The Adentures of Huckleberry Finn

Wisdom is to maturity as writing a paper is to taking an English course. And wisdom can only be gained through life experience, good, bad, or in between. Huck’s maturity is developed through his adventure down the Mississippi River, where he must make “adult” choices that will affect not only him but his dependent friend, Jim, showing that all kids need is to be given responsibility in order to become responsible.

In the beginning of the novel, Huck’s life is completely controlled for him. Miss Watson is one of the main characters that influences him in such a manner. Right from the start, the reader sees Miss Watson step up and take on the role of a true guardian to Huck. She does this the only way she knows how, which is to set strict rules and guidelines that must be followed. A few of these are that he must attend school, he must attend Church, he must have proper manner, etc., shown by when he states that

Miss Watson would say, "Don't put your feet up there, Huckleberry;" and "Don't scrunch up like that, Huckleberry—set up straight;" and pretty soon she would say, "Don't gap and stretch like that, Huckleberry—why don't you try to behave?" Then she told me all about the bad place, and I said I wished I was there. She got mad then, but I didn't mean no harm. All I wanted was to go somewheres; all I wanted was a change, I warn't particular. Well, I couldn't see no advantage in going where she was going, so I made up my mind I wouldn't try for it. But I never said so, because it would only make trouble, and wouldn't do no good (Twain 13).

Here, Huck proves to the reader that Miss Watson is really controlling him. This is shown when he states that he does not understand why these rules or regulations are passed, ...

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...cences are incompetent and should not be allowed to face these hardships are only making the maturation process more lethargic. From his experience down the Mississippi, Huck grows up and becomes an adult even though he is only a child from society’s view. All Huck needed was a chance to take on some responsibility, and he learned anything more than he ever could have in a classroom. Epstein comments on Twain's work by asking the same question: Why does one hold back an incompetent adolescent when they have shown time and time again that all they need to grow up, to mature is some responsibility?

Works Cited

Epstein, Robert. The Case against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen. Sanger, CA: Quill Driver /Word Dancer, 2007. Print.

Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ; And, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Signet Classic, 2002. Print.