The Adventures of Huck Finn-The Controversial Ending The novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has stirred up much controversy over such topics as racism, prejudice and gender indifference, but the brunt of the criticism has surrounded itself around the ending, most notably with the re-entry of Tom Sawyer. Some people viewed the ending as a bitter disappointment, as shared by people such as Leo Marx. The ending can also be viewed with success, as argued by such people as Lionel Trilling, T.S. Eliot, V. S. Pritchett and James M. Cox in their essays and reviews. I argue that the ending of the novel proves successful in justifying the innocence of childhood through such themes as satire and frivolous behaviour. One of the underlying …show more content…
In the end their childish, yet entertaining adventure ended up like many of Sawyers and Huck’s adventures, missing the main objective, but providing for some great stories of fun and excitement. Another way to divide the criticism of the ending of the novel is to split the seriousness and the satire. The novel can be viewed as satire, with Tom providing the comic relief with his Romanticist like ideas. On the contrary, it can be viewed with utter disappointment, in regards to an overall poor and easy way to end the novel. As Marx argues, humour is used to mask the very human existence in which Huck faces (Page 337-338). I believe that Twain wants to abandon the notion of seriousness (slavery, southern hospitality, etc) to that of foolishness and childlike antics. Take, for instance, when Huck does some reconnaissance dressed as a woman, but gets caught in the act when he catches the lead ball between his legs (Page 48-54).Or when the town first realizes that Huck is gone and fires cannon over the water and throws mercury poisoned bread into the river. Superstitious, but silly antics like these and many others help back up the notion for humour. Although both of these events occur near the beginning of the novel, their direct sense of humour can be linked to the ending and its own satire. I believe that Twain’s message was impartial to that of the touchy subjects of slavery and general prejudice, but more so to that of the direct targeting of laughter and folly of the
Twain 's use of satire is one of the many things that makes this book a classic. By pointing out human weakness Twain helps show flaws in society and how society can be wrong. This book serves as a lesson about forming your own opinions and in Huck’s cause it is about breaking from society’s morals and deciding that slavery isn’t wrong. Huck 's experiences with Jim, helping him escape slavery illustrate this. Huck sees how people can be cruel even when they claim to be civilized. “”Twain 's satirical attack on slavery, hypocrisy, and prejudice in antebellum America compels readers to look not only at slavery and racism, but also at the whole tradition of American democracy””(PBS). Twain satirises the people Jim and Huck meet and the society they are in. Huck and Jim must oppose the “respectable” people they meet along the Mississippi, Miss Watson, Pap, the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons, and the Duke and King(Nichols 13) because they don’t agree there ideas and they would take Jim back into slavery. How Miss Watson can be a
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered one of the ‘Great American Novels’ and is taught in American high schools all over the globe, but is nonetheless a difficult book to read and comprehend. This difficulty arises from two main problems. Firstly, Socratic irony is evident throughout the novel and it is important for the reader to grasp and make sense of that, which throughout the novel becomes gradually more difficult. And secondly that in order to be able to comprehend the novel, the reader must be prepared to place the novel in a larger context literary and historically. However, these obstacles can be dealt with and surpassed.
Although The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the most well-known books of American literature, not all that is said about it is necessarily good, especially regarding its ending. First of all, racism, and more importantly, what the novel implies about it, is prevalent from the very first page to definitely, the last. Most prominently, this is because of the 219 times the n-word is said, however, the reason Twain did this is open for interpretation. Obviously, this word is incredibly offensive to the modern reader, which in turn, is part of the brilliance; the novel could never be published into today’s world. Neither could it ever be published before the Civil War. Nonetheless, there
The very stuffy Miss Watson walked over to Huck Finn. He was sitting on the front porch wasting the day away with a pipe in hand. “Get off that filthy pipe.”
Smiley has missed the point of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and has depressed the book to a fractions of its ideas. She sees the book as a failed social commentary on racism and enabling the reader to avoid responsibility. A Short sighted sentiment from Mrs. Smiley, but Mark Twain has a light directed elsewhere. He lights out the territory of social improvements by vexing the reader to view from different vantage points.
