ipl-logo

Art In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

987 Words4 Pages

Art has a grandiose capacity to incite emotion. This philosophy has generally been labeled “The Arousal Theory” which breaks down the ability of art to provoke an emotional response. There have been other versions of the theory such as the “The Expression Theory” which states that art evokes the emotions the artist felt while creating the piece. No matter the theory, however, the consensus that art can facilitate emotions goes unchallenged (Citation). However, occasionally art does not stop there. Select few artists will take advantage of the emotions forged in order to spread ideas and morals. One excellent example pertains to Mark Twain with his novel the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain uses emotions to promote a multitude of morals …show more content…

Throughout the course of the novel Huck slowly gains reverence for Jim, and eventually, Huck realizes that despite Jim being African American, he “...knew he was white inside…” (Twain 207). Huck realizes that he and Jim are equal, and since Huck has a well revered personality this encourages a pro-equality mindset. However, at the complete opposite end of the spectrum lies the portrayal of Pap. Unlike Huck, Pap remains incredibly racist demonstrated after he learns that a mulatto could vote in Ohio, after which he states “‘I says I’ll never vote again,’” (Twain 20). Twain uses satire to portray all racists as being similar to Pap, and Pap’s prevailing characteristics goes as follows: abusive, drunk, and stubborn. This dreadful behavior from Pap and the association between Pap and racism creates a negative connotation for racism and contributes to the pro-equality …show more content…

Twain uses emotions and pathos in order to emphasize the morals within the novel. Such as creating a sympathetic sentiment towards the slave family while simultaneously creating disdain towards slavery. Another example is Jim, a captivating character, being sold into slavery for little money to once again create a negative connotation towards slavery. Twain also creates a pro-equality message by having Huck, an endearing character, recognize that he and Jim are equals, and using Pap as satire to portray racists as contemptible people. However, critics argue that actions such as the king being paid for his lies encourage deceiving others, despite the fact that in the long run they end up tarred and feathered and actively punished for their fabrications. With all of this, it becomes obvious that the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn contains a plethora of morals accentuated by the use of

Show More
Related
614 Words | 3 Pages

Pap comes into the story when Huck feels that something isn't right however it is affirmed by Jim's hairball. Twain generalizations Pap as the average inebriated and harsh "white refuse. " Pap needs Huck to quit attempting to improve instruction, quit showing signs of improvement garments, and to quit attempting to be superior to anything his dad. The incongruity is that Pap should be develop and cultivated, yet he doesn't need Huck to better himself.

Read More
1048 Words | 5 Pages

One of the people Twain doesn’t admire is The King because he portrays him as a river con man who claims to be a dissapeared heir to the French Throne who also takes control of Huck and Jim’s raft. Pap would be another character who is not admirable because he treated his son worse than a slave owner treated a slave. The Duke is also portrayed as a bad man because he is The King’s side-kick who is also a con man. The Shepherdsons were also a group of unadmirable people because they shot Buck Grangerford along with his family. Mrs. Loftus is a little bit unadmirable because she didn’t let Huck have any of her food or things that he was in need of.

Read More
752 Words | 4 Pages

Twain writes from Huck’s perspective saying, WELL, pretty soon the old man was up and around again, and then he went for Judge Thatcher in the courts to make him give up that money, and he went for me, too, for not stopping school.” Which explains Pap’s ability to be father and his tendency to be selfish and put himself before anyone else including his own son.. Another example of how Twain sets up Pap to be a disgusting character is chronic alcoholism. In chapter six Pap kidnaps Huckleberry and forces him to stay in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere. After getting drunk and passing out Pap starts to hallucinate and chase Huck around the cabin calling him the Angel of Death.

Read More
743 Words | 3 Pages

Twain's writing cuts deep into the heart of racism, and shows us that it does not matter what we look like on the outside, it only matters what we have on the

Read More
449 Words | 2 Pages

Pap’s rant in chapter 6 is a good example of the southern white male stereotype. This satirizes not only racism but also hypocrisy. Pap criticizes laziness, while he asks Huck for money and sits idle and drunk all

Read More
2108 Words | 9 Pages

Morality plays an important role in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Huck Finn is an uneducated, thirteen-year-old boy who does not necessarily know the difference between right and wrong, yet often makes the right choices throughout the novel. While Huck often accidentally does good, some people do not see this as an indication that he is a morally good person. On the other hand, Jim is a slave who almost always does the right thing, but we are not inclined to see Jim as a moral model because he is a slave.

