the adventures of huckleberry finn- themes "all modern american literature comes from one book...
TRANSCRIPT
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- Themes
"All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called
Huckleberry Finn"
Ernest Hemingway
Racism & Slavery• written after Emancipation Proclamation
abolished slavery, but time period of story set during slavery
• during Reconstruction, a less institutionalized form of slavery existed in the South (Jim Crow laws)
• allegorical portrayal of conditions of “Blacks” in U.S. after end of slavery
Hypocrisy of “Civilized” Society
• Society’s laws (Miss Watson and Widow Douglas) vs. higher moral values (Huck and Jim)
• Rules and precepts that reflect faulty logic
• Civilized vs. Natural• A “just” society that
condones slavery• Unsteady justice is blinded by
cowardice, prejudice, and a lack of common sense
• Seemingly good and characters are slave-owners
• Hypocrisy of “civilized” society which values morality, but condones slavery
Freedom
• importance of individual thinking and ideas
• escaping an illogical and oppressive society
• Mississippi River as a safe haven• slavery vs. liberty• outcasts labeled by citizens (mob
mentality) are arguably the only truly free characters
Food• Food plays a prominent role in the
novel. • In Huck's childhood, he often fights
pigs for food, and eats out of "a barrel of odds and ends."
• *Thus, providing Huck with food becomes a symbol of people caring for and protecting him. – For example, in the first chapter, the
Widow Douglas feeds Huck, and later on Jim becomes his symbolic caretaker, feeding and watching over him on Jackson's Island.
Mockery of Religion
• A theme Twain focuses on quite heavily on in this novel is the mockery of religion.
• Throughout his life, Twain was known for his attacks on organized religion.
• Huck Finn's sarcastic character
perfectly situates him to deride religion, representing Twain's personal views. – In the first chapter, Huck indicates
that hell sounds far more fun than heaven.
Superstition
• Superstition appears throughout the novel. • Generally, both Huck and Jim are very rational
characters, yet when they encounter anything slightly superstitious, irrationality takes over.
• The power superstition holds over the two demonstrates that Huck and Jim are child-like despite their apparent maturity.
• In addition, superstition foreshadows the plot at several key junctions. – For instance, when Huck spills salt,
Pap returns, and when Huck touches a snakeskin with his bare hands, a rattlesnake bites Jim.
Maturation and Development
• Bildungsroman– A moral coming of age story.
• being open-minded is a quality that Huck represents, as a child, which allows for his development and maturation
• Huck’s relationship with Jim assists his progression throughout the novel
• Huck’s experiences and apprehension about society help lead to his maturity
Symbols• The Mississippi River
– a source of freedom; a safe haven
– Life– confluence of all currents of
American life in the first half of the nineteenth century
• The Land – Real vs. Ideal (the river)
• Raft– tool for escape– safe place
• Money– separates the civilized from
the “outcasts”