Huck Finn Post 3

In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck comes across a very unique family during his journey. The Grangerford family, uneasy to accept Huck at first, finally lets him into their home once realizing he is not a "Shepherdson." He somewhat ignores this comment; eager to spend time in such a different lifestyle. Huck finds the home magnificent, " I hadn't seen no house out in the country before that was so nice and had so much style" (Twain 102). A palace compared to what Huck has seen, the Grangerford's large estate with over one hundred slaves pleases him in undoubted ways. Although it is portrayed as a grand, lavish lifestyle, the Grangerfords are one of the most confusing, contradicting, and comical group of people in the novel. Their spontaneous actions towards others and unintentionally comical elements within their home combine to make an underlying theme of humor at this point. Within their home, since never seeing a house such as this before, Huck finds the decorations and works displayed very genuine and grand. Although he portrays it as this way, these elements of the home are unintentionally comical and somewhat tacky. When it comes to the works of art by their late daughter, Emmeline, her frequent themes of dead people represent Twain's mocking of the Victorian Age and his trying to make it humorous. The family's spontaneous actions towards others combine to show humor with a hint of sadness.

Within the Grangerfords' lifestyle, Twain hints at elements of sadness. Included in this part of life is the explanation of Emmeline's works of art and her death. Although many of her works are unintentionally tacky, they are nevertheless sympathetic and a tribute to those who have died. Huck is moved by her works of poetry and art and represents a caring side to him. "Poor Emmeline made poetry about all the dead people when she was alive, and it didn't seem right that there warn't nobody to make some about her now she was gone; so I tried to sweat out a verse or two myself , but I couldn't seem to make it go somehow" (106). Later on Buck, one of the Grangerfords, explains the ongoing feud between their family and the previously mentioned Shepherdsons. Nobody knows how the feud started, but it has been an ongoing event with several killings. When Buck is killed in a gunfight later on, this event brings out the most sadness of this section. Unlike  the works of art, where the over exaggeration of sadness leads to humor, this point in the book is completely serious and shows the confusion in the Grangerfords' world.

Included in the Grangerfords' world of confusion is the references to "Romeo and Juliet." Their undeniable more fortunate lifestyle connects with the rich families in the play, already a foreshadow to the competitiveness. One of the main allusions is the family feud with the Shepherdsons and how it plays out. "'Him? He never done nothing to me.' 'Well, then, what did you want to kill him for?' 'Why, nothing--only it's on account of the feud'" (109). The unknowingness as to why members of each family are killing each other directly relates to the feud in "Romeo and Juliet." The second main allusion is concept of star-crossed lovers and how Sophia Grangerford and Harney Shepherdson are in love. They end up running off; resulting in the gunfight that kills Buck and another Shepherdson. These allusions show Twain's almost mocking of earlier European literature. All of the elements of the Grangerfords' life represent a contradicting, unique experience for Huck during his eventful journey down the Mississippi.

Huck Finn Post 2

In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, one of the most evident examples of family is the relationship between Huck and Jim. Although not actually related, their friendship and age difference blossoms into a father-son type of relationship throughout the book. At first, back at the widow's house, they do not have much of a relationship; the only encounters they had were when Huck would play pranks on Jim and at occasional times around the house. The gap between them lengthens when Huck is away with his father, and Huck never expects to see the slave again. Although he believes this, their meeting on Jackson's Island starts the beginning of a new and close relationship. Slowly developing, as they share their stories and spend more time together, their time on the island has more friendship-like qualities. Huck even still finds it funny to play pranks on Jim, such as the rattlesnake incident. Once they find out they have to escape, Jim seems to occupy more of a father role. "'Git up and hump yourself, Jim! There ain't a minute to lose. They're after us!' Jim never asked no questions, he never said a word; but the way he worked for the next half an hour showed about how he was scared" (Twain 68). Their sudden departure from Jackson's Island represents Jim's uneasiness but willingness to take a leadership/role model position. The two escape, unsure of what their plan is, but knowing they will have the support of each other. 


Huck and Jim, fleeing from their normal lives for freedom, realize they have more and more in common with each other. Even though their perceptions of freedom are different, their equal amount of drive for it brings them together. They both were extremely lonely in their previous situations, and them finding companionship brings them even closer. Both realize that even though they only have each other, it is completely fine because they have established such great of a relationship and they truly care for each other. Both Jim and Huck seem to have discovered a sense of acceptance and respectfulness between each other, something unique in most father-son-type relationships. "'Pooty soon I'll be a-shout'n' for joy, en I'll say, it's all on accounts o' Huck; I's a free man, en I couldn't ever ben free ef it hadn't ben for Huck: Huck done it. Jim won't ever forgit you, Huck; you's de bes' fren' Jim's ever had....'" (92). Although Jim describes Huck as a best friend, he is unknowingly interacting with him as if he were his son; assuming leadership he is not used to. His actions toward Huck foreshadow that if he is reunited with his children later on, he will be an excellent, dedicated father. These interactions also show that Huck, even though being with someone who is considered socially lower in status, treats Jim with undoubted respect; if he had a proper father figure, he could have the potential of an excellent son. This relationship between a runaway slave and a runaway boy represents a unique collaboration that will unlikely be split.

Huck Finn Post 1

Through the first ten chapters of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, much can be noted about Huck. Being brought up in a different way compared to most seems to reflect how he handles certain situations. With the absence of a mother, his father being an irresponsible drunk, and at first having to live with a widow and her sister, he can seem like a rebel in some cases. He is not entirely a troublemaker; it seems as if certain people in his life influence him at certain times, such as his father or Tom Sawyer. Without the pressures of responsibility, Huck allows himself to be a person who acts based on his surroundings. In the widow's house, he is educated and to some degree respectable, but he is very lonely. "Then I set down...tried to think of something cheerful, but it warn't no use. I felt so lonesome I most wished I was dead" (Twain 13). When he is with his father, he is forced to act like his dad, be illiterate, and subject to being beaten. His different lifestyles demonstrated show that people are trying to shape him into different personalities, but for the most part, all he wants is freedom.

In the first chapters of the novel, Huck seems like a tough, difficult to change boy. His actions with Tom Sawyer show he would like to thrive on a life of crime. As the story progresses, though, it can be revealed that he is mostly innocent and is a type of person who doesn't exactly know what he wants. "All I wanted was to go somewheres; all I wanted was a change, I warn't particular" (12). Huck puts on the impression that he has his interests, but they can be lost and unsure of within a short period of time. Determined to leave, his ideas of faking his own death and leaving for Jackson's Island represent his underlying cleverness. After escaping his life of confusion and loneliness and being off on his own, all of these personalities blend together to form a carefree, interesting kid who celebrates the freedom from all pressures. "...the island. I was boss of it; it all belonged to me, so to say, and I wanted to know all about it..." (46). So far, Huck Finn is an arousing character that seems to have already established new traits just over the course of ten chapters.