Family Structure In Huckleberry Finn

Family structure can exist in many different forms; however, the most typical and basic family unit definition may consist of a fairly simple structure: a mom, a dad, and children. The purpose of the family unit is to have a strong foundation for an individual to learn basic morals, have a support system and care for another during good and bad times in life. However, in the novels of Huckleberry Finn and Sing Unburied Sing they depict the opposite when it comes to the parent and child relationships. The novels demonstrate short comings of the actual family functions and how the young characters are to forced navigate through the world by choosing their own family unit. The parental figures of the novel are stripped from the power they hold

Resembling Huck, Jojo has to become self-independent when trying to learn the ways of the world, in which forces are unfavorable to Jojo from the start. Leonie’s neglect impacts Jojo in several different ways which follows them both throughout the rest of the novel and it goes unchanged even at the end. The relationship between both characters is painful to witness as a reader. The level of disrespect toward each other can be clearly seen on different occasions. Leonie’s abandonment makes Jojo lose his respect towards her as he stops her calling her mom and starts using her first name. When using her first name, Jojo creates this distance between them and they lose the special bond created through the use of the word “mom”. The loss of respect and mutual value creates an uneven balance within the family structure that endangers both Leonie and Jojo. Leonie’s inability to care for her children, places the children in ultimate physical danger aside from racial prejudice from society who do not accept them for their mixed skin. Jojo’s most dangerous moment comes when a police officer detains Leonie’s car and he ends up with gun pointed to his head in result of Leonie’s selfish behavior. At a certain point of the novel, structurally Jojo has a complete family, but their foundation as a strong family unit hangs in the

Jim as a father figure to Huck, he is able to help Huck establish his self-direction, identity and moral compass, in which he lacked at the beginning of the novel. As Jojo appoints Pap as his father figure, Jojo experiences character growth as he learns valuable lessons about the natural world, family, and importance of the past. Despite the character’s dysfunctional families, they are able to move on and develop character