Huck Finn knows more than a fourteen year old boy could possibly know. He has the
maturity level of one in their twenties at least. Huck's knowledge and decisions in
certain situations in the book exceed the intelligence in general fourteen year old
boys. When Samuel Clemens wrote this book, he was well into his mature adult years.
Huckleberry Finn represents the adventurous, free spirited life that we all would like to
have led in our childhood years. Clemens wrote this book with the frame of mind of a
fourteen year old. Huck Finn is Twain's dreams and childhood ambitions come to life.
On Huck's adventure he encounters alot of different views of society. He
experiences the restrictions of the company in which he surrounds himself. This
knowledge that Huck get's first hand ultimately ends with Huck's mature decision to
oppose the views of society and risks going to hell for his friendship with Jim. This is
a very mature and noble decision for a boy of Huck's age to make. It is also noticeable
that Huck is unlike other boys of his age with the introduction of Tom Sawyer. Tom is
always thinking of amazing plans and activities. In contrast, Huck's ideas are sensible
and well thought out. This fact shows that Twain made his own character superior in a
way to the others, giving him a practical edge on situations. Huck is definitely
superior to other boys of his age, but it may not be just his intelligence. Also, Huck
has a tendency to confide in the way things are rather than looking for a deeper meaning.
This aspect of Huck's character allows him to express his own system of values which
seem to give him an edge on other fourteen year old boys. Whatever the reason,
Huckleberry is definitely advanced in life.
In this book, it is noticeable that Twain has given the narrator all of the major and
necessary attributes needed by an adventurous boy. Huck has no religion to keep him from
doing what he feels is necessary. He has family that cares about him or his well-being.
He has seen many views of society and has decided that he does not want anything to do
with it. He prefers the freedom of the wilderness to the restrictions of society. Huck
has his own set of morals and values to govern his life. He also has perhaps the most
needed quality of all. Huck has the ability to adjust to any situation, and to adjust to
almost any surroundings.
The situation with Jim and the rattlesnake is surprising to the reader. It is one of
the three specific situations in the book where Huck makes a decision without thinking it
through. Huck forgets that a rattlesnakes mate always curls around its dead partner.
This turns out to have bad result when Jim is bitten by the snake which was not at all
Huck's intent. Twain may have put that case in the book to show that Huck is not always
right and is capable of making bad decisions. At this point, it is likely that Twain
realized how good Huck was turning out to be, and therefore had him make a mistake. Not
just a mistake, but a mistake that went against one of his main morals, which was to be
kind to others. The second trick played on Jim will be the last immature and childish
thing that Huck does before the end of the book. Huck lies to Jim and tells him that
they were never separated on the river. Jim finally realizes that Huck is lying to him,
and then becomes extremely upset. It is at this point that Huck understands his need for
Jim's friendship and, sees Jim's dedication to him. Huck's next action shows that he
does not care about societies views and does an act that would never be accepted by his
society. "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to
a nigger: but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterward, neither. I didn't do
him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd' `a' knowed it would make
him feel that way."
During Huck's time spent with the Grangerford and Shepherdson families he sees an
view of society that he has never faced. Huck does not understand why people are
fighting to the point of death when they fail to remember the original reason for the
feud. Huck's common sense allow him to judge the situation, seeing through the shallow
ideas that keep the feud going. Huck is eventually shocked at the notion that boys his
age are trying to kill each other. Huck's true advancements to other boys of his age
come out in his dealings with Buck Grangerford. Huck forgets his name and must be smooth
enough to devise a way where Buck would spell it for him. This episode displays Huck's
understanding of people and his ability to put it to use. This is probably a feature
that Twain would have liked to have had in his childhood years. Huck Finn has more
knowledge and maturity than any boy of his age at that time. His individuality and
failure to agree to society often make it seem to the reader that he is well beyond his
years. Twain wrote this book with never having accomplished his childhood dreams and
wishes. It is likely that Twain realized how advanced Huck was turning out to be, and
therefore had him make a few acts which were performed without the use of common sense.
Huckleberry Finn is the image of an adventurous boy with nothing to hold him back from
doing what he wants. He is what Samuel Clemens hoped to be as a child, and regretted not
having had these experiences to carry through adulthood.
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