by Brian Smith

Created on: September 13, 2008

Book Review: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the title character of the story Huckleberry Finn, was introduced to the audience as a curious, free-spirited, and sometimes naive young man. Throughout the story Huck was placed in situations beyond what a normal kid his age would be able to handle in a rational fashion. Huck took us into the mind of an individual questioning if he were still free to do the things he once or always could do in times of decision, from being an uneducated young boy into a person who became very aware of his surroundings. Once Huck is faced with the realization of no return, he makes life turn a one hundred and eighty degree rotation in the direction of his favor. Though the change comes with a few hiccups, progress is always made, and this makes him the axes that moves the spokes of his life.

Huck's life of adventure is stapled by the tough decisions he faces throughout the story. Once on the run for pure stimulation, Huck makes an unconscious realization as soon as he learns that thrill seeking for the sake of it, is nothing more than a fool rushing into a pit. He makes efforts throughout the story to correct mistakes he has made along the way. By righting the wrongs he had committed toward Jim, Huck states, "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger-but I done it, and I waren't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didnt do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make him feel that way." Prayer, nor superstition were the answers for his rapid growth. It was the result of change and challenge and the strength to persevere while running from his past into his future. Never taking friendship for granting, and knowing when friends have turned into enemies makes Huck the quintessential discerner of character, stating the truth to Miss Mary Jane, "These uncles of yourn ain't no uncles at all-they're a couple of frauds-regular dead-beats." Even though Huck's morals were always questioned by his repeated pondering of whether or not a young man must do what's right when there is no immediate payoff. He states, "Then I thought a minute, and says to myself, hold on, -s'pose you'd a done a right and give Jim up; would you felt better than what you do now?" He also questions the discipline he receives, when all the discipline in society has caused the people he has come across to lose out on such fun. Huck ponders, "She

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