:-(THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN HAS COME TO AN END :-(

In chapter 36-40, Tom takes over the role as an authority figure for Huck. Tom tries to complicate Jim’s escape because he wants to live up to the heroic role in his many books. He loves adventures and feels his way is properly done. Although, Huck has a more sensible and quicker way for Jim’s escape he does what Tom’s wants. Tom helping Huck is actually preventing Huck from continuing his pathway to adulthood.

In chapter 41, Huck returns to the house without Tom. Aunt Sally is worried that Tom will not show up. In addition she doesn’t want Huck looking for him. Aunt Sally grief is clearly shown in this chapter.  Huck blames himself for Aunt Sally’s becoming grief-stricken. Taking on that responsibility makes him feel bad as well. Thus he obeys her and thinks “laws knows I WANTED to go bad enough to see about Tom, and was all intending to go; but after that I wouldn’t a went, not for kingdoms.” Huck is beginning to show his maturity once again. I believe it has to do with Tom not being in his presence. As a result you can see that Tom is an anchor to Huck’s development.

In chapter 43, Tom admits and Aunt Polly confirms that Jim was already free. If I was in Huck’s position I would be upset after doing many challenging tasks just to free a man who was already free. It was just an exciting adventure that Tom always dreamed of. Huck didn’t dawn over the fact that this was a waste of time. He just accepted everything that has happened. He was very grateful that Jim is free and that Tom feels better. In my opinion Huck finally reached adulthood.

In Chapter 31 Huck is looking for Jim. He is being mature because he is being proactive instead of just sitting there and weeping about the disappearance of his friend.

Another example of Huck maturing is that he came to the realization that you can’t pray a lie. He also remembered all the times Jim was there for him and realized he shouldn’t turn in his friend. He took a difficult situation and picked a side. Nobody told him what to do.

In chapter 34 Huck and Tom went to town to warn the criminals before they got in trouble. When they came it was too late. They saw the duke and king tarred with feather. Then you see Huck’s coming of age when he says “Well, it made me sick to see it; and I was sorry for them poor pitiful rascals, it seemed like I couldn’t ever feel any hardness against them any more in the world. It was a dreadful thing to see. Human beings CAN be awful cruel to one another.” He was quite mature for believing that no one deserves this type of punishment and also witnesses and learns about the harsh nature of human beings.

Huck knows if Tom helps a nigger runaway, then Tom and his family would lose their good reputation. Although he really wanted Jim to be free, he also wanted to be a true friend to Tom.  He forgot about his wants and told Tom that he could quit and save himself. That is a true friend and the mindset of a young adult.

In chapter 19, Huck knows that the con-artists are not truly a king or a duke but he feels  the easiest way to get along in life is to not cause too many quarrels. As a result I think he is becoming mature because he is thinking about the effects that could happen by his actions unlike a child who just thinks in the moment. Therefore, he doesn’t tell Jim about their true identity.

In chapter 23, Huck is showing his maturity because he is able to make his own judgment of people. He understands that Jim cares for his family as much as a white male will care for his own family.  He recognizes that a black man and a white man can have the same feelings or behavior. However growing up as a child he learned that they are completely different because their races are different. A child will not have the mentality or will to make that judgment.  Children listen to their parent’s beliefs and usually don’t depart from it. Unlike Huck who is learning how to separate what he had learned before and what he knows now. He is mentally growing up as the journey goes on and realizing things that he possible hasn’t really had the chance to learn before.

In chapter 26, it becomes evident that Huck is lying because his stories of England are contradicting. After Mary Jane becomes livid when her sister Joanna starts questioning Huck’s honesty, it results in him feeling both shameful and guilty for allowing the duke and king to rob this innocent family. Like I said in my earlier post his conscious plays a role in his growth of maturity. Therefore, Huck is compelled to steal the money back from the conmen. He is now concerned with doing the right thing. He realizes that this is a cruel sham to do to a nice family.