Adventure in "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"

Thèmes abordés

Dissertation Huckleberry Finn

Résumé du document

“Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is a novel written by Mark Twain, published in 1885 and which is regarded as one of the greatest American novels. The story follows Huck (a character first introduced by Mark Twain in the Adventures of Tom Sawyer) and his friend Jim (a slave running for his freedom from Miss Watson's tenure) on their journey. Eager for adventures and freedom, they go down the Mississippi River on a raft. In each step of the journey, they meet many characters and many events occur.

Literally, the word “adventure” refers to an unusual, exciting and dangerous experience. It could also have the meaning of trying new ideas and taking risks. Furthermore, etymologically, this word comes from the Latin word “aventura” and means “a thing which is about to happen”.

These different meanings may refer to the fact that Huck sets off in search of adventure, and comes across a series of events. These various events that Huck is confronted to are the key events as they allow Huck to evolve.

Besides, in the subject we have to discuss, “Adventure in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, the term “adventure” (without –s) seems not only to refer to the fact that Huck will live surprising and unexpected events, but more generally that he will live a human adventure. That is why we are going to explain that this novel tells the story of the adventures lived by Huck and Jim, but also tells the story of an initiatory journey, of a human adventure depicting Huck's maturation and development through a quest for freedom.

We shall first analyze the fact that the adventures lived by Huck were an opportunity for him to leave the childhood world and face reality. Then, we will explain that the adventures lived by Huck and Jim are for them a way to reach both physical and spiritual freedom.

Huckleberry Finn, a young boy coming from the lowest level of white society sets off in search of adventure for many reasons. At the beginning of the novel, we learn that Huck has been placed under the guardianship of the widow Douglas, who, with her sister Miss Watson, has the responsibility to educate and civilize him. Indeed, Huck is an uneducated child. He was raised without any rules or discipline, and that is why the widow Douglas finds difficulties to educate him. We can observe Huck's lack of education through the way he speaks, always making mistakes. Huck is a rebellious child who doesn't want to fit into the mould of society. Besides, Huck always keeps provoking the widow Douglas and those instances have been described exceptionally well in the novel.

Extraits

[...] Through the novel, Huck is confronted to others forms of lies but. The childish lies of Tom Sawyer put an emphasis on the fact that Tom is still in the childhood world and is immature. For example, in chapter III, Tom tells a lie to Huck, saying that if Huck rubs an old lamp, a genie would appears and would offers him what he asks for. I got an old tin lamp and an iron ring and went out in the woods and rubbed and rubbed till I sweat like an Injun, calculating to build a palace and sell it, but waren't no use, none of the genies come. [...]

[...] Then, we will explain that the adventures lived by Huck and Jim are for them a way to reach both physical and spiritual freedom. Huckleberry Finn, a young boy coming from the lowest level of white society sets off in search of adventure for many reasons. At the beginning of the novel, we learn that Huck has been placed under the guardianship of the widow Douglas, who, with her sister Miss Watson, has the responsibility to educate and civilise him. [...]

[...] Then all along the novel, Huck lies but almost to protect Jim from being found or denounced. For example, in chapter XVI, Huck lies about Jim's colour of skin to protect him: your man black or white? [ ] He is white” p111. Huck is also certainly lying not to be faced to reality and to create a perfect world he would like to live in. As we said in the first part, Huck, through the living of a series of adventures, is confronted to a world he doesn't understand and doesn't want to be part of: indeed, people he meets are hypocrite, and act only for their well being rather than act through maintaining a collective welfare. [...]

[...] Indeed, a striking difference between Tom and Huck appears at the moment when they help Jim to escape. Tom, who still seems to be a child prefers to keep Jim imprisoned while entertaining himself with fantastic escape plans whereas Huck can't see the point in making the situation more difficult, and understands what is at stake: the freedom of a black slave. The reason why Huck evolves through the story and becomes more mature is because the adventures he copes with and the characters he meets allow him to be confronted to reality, and thus to take decision, to behave in his own way, to create his own opinion. [...]

[...] Indeed, they make their life to lie and trick the naïve public out of their money. In chapter XXV, the two con artists arrived at Peter Wilk's family, pretending to be his brother. Peter Wilk is a man who has died leaving his whole estate to his sisters and brothers. Thus, the Duke and the King are planning to steal the legacy of the three sisters of Wilk. When he arrives in the family, the King fakes his emotion, pretending to be sad but in fact he is eager for money and just wants to take advantage of the three little girls. [...]