The notion of “coming of age” refers to the crucial process in a person’s life in which one pieces together childhood lessons and societal influences to formulate a unique ethical code that defines his character. Contrary to the misinterpretation that people automatically mature over time, a pivotal element of development is when one must freely decide upon a set of values to live life by. However, depending on the level of parental guidance and influence through example and society’s acceptance of originality, this decision is harder for some than for others. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain depicts the struggle of the son of the town drunk to discover his unique intellect in a society that demands conformity. Due to the lack of a stable parent or guardian to teach him the difference between right and wrong, in the beginning of the novel, Huck lacks moral conviction and lets Tom’s fantasies control his realities. However, when Huck takes the first steps of development by running away, he undergoes a period of learning on the raft, where he develops an understanding of the consequences of society’s evils through relationships with Buck and Mary Jane. Finally, Huck’s development reaches its climax when he makes the choice to rely on his own values and saves Jim.
Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn shows the development of a young boy named Huck Finn. We see Huck develop in character, attitude and maturity as he goes on his adventure down the Mississippi River. This is displayed through his search for freedom from civilization and it's beliefs and through his personal observations of a corrupt and immoral society. Most importantly, we are in Huck's head as he goes through his confusion over his supposedly immoral behavior and his acceptance that he will “go to hell” as he conquers his social beliefs.
During his journey with Jim, Huck begins to understand his own beliefs better. He comes across many people who test those beliefs and he grows internally because of it. When Huck and Jim discover The Walter Scott, a wrecked steam boat, Huck decides to go on and have an adventure. He discovers two robbers threatening to kill a third. As he?s leaving, Huck feels genuinely sorry for these robbers who are stranded on the wreck. The fact that he is able to feel badly for these terrible people shows that he is maturing. After he comes on land, Huck meets the Sheperdsons who show him the nature of human violence through their feud with the Grangerford family. Huck matures through witnessing the feud and also begins to comprehend the hypocrisy of religion:
In “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, the main character Huck grows with his morals and maturity throughout the book. Huck Finn was a thirteen year old boy with a deadbeat drunk dad. Huck lived with his adoptive mother Widow Douglas, his care taker Miss. Watson, and her slave Jim. Huck shows a growth of maturity when he fakes his death to escape his father, when he helps Jim escape, and when he stands up to the king and duke. Throughout their adventure Huck Finn exemplifies a major growth of maturity and a deeper understanding of his morals.
In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, the main character Huck matures throughout the book due to a sense of growing morality and accepting responsibility for his actions. The character of Huckleberry Finn is introduced to the reader as a lower class, uneducated kid with no manners that is influenced by a greedy society. As the novel progresses Huck into a wonderful, strong character that has dug deep into what it means to be an individual, and by becoming mature, he has also escaped from the negative way society depicts African Americans.
In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain follows protagonist, Huck Finn throughout his endeavors. This coming of age story displays Huck’s actions that lead to him running away from home. From a young age, Huck is forced to become emotionally and physically autonomous due to his father’s alcoholism. Huck runs away and begins his adventure with fugitive slave, Jim. Together they meet a diverse range of individuals and families. Mark Twain illustrates Huck Finn’s character development by exposing him to different moral systems.
Along the path of self-discovery, challenges constantly present themselves as opportunities to grow intellectually and as a chance to succeed. Often times, the use of personal judgment and self-understanding is necessary in order to overcome these challenges. In Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck experiences difficulties which compel him to use his moral judgment. Huck, a young boy in search of freedom, is accompanied by a runaway slave named Jim as he embarks on a treacherous journey down the Mississippi River. During his adventure, Huck must determine the fate of the runaway slave. However, as his relationship with the slave deepens, he comes to realize this task is far from simple. Huck faces this life-defining yet
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
Twain, an American writer and author of the adventures of Huckleberry Finn, establishes in his book how a boy is “coming of age” through his applying of Huck’s personality towards Jim a slave with whom he has run away with. Huck is cautious through his traveling up the river in order to make sure that neither he or Jim get caught and taken back, but his most concern most of the time is Jim since he is a runaway slave who if caught will be taken back into slavery. In the 31st chapter of this book, Huck feels that he is doing wrong by stealing Jim from Miss Watson, and what consequences he might face if he does not turn back, but he displayed how he doesn't care happened to him. He then decides to proceed with adventure not caring what might happen to him if he keeps going, and this, therefore, displays how Huck has is maturing and is willing to accept the consequences in order to help Jim escape. In this way, Twain indicates how Huck has started “coming of age”.
