When we first read about Huck Finn he is quite
immature. He is uncivilized and has no intentions of allowing himself to be civilized.
He also follows the lead of his good friend, Tom Sawyer who, in his own way, is
also immature. He is influenced by his friends and shows his immaturity early on
in the novel. The biggest problem he faces in regard to his maturity is his
lack of identity. He has not quite figured himself out at this point.
However,
Huck seems to begin to come of age a bit later on. He has to take care of
himself for the most part because of his abusive, alcoholic father. His experience
with Pap furthers his maturation. Also playing a part in Huck’s coming of age
is being on Jackson Island with Jim. Having Jim around gave Huck someone who he
could relate to and someone who had a similar situation to him. Jim helps Huck
in this way to begin to find him. However, Huck still shows sign that he is not
fully changed at this point. He plays a prank on Jim that involves a snake and
Jim ends up getting bitten by the mate of the snake as a result. Huck shows his immature
side here with this prank. Huck shows signs of coming of age through this
incident though. He feels guilty for what he did to Jim, a feeling he would not
have had earlier in the novel. Huck shows that while he is still immature he is
showing signs of coming of age.
2 comments:
It is obvious that Tom Sawyer is a very immature boy that influences Huck tremendously with every action. That is the reason I wrote earlier about the scenario of Tom influencing Huck to play a hat trick on Jim which leads up to his superstition of witches. As a result I agree that earlier in the novel, Huck’s biggest problem was his lack of identity. Therefore, Huck’s previous inability to develop an identity led him to be easily influenced and stuck in an adolescent state of mind. However during his trip with Jim he develops an identity as a boy that is willing to help and protect a friend which leads him to his growth in maturity.
I enjoyed your very swoll response. It was very insightful, but I have to respectfully disagree with what you said in your first paragraph. I do believe that Huck doesn’t want to become civilized, which is what you said, but he is actually turning into a good little boy. You could say that his lack of identity is caused by multiple role models pulling him in separate directions. Pap wants Huck to live with him for money, inserting a ruffian lifestyle on him. The Widow wants Huck to be proper and religious, while Tom wants Huck to be an adventurer with him.
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