Violence Huck example essay topic

795 words
What is considered a suitable environment for a growing child? There are many correct answers we could come up with for that question. We do know the environment is certainly not going to be a place where there is no justice, where there is racism, and where violence is as prevalent as slavery. No child would want to grow and mature in this setting. Unfortunately for Huck, he was left with no other choice than to grow up ina place uncivilized as this.

In Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", Huck preservers through these challenges. Although his world was plentiful with ignorance and hatred, amazingly, Huck is able to mature and grow through his experiences and friendships. The south has been full of stereotypes and assumptions ever since the mid 1800's. Today, the stereotypes are still routinely associated with the southern portion of the United States.

One of the stereotypes from the 1800's in the south, was their lack of justice and law enforcement. This is best exemplified by the Granger fords and theSheperdsons. These two families were in a never ending blood bath with each other. One young boy who fell victim to this violence, was Buck Granger ford. Huck had grown close to Buck and his death mortified him. After watching the incident from a tree, Huck is left speechless and baffled.

One more example of the violence was when ColonelSherbern shot a poor, defenseless drunk named Boggs. Huck watches this event in absolute disgust. From these two incidents, Huck's portrayal of society starts to take a steady decline. As if the violence Huck saw everyday wasn't enough, he also was forced to deal with the reality of racism and slavery. This was a difficult issue for Huck because he had befriended a black man named Jim. For this, Huck was constantly torn between the voices of his conscience.

This is where Huck begins to mature and learn to make the right decisions, though. One of his best decisions comes on the land of the late Peter Wilkes. While watching the King and Duke craftily sell themselves as the heirs to the Wilkes' fortune, and selling their slaves for little money, Huck cannot take anymore. His conscience eats away at him and he tells Mary Jane Wilkes, the daughter of Peter Wilkes, that the King and Duke are con artists. This is an admirable decision by this young, thirteen year old boy. Unlike the rest of the adults in his society, Huck is able to distinguish between right and wrong.

The most important person Huck helps is his dear friend Jim. At one point, Huck feels guilty about taking Jim from the Widow Douglas and he writes a letter to Ms. Watson. But then Huck makes another critical decision that proves to a great one. Huck destroys the letter and decides on his own will to help free Jim. Huck once again displays his wonderful decision making and proves he is oblivious to the way others thought. The main reason for Huck growing up and maturing was because of his incredible friendship with Jim.

It may have taken a few chapters, but their friendship grew to be very strong. It signified more than just two friends who were different races, but a hope that one day slavery would be abolished. Huck's maturity level started to peak the day Jim told him he missed his family. This day gives Huck the ability to realize that Jim is not a slave and that he was a person just like he was. Huck also proves he is a loyal and dependable friend when he encounters the two slave catchers. He comes up with a clever lie that Jim is his father and that he had the symptoms of small pox.

Huck shows that he can over come the stereotypes of the society by caring and protecting for a black man. The friendship alone was better than any other experience Huck had along the river. Throughout Huck's life, society has taught him that slavery, injustices, and violence were a part of life. During his travels, Huck experiences what the effects of violence and slavery are. As Huck began to encounter real life situations, he slowly realized how detestable and ugly world he lived in. Ironically enough, Huck learned more on his raft ride down the Mississippi River than most adults had in their entire lives.

Forth at reason, Huckleberry Finn is regarded as one of the most dynamic characters in literature.