An Analysis of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a Picaresque Tale
An Analysis of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a Picaresque Tale
A picaresque novel is based on a story that is typically satirical and illustrates with realistic and witty detail the adventures of a roguish hero of lower social standing who lives by their common sense in a corrupt society. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is an eminent example of picaresque literature. There are many aspects of the novel that portray picaresque through the history and personality of the main character, Huck Finn. Although Huck has good intentions and is by nature innocent, he is the picaro in the story. A picaro or rogue is an unprincipled adolescent who is very mischievous in personality, also known as a rascal or scoundrel. Through the use of Huck as the rogue there are several qualities in this novel that make it a solid picaresque tale. First it is necessary to exam the character of Huckleberry Finn’s personality traits to illustrate how he could invoke the role of the rascally hero.
From the beginning of the novel, Mark Twain makes it clear that Huck is a boy that comes from the lowest level of white society. His father is a drunk, no good who disappears for long periods of time only to show back up to steal away his sons money. Huck is depicted as usually dirty, messy and often homeless even when he is provided shelter by the Widow Douglas. The Widow Douglas attempts to reform and “improve” Huck, but he refuses to give in to her attempts and maintains his self-regulating and ill-disciplined ways. His unruly ways are highlighted when casted next to his companion Tom Sawyer, who is educated and depicted more as a middle-class citizen. Tom’s role emphasizes the picaro role played by Huck Finn, while they both are boyish and do naughty things Tom’s civilized nature intensifies the readers perception on how uncivilized Huck is. A more abstract trait that shows Huck as a picaro is his name. Twain’s choice of giving him a name derived from things of nature
A picaresque novel is based on a story that is typically satirical and illustrates with realistic and witty detail the adventures of a roguish hero of lower social standing who lives by their common sense in a corrupt society. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is an eminent example of picaresque literature. There are many aspects of the novel that portray picaresque through the history and personality of the main character, Huck Finn. Although Huck has good intentions and is by nature innocent, he is the picaro in the story. A picaro or rogue is an unprincipled adolescent who is very mischievous in personality, also known as a rascal or scoundrel. Through the use of Huck as the rogue there are several qualities in this novel that make it a solid picaresque tale. First it is necessary to exam the character of Huckleberry Finn’s personality traits to illustrate how he could invoke the role of the rascally hero.
From the beginning of the novel, Mark Twain makes it clear that Huck is a boy that comes from the lowest level of white society. His father is a drunk, no good who disappears for long periods of time only to show back up to steal away his sons money. Huck is depicted as usually dirty, messy and often homeless even when he is provided shelter by the Widow Douglas. The Widow Douglas attempts to reform and “improve” Huck, but he refuses to give in to her attempts and maintains his self-regulating and ill-disciplined ways. His unruly ways are highlighted when casted next to his companion Tom Sawyer, who is educated and depicted more as a middle-class citizen. Tom’s role emphasizes the picaro role played by Huck Finn, while they both are boyish and do naughty things Tom’s civilized nature intensifies the readers perception on how uncivilized Huck is. A more abstract trait that shows Huck as a picaro is his name. Twain’s choice of giving him a name derived from things of nature