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Adventures Tom Sawyer

May 7th, 2009 admin No comments

Key Issues of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The story revolves around boy Huck who lives in a town in Mississipi River, who goes on a journey on raft to find freedom.

The Major Characters in the novel are:

Huck Finn: Young boy seeking freedom
Jim: A black Slave
Huck’s Father
Miss Watson: Foster mother with whom Huck lives. Miss Watson tries to teach Huck to be civilized
Tom Sawyer: A friend of Huck.

Summary:

Miss Watson tries to civilize Huck. Tom and Huck, who are good friends, finds a new-found friendship with the slave Jim. Huck’s father, who is a drunken man, comes and tries to take away Huck but Huck, to avoid going back, runs away along with. Huck along with Jim, travels on a raft and set out to find a new home by sailing down the Mississipi River. They would travel at night and hides during the day in woods. The friendship between Huck and Jim grows stronger during the journey. They both are separated when their raft is hit with a steam boat. Huck then stays with a family, Grangerford’s. Huck finds out that there is a family feud going on and decides to leave when a number of family members are killed in feud.

Huck also questions himself whether to turn in Jim or get in the risk of getting shunned by the society if he caught in with a runaway. After this, Huck and Jim are further joined by King and the Duke on their journey and together they scam money from lots of cities through plays and circus. They would also steal money girls’ family whose father had just died. But eventually Huck confesses his theft and later abandons the King and Duke when they try to sell Jim.

Finally, Huck then stays at Aunt Sally’s house and disguises himself at Tom Sawyer; whom they are expecting. Huck learns that Jim is being kept as hostage there till the master of Jim comes and takes him away. Huck thinks of ways, along with real Tom who arrives, to free Jim. When they finally devise a plan, Tom and Huck are caught by townspeople who are angry and forces the two to reveal their real identity.

Huck also learns that Jim was set free by Miss Watson in her will. Once more, Huck plans to escape once again this civilized life and thinks of fleeing to Indian Territory.

Key Issues:

Racism: This is a major issue discussed in this classical novel. Jim, who is a black slave, faces a lot of struggles. It is also made sure that Jim accepts that he is black and inferior to white. Constantly, he is reminded of running away and the dangers to His Life if caught. Jim and Huck gets rid of race barrier especially when Huck faces the inner struggle to save Jim or not.

Freedom: Huck wants a freedom from living with a drunk and neglected father while Jim wants a freedom from slavery.

Friendship: Huck and Jim portrays meaning of a true friendship. Although Jim was a black while Huck a white, Huck realized that friendship cannot be based on race but it is a caring, loving and devoted relationship.

Listening to one’s own opinion: Although Huck had always heard society views about black as being inferior he listened to his own opinion and realized how wrong the concept was.

About the Author

Dennis is a Mark Twain fan. He has read several Mark Twain's books like A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He would like to share his fun of reading Mark Twain's top selling novels to the public.
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