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Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn A Bildungsroman Novel Analysis

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A picaresque, derived from the Spanish word “picaro,” meaning rogue or rascal, is a genre of realist fiction which depicts the first-hand, episodic and nomadic adventures of a misfit hero from a low social class. This genre also uses satire to critique societal morals. Yet, within these novels, the picaro is a pragmatist hero who matures little or none by the end of the story, despite often being forced to choose between integrity and survival (Merriam-Webster). Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by American author Mark Twain, is a picaresque novel because it follows the exploits of a pragmatic outcast hero in the Reconstruction era of the deep south and provides a satirical critique of the institution of slavery yet, the picaro remains firm …show more content…

Although he does expose the con men to Mary Jane Wilks, but he only does this because he is moved by her goodness and he hasn’t also warned Joanna Wilks even though she has caught him in his lies many times. Another example of Huck showing no conscience is when the boys establish that they would “kill the families of boys that told the secrets” of their gang, he “offered them Miss Watson — they could kill her” (Twain 16).
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is picaresque because it’s a realistic, first-hand account of a rogue hero’s journey for freedom alongside Jim, Miss Watson’s runaway slave. The rogue hero— in this case, Huckleberry Finn— is a deceitful, undisciplined, playful, and mischievous character. As an uneducated outsider, Huck is a member of the lowest class of white people in society. He doesn’t have a family, his father is a low life drunk who before getting himself murdered, kidnaps, abuses and steals from Huck. Huck has all the characteristics of a picaro. He’s dishonest, prefers nature to civilized society, and is the narrator of the novel, giving the story an autobiographical feel. There is also a reoccurring theme of loneliness throughout the story. Huck feels alienated from society, even claiming that he feels “so lonesome [he] most wished [he] was dead” (Twain 11).
Huck is not only seen as an outsider by adults, but by his peers as well: “they was going to rule me out because they said every boy must have a family or

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