Read More
859 Words | 4 Pages

Jane Smiley argues that Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn suggests only “a recognition of the obvious -- that blacks, slave and free, are human” and therefore does not deserve to be shelved on the western canon nor taught in schools (Smiley). Contrary to Smiley’s statement, the story educates on many more morals and philosophies in addition to racism and depicts the protagonist Huck fighting against deeply rooted societal conventions at the time (and even in places today) that a black person amounts to less value than a white person. This novel deserves to be on the western canon as it is far more nuanced than Smiley suggests; Huck’s fighting societal prejudices, teaches people to defeat stereotypes and value people not

Read More
795 Words | 4 Pages

Morality is defined as the principles for which people treat one another, respect for justice, and the welfare and rights of others. Moral development is gained from major experiences that can change viewpoints on life or cause people to make a difficult choice in a tough situation. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, one of Mark Twain’s major themes evident in the book is the moral development of Huck FInn, the main character. In the beginning of the book, Huck’s lack of morals and uncultured personality is a product of living with his abusive, demoralized father.

Read More
1403 Words | 6 Pages

The black man on the back porch is afraid of the rattle snake because it is bad luck, or the innocent little slave is quick to believe everything one tells them at the drop of the hat. These are just some of the many racist stereotypes of the 1840s. A character named Jim is the star African American whom Twain bestoys the mission of being the stereotypical black man to prove a point. He along with his much more pallor companion Huck go on exciting adventures that unfold the events which expose the racist conduct of the time. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain saturates his novel with potent images of acute racism severe enough as to create a satirical mien that exposes the absurdity of prejudice.

Read More
821 Words | 4 Pages

After living with Pap as a young boy and continually getting beat up, Huck looks for a way out. Huck shows early signs of maturity by escaping to Jackson’s Island while Pap is asleep and by covering the house in pigs blood to make it look as if he was murdered. While still in the very beginning of the novel, Huck has already matured tremendously. Another experience that Huck goes through is when Jim turns to Huck and says, “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

Read More
1015 Words | 5 Pages

When Huck steps away from his cocoon on the raft, he witnesses the Duke and the Dauphin's attempt to sell Jim, Huck’s loyal runawayformer-slave friend, back into slavery. Huck is confused by the men’s desire to sell Jim, but eventually concludes that he “will go to hell” to defend his friend (223). Huck’s tenacity and unwillingness to let Jim, his loyal companion, remain in the socially acceptable slavery, as well as his willingness to sacrifice his spiritual well-being to save his friend, conveys the idea that Huck disapproves of slavery and its principles. Huck’s situation, which exposes him to the heartless nature of society, is caused by the conniving actions of the Dauphin. The Dauphin is a con-man, who to feed his drinking habit, sells Jim for forty dollars.

Read More
884 Words | 4 Pages

Mark Twain emphasizes the theme that a person's morals are more powerful than the corrupt influence of society in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Based on how Huck Finn views the world and forms his opinions, he does not know the difference between right and wrong. In the novel, Huck escapes civilized society. He encounters a runaway slave, Jim, and together they travel hopes of freedom. But along the way, Huck and Jim come across troubles that have Huck questioning his motives.

Read More
939 Words | 4 Pages

He included multiple types of irony, and using Huck, showcased his theme of morality over legality perfectly. Huck's innocence is a dramatic irony in a way that only the reader knows that what he does is actually right when he is told and thinks otherwise. The reader is also able to infer that personal beliefs can trump herd mentality any day, and that insight can only come through first-hand experience. Twain's impact of theme affects the reader just as heavily as it does Huckleberry Finn, crossing the barrier of fact and fiction. He is able to enlighten readers that a better world is among them, although they may need to sift through the cesspool of a poorly influenced society, just like Huck

Read More
1141 Words | 5 Pages

Individuals often say that the right way may not necessarily be the popular way, but standing up for the right thing, despite it being frowned upon, will be the true test of one’s moral character. This relates to the moral growth that Huck Finn experiences throughout his journey. Mark Twain’s controversial novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, can be said to be a compelling story about how one individual, Huck Finn, goes against society’s ideals. Huck’s moral development can be said to be based primarily on those around him, especially Jim. Many instances also influence Huck’s morals, particularly during the raft journey that will change his beliefs and morals.

Read More
1083 Words | 5 Pages

In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the reader gauges morality through the misadventures of Huck and Jim. Notably, Huck morally matures as his perspective on society evolves into a spectrum of right and wrong. Though he is still a child, his growth yields the previous notions of immaturity and innocence. Likewise, Mark Twain emphasizes compelling matters and issues in society, such as religion, racism, and greed. During the span of Huck’s journey, he evolves morally and ethically through his critique of societal normalities.

Read More

More about Art In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

Open Document