9 October 2012
Huckleberry Finn Essay
People change, or so one may think. Whether it is for better or worse is the real question, and in the case of Huck Finn, opinions may go strongly in many directions. From the moment we meet Huck, we see an obviously unenthused, immature, and erratic child going to any bounds for a kick. Leaving home to go on an adventure, facing near death many times, his metaphorical death occurring multiple times throughout. Starting with his decision to leave in the first place, which if he stayed could’ve meant death anyway, proving already to show more concern for his future. Followed by the many struggles with the King and Duke, like the Royal Nonesuch and so forth; his decision to abandon them showed admirable. With each “Death” of his brings a new change in his personality and traits, as he matures and begins to make decisions for himself, even beginning to think about his own wellbeing. Quite ironic that his journey outside of society prepared him to enter into society again, as a new person whom for his age has made an immense change. His morality, or qualities and character, has evolved to that of what his parental figures had wanted in the first instance. Straying from his previous irresponsibility and lack of dignity to the morality of a man, thinking before his actions and being an ultimately caring individual, and it truly shows. Throughout the novel, Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck’s morality changes immensely through the people he encounters on his journey, as well as the influences of his loved ones; shaping him into the man he’s made himself by the end of the novel. As we learn from early on in the novel, Huck doesn’t have much of a supportive background behind him. Obvious by the fact he is not being raised by his own parents, or parent, neglected by any blood related authority in his life. The only family present to him in the novel is that of Tom Sawyer’s, whom make there best attempt at raising young Huck. We can see them trying to instill good values into him, however at this age he’s unable to understand them, and presents them in the wrong ways. For example, his loyalty, shown in the quote “So Tom got out a sheet of paper that he had wrote the oath on, and read it. It swore every boy to stick to the band, and never tell any of the secrets; and if anybody done anything to any boy in the band, whichever boy was ordered to kill that person and his must do it, and he mustn't eat and he mustn't sleep till he had killed them and hacked a cross in their breasts, which was the sign of the band” (Twain 2.10). Showing good morality lies within him, but displays it in the wrong situations, which is what he needs to learn. Throughout the novel we can see Huck attempting to do good, but is hindered by his surroundings, mostly affected by none other than the King and the Duke. Overwhelmed by trouble ever since these words were muttered, stating “Gentlemen,’ says the young man, very solemn, ‘I will reveal it to you, for I feel I may have confidence in you. By rights I am a duke!’” (Twain 19.26). Perhaps the root of all evil in the novel, no exaggeration there, leading Huck to more bad intentions when all he really is determined to do is good. Huck seems to be nothing more than a misguided boy, trying to find his path. Being crossed by the worst possible personalities a growing and developing person could, one couldn’t even possibly blame him for all his actions anyway. Part of the process being making mistakes and learning, he does quite a bit of this in the novel. He also feels remorse for his misdoings shown, quoting “Please take it," says I, ‘and don't ask me nothing – then I won't have to tell no lies.’" (Twain 4.15). Trying to make up for his bad deeds, something he certainly wouldn’t have done earlier in the novel. Eventually realizing that living a remorseless life, only leads to more pain and suffering, even if you’re trying to escape from it. Along
