with his father, who decides to confine Huck to a cabin away from society. He reprimands Huck for learning how to
Mark Twain’s masterpiece The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through much criticism and denunciation has become a well-respected novel. Through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old boy, Huckleberry Finn, Twain illustrates the controversy of racism and slavery during the aftermath of the Civil War. Since Huck is an adolescent, he is vulnerable and greatly influenced by the adults he meets during his coming of age. His expedition down the Mississippi steers him into the lives of a diverse group of inhabitants who have conflicting morals. Though he lacks valid morals, Huck demonstrates the potential of humanity as a pensive, sensitive individual rather than conforming to a repressive society. In these modes, the novel places Jim and Huck on pedestals where their views on morality, learning, and society are compared.
In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain illustrates several traits that are common in mankind. Among these traits are those that are listed in this essay. Through characters in the story Twain shows humanity's innate courageousness. He demonstrates that individuals many times lack the ability to reason well. Also, Twain displays the selfishness pervasive in society. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, many aspects of the human race are depicted, and it is for this reason that this story has been, and will remain, a classic for the ages.
Huck's views on, "right and wrong" opinions, views of slavery, and the tricks he plays all show the beliefs that Huck withheld in the early part of the book. Hucks opinion of religion shows his lack of concern for serious things. When lectured on heaven and hell (by which he refers to by the "good" and "bad" place), Huck quickly decides that he wants to go to the "bad" place. He finds no interest in singing and praying to God, while the "bad" place calls to him as he hears that his friend Tom Sawyer is going to the "bad" place. His views of praying also reflect his lack of serious involvement. While you're supposed to pray for spiritual gifts, Huck just doesn't understand and then prays for fishing line. Huck is upset him when he finds that there are no fishing hooks to go with his line (Pg. 14) and takes prayer as a so-so kind of deal until faced with anoth...
Living in the 1800's wasn't an easy task. There were many hardships that a person had to endure. In the novel, The Adventures of Huck Finn, the author Mark Twain portrays the adventure of a young boy. Huck, the young boy, goes on a journey with various dilemmas. The novel starts off in Missouri on the Mississippi River. Huck is taken from his guardians by his father and then decides to runaway from him. On his journey, he meets up with his former slave, Jim. While Huck and Jim are traveling down the Mississippi River, they meet a variety of people. Throughout the novel he takes on many different tasks which help shape his moral conscience. Taking on a new friend which society shuns, being without material possessions, and taking responsibility for his actions help Huck refine and reform the morals that make him a more mature young man.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is an immensely realistic novel, revealing how a child's morals and actions clash with those of the society around him. Twain shows realism in almost every aspect of his writing; the description of the setting, that of the characters, and even the way characters speak. Twain also satirizes many of the foundations of that society. Showing the hypocrisy of people involved in education, religion, and romanticism through absurd, yet very real examples. Most importantly, Twain shows the way Huckleberry's moral beliefs form amidst a time of uncertainty in his life.
Twain satirically emphasizes the flaws of society and its unrealistic expectations in various manners (Gaither Par.9). One of the ways Twain accomplishes this is through the superficial expectations to be learned in the oppressive presence of Miss Watson. Huck finds Miss Watson to be oppressive and harsh at times. She expects a lot out of Huck, including understanding. An example of this is prayer. Miss Watson expects Huck to understand the meaning and purpose of prayer when she never adequately explains it to Huck, or allows him to learn about it without treating him as though he is unintelligent, when he fails to understand. When Huck prays for a fishing rod, he finds that he never receives one. He was under the impression that if he prayed he could expect to have anything that he desired because Miss Watson impressed upon him if he prayed he would get what he asked for “She told me to pray ever...