Huckleberry Finn Feminist Lens

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known as Mark Twain, wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1885. Mark Twain made a huge impact on American Literature, especially given the language he uses in his stories. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn “began its long, complicated history as America’s most controversial novel shortly after publication in 1885” (Pinsker 643).

‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is filled with various themes throughout the course of Huck’s adventures along the Mississippi River. Nonetheless, gender roles and identity in women are two themes that are prominent in said journey. Mark Twain displays the main roles for women in society as primary caretakers and nurturers of the home in ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The women are depicted as fragile, sensitive, and somewhat simple minded. In some instances, the female characters appear to be victims of the domestic stereotypes of the 19th century.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written in 1885, is a literary satire written by Mark Twain. The setting of the novel takes place prior to the Civil War along the Mississippi River. This novel presents moral and ethical problems that southern culture placed on individuals during the time period it was written. Twain wrote his Realist period novel to criticize what he believed was wrong with the society of his time. Twain presented his novel through the eyes and speech of the twelve year-old Huckleberry Finn to show his criticism towards this society. Although the novel has been criticized since its publication, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is still considered one of the greatest American novels ever written. Twain uses Huck

Through the theme of rebellion against society, Huck demonstrates the importance of thinking for oneself and embodies the idea that adults are not always right. This is highlighted in his noncompliance when it comes to learning the Bible and in the decisions he makes when it comes to Jim, decisions that prove to be both illegal and dangerous. By refusing to conform to standards he does not agree with, Huck relies on his own experiences and inner conscience when it comes to making decisions. As a result, Huck is a powerful vehicle for Mark Twain’s commentary on southern society and

Widow Douglas is a Christian woman who takes care of Huck while his father is absent. She is the main mother figure that Huck has; therefore, has an influential role in Huck’s moral development. The Widow is extremely willing to take Huck in. In the beginning of this novel, Huck explains that, “the Widow Douglas, she took me for her son, and allowed she would civilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time…”(Chapter 1). Widow Douglas enjoyed the task of making Huck civilized. To Widow Douglas, being a civilized human means being proper, polite and acting in a respectful manner. In her house, there are strict rules, and no leniency for breaking them. She teaches Huck about the Bible, and makes him say grace before every meal. Her morality includes always acting in a traditional conforming way. When Huck and Tom are conversing about a hypothetical genie situation, Tom says; ”how you talk, Huck Finn. Why, you'd HAVE to come when he rubbed it, whether you wanted to or not" (Chapter 3). Tom knows that Huck is well mannered. He knows that even if Huck does not want to do something, he will if it is the right thing to do because of the values that the widow has instilled on him. Widow Douglas does not allow Huck to argue against her, for her word is always what goes. Widow Douglas has pure intentions for Huck in her efforts to make him into a civil man. She forces Huck to rid himself his bad

Huck’s feelings about living with the Widow Douglas and her sister, Miss Watson. Which of the ladies does he like more? Why? What does he feel about their attempts to “civilize” him?

Mark Twain once described his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, as “a struggle between a sound mind and a deformed conscience”. Throughout the novel, Huck wrestles with the disparity between his own developing morality and the twisted conscience of his society. In doing so, he becomes further distanced from society, both physically and mentally, eventually abandoning it in order to journey to the western frontier. By presenting the disgust of Huck, an outsider, at the state of society, Mark Twain is effectively able to critique the intolerance and hypocrisy of the Southern South. In doing so, Twain asserts that in order to exist as a truly moral being, one must escape from the chains of a diseased society.

In the forefront of the novel, Twain forces Huck to grow up under the supervision of Miss Watson, Widow Douglass's sister, a slave owning woman who was extremely religious and "[tried] to live so as to go to the good place."(Twain, 12) Miss Watson spent most of her time trying to educate Huck both religiously and academically, forcing him "to behave" and grow up a moral man. Twain challenges the reader to recognize the hypocrisy of slavery as he utilized Miss Watson as a metaphor for southern ignorance. Miss Watson, a woman whom many

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was written over the course of seven years by the acclaimed author Mark Twain. It depicts the young boy the writer had forever aspired to be. After faking his death, Huck Finn is taken along the Mississippi River to unknowingly embark on his moral journey. He encounters many convincing characters in his travels, and with these exotic people, comes exotic behavior. In his adventure, Huck is exposed to influences of multiple sides of human nature, and so must choose whether logical decisions or morality is to be followed.

American author Mark Twain was one of the most influential people of his time. Twain is perhaps best known for his traditional classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a novel about an adventurous boy named Huck Finn as he traverses about on the Mississippi. Under first impressions, Huckleberry Finn would be considered nothing but a children’s tale at heart written by the highly creative Mark Twain. However one interprets it, one can undoubtedly presume that Twain included personal accounts within its pages, humorous and solemn opinions on the aspects of the diverse societies around him during his life. Throughout the entire story, Huck Finn would often come into conflict between choosing what was consciously right and what was morally

The widow was one of Huck’s first somewhat stable parental figure in his life. She feels the need to take him in and educate him. Her main jobs include clothing him, washing him, feeding him, and teaching him. The widow is an important example of what women’s roles were supposed to be.

Following Huck’s escape from his father’s cabin, Huck escapes with Jim, rafting the Mississippi while he becomes his older self who helps others, a sharp contrast to the kidnapped Huck who only aided himself. When Huck encounters Judith Loftus, he lies, telling her that he is a girl by the name of Sarah Mary Williams, and later that he is a runaway apprentice called George Peters (69). Huck continues lying for himself, reflecting the depth of Huck’s descent while with his father; however, the lie also helps Jim, so Huck displays a tiny amount of selflessness. Farther down the river, Huck lies to several men and tells them that Jim is a white man who has smallpox (101). By this point in the story, Huck begins lying to help others such as Jim, not just himself. He slowly loses the overwhelming desire to protect only himself that he developed while with his father. Huck

The famous novel called The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, begins with the story of a young boy named Huckleberry Finn who embarks on a journey with a runaway slave called Jim. When looking at the first twenty chapters of the novel, one can see a story of not only a runaway boy and slave, but a story that as well uses literary concepts such as Feminism and New Historian to uncover new insights about the characters, themes, and events of the novel. To begin with, the concept of feminism is one based on; “…[the] equal rights for all women (indeed, all peoples) in all areas of life…” (Bressler 144); and decline of existing male dominated views of women in areas such as literature and society. Thus, when using the Feminist concept in the novel, one can see a visual portrayal of women having a minor role in the novel compared to the dominate men such as Huckleberry Finn has.

Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain over seven years, is considered one of the best American masterpieces ever published, and a very socially active novel. Through the plot and development of the main characters, Twain discussed the paradox of slavery in a free country, as well as his abolitionist beliefs on slavery. Throughout his life, he witnessed slavery in the United States as a whole and its impact on his life, which was transferred to include slavery in this novel. Throughout the novel Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain discusses the paradox of slavery in a free country and expresses a clear social statement about the immorality of slavery.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (published in 1885), considered a classic of American-literature, and to some the zenith of American realism in literature and the apex of satirical writing in history, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has proven itself as a milestone in the history of literature and a turning point in American literature. The garnering of such acclaim, and accolades were due to The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn possibly being the most poignant and successful critique on society every put into writing. Twain does not waste any time with sophomoric cant in his meditation, but instead critiques the inherent cant present in society and the people entertaining this cant throughout that time; showing