Like most of my fellow classmates, I had already read Huck Finn. If I remember correctly, we read it in our English class around freshman year of high school. I was not a fan of English, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I used a lot of outside sources (Cliffnotes, Sparknotes, etc) to minimize my time reading. Although there were a good amount of pages to read before each class, I was determined to actually read this time. I have began to actually enjoy reading lately, so I was very optimistic about the assignment.
Although I had read the book before, I was not very familiar with Mark Twain's life. I knew that was his pen name, but that was about all I knew. The short movie we watched about his life definitely helped explain the writing style and content of Huck Finn. Every author is different due to the experiences and culture that they have experienced. Some authors are well-educated while some are the complete opposite. Some authors are very public figures (Mark Twain), but some are like Emily Dickinson, living as a recluse her entire life. All these different lifestyles are going to live imprints on the literature. Understanding Twain was a crucial part of understanding Huck Finn.
An interesting facet of the novel is the prevalence of its censorship. With one of the central themes being racism, it makes sense that schools would not want this book in part of their curriculum. The language and sentiments shared by some of the characters are very offensive. With one of the main characters being a runaway slave, the reader is able to witness some of the terrible treatment he must endure. A part of the book that I love is the authenticity Twain uses with the language. Depending on the background of the character, Twain stays true to how that character actually would have spoken. Since Jim is not educated, he speaks in a completely different dialect than Huck. While I hated trying to "translate" the first time I read through this book, I really enjoyed it this second time through. I felt like it made the story much more believable. It fully immersed the reader in the times.
Another theme that really stuck out was the clash between society and practical knowledge in Huck. Being raised by the Widow and Miss Douglas, Huck is constantly being indoctrinated by them with religion. For example, they teach him how to pray, but he completely misses the point. After not receiving the fishing hooks he prayed for, Huck gives up on praying. Here we see Huck gravitating towards the practical side instead of religion (society). Huck's famous quote "I don't take no stock in dead people" further illustrates this purpose. In this statement, he writes off history and religion in eight words. Huck wants what he can experience now, basically instant gratification. This will mold his actions throughout the course of the book. Perhaps where the reader sees the greatest struggle between these opposing forces is with Huck and Jim. Society would tell Huck to return this runaway slave. Practical knowledge understands that Jim is useful for Huck's journey. Although he doesn't see him as an equal at first, Huck even begins to treat Jim as a normal human being with emotions. Huck struggles multiple times on the river with wanting to turn Jim in. Huck actions, however, always end up keeping Jim safe. He even states that he will do what is "handiest." Through this, the reader can truly understand what Huck is going through. They can see the dichotomy of the forces acting on Huck.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book the second time around. I think I have matured in my English abilities and was able to fully understand concepts that I missed before. I am glad to have put aside the time to actually read the text.
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