Scene Of Individual Violence example essay topic

Violence is the last refugee of the incompetent - Issac Asimov. Ignorance and superstition reigned on the frontier of the Mississippi River. The cruelty of the southern plantation owners and the general lawlessness of the frontier all attributed to the violence that occurred throughout the book. Whether murderous criminals, a feuding family, or an angry mob was committing this violence, Huck was forced to digest and overcome these scenes, and at the same time the reader learned more of life on the Mississippi River of the 1840's. One night while on the river, Huck and Jim stumble across a wrecked steamboat, and find a couple of outlaws contemplating the murder of a fellow outlaw. "I'm for killin' him-and didn't he kill old Hatfield jist the same way-and don't he deserve it?" (73).

This scene of individual violence adds to the image of 1840's river life. Even though the west was becoming more and more civilized, a general sense of lawlessness and violence still existed, not unlike the lawlessness and adventure depicted in classical western movies of the 20th century. The violence, though, wasn't between cowboys and Indians, good guys and bad guys. The violence occurred between groups of individual ruffians, a band of outlaws whose greed was strong enough to break the ties they have to one another and commit these homicidal acts.

"Well, by and by somebody said Sherburn ought to be lynched. In about a minute everybody was saying it; so away they went, mad and yelling, and snatching down every clothes line the come to to do the hanging with" (143). The most pertinent example of senseless violence in the mid 19th century occurred in the form of lynching. Whether a large mob or a small band committed the act, it defied the laws of constitutional justice. No trial was served; only the resolve of a senseless group was carried out.

Sherburn, though, through a somewhat contradicting speech, saved himself by indicting the cowardice of the mob. Though no justice was ever served, deep down Huck knew the Karma Police would catch up with Sherburn, and was thus able to digest the events he had just encountered and get on with his life. Of all Huck's adventures, the feud chilled him the most. His experiences with the feud and the senseless violence that accompanied it would be engraved into his mind for the rest of his life. "I wish I hadn't ever come ashore that night to see such things. I ain't ever going to get shut of them-lots of times I dream about them" (116).

For the families involved, violence settled itself as their way of life; their life completed when they died. For Huck and the reader, it showed just how gruesome life could be, and how easily hatred can control one's life. No matter what type of violence Huck saw, be it murder, feuding, or lynching, he was able to digest and comprehend the scenes he encountered. Each violent scene further painted the picture of life on the Mississippi river of the mid 19th century. Each discovery Huck makes adds to both his character and to the story. Indeed, Huck's adventures bring not only entertainment, but also lessons of violence and honor.