The novel by Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, analyzes many subjects of social importance during the Gilded Age in America, or the last 19th and early 20th centuries. These include race, class, greed, exploitation, and stereotypes. It is the coming of age tale of a young boy named Huck, who as a victim of domestic abuse, leaves his home and became friends with a runaway slave called Jim. The tone of the novel ranges from bitter to cheerful, suspenseful to angry. The novel features pure and original language which is hard to comprehend at times, however it is used to symbolize the many controversy’s facing America in the era in which it was written.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a coming of age novel set in the 1840’s in St. Petersburg, MO. Although written 20 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, America, especially in the south, was struggling with racism. The novel contains many thought provoking themes such as racism, social class, morals, and conforming to society’s expectations. Perhaps, one of the most important themes of the book is Huck’s refusal to conform to society’s rules or to be “Sivilized” by Widow Douglas. Throughout the novel Huck proves to the reader that staying true to himself rather than conforming to society’s expectations will allow him to live a more satisfied life.
To conclude, the classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is one of the most influential works of the nineteenth century. The book has many deeper meanings, but the most apparent is that society (at the time) is/was deeply flawed, and requires the reader to truly evaluate certain events. Some of these occurrences include a circus, a raving mob, and an unruly family that spends their lives hunting other humans. So, the tale of Huck Finn is one that should carry its message on beyond
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic novel with the ongoing debate of whether or not the novel should be read within schools. This debate is surrounds to book within the matter of slavery and harder writing for students to understand. However, Huck Finn educates students about the past in a different view also opens students up to local color by showing slaves are humans as well.
There will always be controversies in life, whether big or small, whether it affects individuals or groups, or whether it will make any difference to one’s life; this argument affects millions of adolescent lives. Where saying yes obliterates comfort zones and advocates racism, and while saying no promotes a conformist, mass mentality mindset and erases history. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is the name to put on the face of this problem. The controversy of this book has been fought over since it’s been published but the inspiration and individualistic philosophy this book teaches is far too great to dispose of. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” should be required reading for students because first, the moral of the book preaches
Kids are often exposed to books long before they are ready for them or exposed to them in a manner that seems almost calculated to evaporate whatever enthusiasm the student may bring to them. Very few youngsters of high school age are ready for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Leaving aside its subtle depiction of racial attitudes and its complex view of American society, the book is written in a language that will seem baroque, obscure and antiquated to many young people today. The vastly sunnier Tom Sawyer is a book for kids, but The Adventures for Huckleberry Finn most emphatically is not. (Baker 114)
Aside from the ending as a downfall, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn taught an important lesson, one that showed the importance of the self in the maturing process. We saw Huck grow up by having the river as a place of solitude and thought, where he was able to participate in society at times, and also sit back and observe society. Through the child's eye we see how ignorant and mob-like we can all be. Then nature, peace, and logic are presented in the form of the river where Huck goes to think. Though no concise answer is given, the literature forces the reader to examine their surroundings, and question their leaders, which can also lead into this great disappointment. Because we idolize Huck for his individualism and beliefs, the end of the novel lets all the readers down. We can no longer refer to Huck as a hero because he never got Jim to freedom, instead prevented him from it. Although Huck loved Jim, he feared his future and what would happen to him if he were caught
People often hesitate to accept what they do not understand. In the absence of love and compassion, it is no question that fear, ignorance, and hatred, all contribute to a melting pot of negativity in the world. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is about the love and friendship cultivated by a young boy and a black slave on the Mississippi River. Despite the pair’s differences, they are able to endure the struggles and difficulties that the toilsome journey brings. Mark Twain, in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, emphasizes the shift in Huck’s view towards slavery by contrasting Huck’s initial tone of reflectiveness to his assertive tone, both collectively addressing the issue of racism in society.
The highly lauded novel by Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, entertains the reader with one adventure after another by a young boy (and his runaway slave friend Jim) in the mid-1800s who is on strange but interesting path to adolescence and finally adulthood. What changes did he go through on the way to the end of the novel? And what was his worldview at the end of the novel? These two questions are approached and answered in this paper.
The following paper will briefly show arguments, and conclusions within the writings of Mark Twain’s story Huckleberry Finn. I will discuss the various themes that Mark Twain is bringing to light within his story. This paper will show how Mark Twain uses those themes within the story, and how they are specifically used. I will also briefly discuss the life of Samuel Clemons, the author known as Mark Twain, and give the reasoning behind choosing the name of Mark Twain when writing his novels. Themes of escapism will be discussed.