Huck Finn Essay
Ellen Sirower Dr. Clark X English 12/10/13
Civilized Frauds and Noble Runaways
Most people often assume that the aim of civilizations is for humanity to function together, jointly and cooperatively, so that humans produce and experience the benefits of moral people who live and act together. However, in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the reverse is true. The swap in societal stereotypes is apparent in the king and the duke’s production of the Royal Nonesuch as well as Huck and Jim’s pleasant journey down the Mississippi after escaping the family feud between the Grangerfords and the Shepardsons. Leading up to the performance of the Royal Nonesuch, the king and the duke attract an all-male audience in a small town in Arkansas for a so-called “tragedy”, and make signs promising lewdness in the performance. Conversely, the protagonists of the novel, Huck and Jim, are depicted as noble characters on the outskirts of society, as they lead a carefree existence down the Mississippi River. The central irony in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is that in the midst of a “sivilized” society, uncivilized members abound, particularly those who are racist, conniving, and ill-mannered; whereas Huck and Jim, who have escaped society, are more righteous, sincere, and morally sound than any of the other “sivilized” characters who populate the traditional southern communities the novel depicts. Civilization is the most advanced form of human organization, a truth universally acknowledged by society, and one that assumes humans are not savage; the sounds and setting in the river/raft and the Royal Nonesuch passages defy the standard definition of civilization. As Huck and Jim are floating down the Mississippi River on their raft, far from the confines of civilization, the atmosphere of the river seems idyllic. No dialogue is exchanged between Huck and Jim – only description of the sounds and setting of the
Civilized Frauds and Noble Runaways
Most people often assume that the aim of civilizations is for humanity to function together, jointly and cooperatively, so that humans produce and experience the benefits of moral people who live and act together. However, in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the reverse is true. The swap in societal stereotypes is apparent in the king and the duke’s production of the Royal Nonesuch as well as Huck and Jim’s pleasant journey down the Mississippi after escaping the family feud between the Grangerfords and the Shepardsons. Leading up to the performance of the Royal Nonesuch, the king and the duke attract an all-male audience in a small town in Arkansas for a so-called “tragedy”, and make signs promising lewdness in the performance. Conversely, the protagonists of the novel, Huck and Jim, are depicted as noble characters on the outskirts of society, as they lead a carefree existence down the Mississippi River. The central irony in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is that in the midst of a “sivilized” society, uncivilized members abound, particularly those who are racist, conniving, and ill-mannered; whereas Huck and Jim, who have escaped society, are more righteous, sincere, and morally sound than any of the other “sivilized” characters who populate the traditional southern communities the novel depicts. Civilization is the most advanced form of human organization, a truth universally acknowledged by society, and one that assumes humans are not savage; the sounds and setting in the river/raft and the Royal Nonesuch passages defy the standard definition of civilization. As Huck and Jim are floating down the Mississippi River on their raft, far from the confines of civilization, the atmosphere of the river seems idyllic. No dialogue is exchanged between Huck and Jim – only description of the sounds and setting of the