Huck Finn Essay (Barrier Removed)

Puneeth Kodavatiganti
Mrs. Zack
English 10 Honors
26 October 2009
The Barrier Removed
“Fictional novels” tend to revolve around children who at first, exhibit maturity as a flaw, but eventually mature as a result from a series of events that put the individuals in positions where they are forced to make a decision or look beyond society’s prejudice. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, serves as a great example of the “fictional novel” as its protagonist, Huck Finn, develops a mature mentality through his travel down the Mississippi River. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered a non-humanitarian novel by many, but is truly a magnificent piece of work as Twain expresses his satirical views of prejudice and greediness on human nature through the characters and the plot itself. Huck at first is introduced to the reader as a picaroon who finds amusement in the downfall of others. But as he decides to help Jim, the black slave, escape slavery, his escapade with Jim reveals to him the many different aspects of life such as prejudice and slavery. His views and perspective on life and human nature alters into that of a more mature person. Although the series of events in Huck’s journey down the Mississippi River cause him to develop a mentally mature psyche, it is essentially not a passage into manhood as the maturity Huck undergoes is distinguishing right from wrong, understanding others feelings, and acting from his heart instead of society’s prejudice.
Not only does Huck start to make precise decisions, he endures moral growth as he learns about understanding others and relationships through Jim. He is able to look at Jim as an equal to himself and white society rather than property. Towards the beginning of the novel, Huck and Tom spot Jim latent under a tree and want to tie him up to it, but decide not to because they are afraid of getting caught. “When we was ten foot off Tom whispered to me, and wanted to tie Jim to the...