the person, Huck can not stand to see anyone go through pain. Later, in the
The first adventure Huck and Jim take part in while searching for freedom is the steamboat situation. Huck shows development of character in tricking the watchman into going back to the boat to save the criminals. Even though they are thieves, and plan to murder another man, Huck still feels that they deserve a chance to live. Some may see Huck's reaction to the event as crooked but, unlike most of society, Huck Finn sees good in people and attempts to help them as much as he can. Getting lost in the fog while floating down the Mississippi River leads to a major turning point in the development of Huck Finn's character. Up to this event, he has seen Jim as a lesser person than himself. After trying to deny the fog event to Jim, he says, "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a [slave]; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterward, neither"(74). He continues by explaining how he could never do such a thing again. Huck has clearly gained respect for Jim here and shows it by feeling so horrible over what he did.
Everyone in their lives grow and mature. No one takes time to recognize why or how this happens. However, when looking back on life growth is shown during difficult situations leading people to learn from them. In the novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the narrator/main character Huckleberry Finn begins to show growth and maturity within himself. This coming of age in the character is due to his society, family and friends, and realizing what is truthful.
Erik Erikson and Carl Jung both developed intricate theses concerning the ideas of personality and the idea of ‘coming of age’. They both set out certain guidelines in order to specify and locate those who have successfully completed the coming of age process. In Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, Huck is used as the character that must come of age; moreover, he is faced with many challenges that allow him to become to take gradual steps in his quest to come of age. It is clear that through these challenges, Huckleberry Finn goes through a lot of changes, which in turn makes him a dynamic character. According to Erik Erikson, one must master their environment, unify their personality, and perceive the world and themselves correctly in order
Eventually, Huck realizes that this doesn’t provide a nurturing and healthy environment it causes immense loneliness and he soon realizes this reality, meanwhile, this captivity is being disguised as a freedom. There is an immense difference between captivity and freedom, however, some can mentally manipulate that one is freed from previous restraints meanwhile put in an even worse captivity. Huck soon becomes treated as a captive, being beaten until his body gives in, being kept secluded from society, in addition to only being kept due to the financial gain that he may cause. Huck truly becomes treated as a captive, this psychologically causes him to associate negative feelings towards his father which in turn cause the downfall of the relationship and him escaping. The psychological evolvement of Huck is shown in his recognition of freedom versus captivity, shows the overall growing maturity of Huck and shows how his recognition of change shows the urge to change his future from what it is to a better future he craves for
In every man’s life he faces a time that defines his maturation from boyhood to manhood. This usually comes from a struggle that the boy faces in his life. In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck’s defining moment of maturity is Huck’s struggle with Tom in helping Jim escape. Tom sends Huck and Jim through a wild adventure to free Jim because of his Romantic thinking. Tom represents society and its Romantic ideals while Huck struggles to break away from these and become his own realist individual. These Romantic ideas lead Huck into many dangerous situations that pit Huck and Jim as Realist individuals versus a society infused
In Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the young protagonist Huckleberry Finn runs away from his abusive father with Jim, a black slave. Throughout the novel, Huck encounters people that fail to understand the injustice of slavery and violence, despite their education. Although Huck lacks any substantial education, his moral values and judgment are highly developed. In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses uneducated, colloquial diction and deliberate syntax to provide ironic contrast between Huck’s rudimentary level of education and profound use of moral judgment.