Mark Twain's Portrayal Of Adults In Huckleberry Finn
The portrayal of adults in Huckleberry Finn is almost humorous as characters like Pap Finn are immature and child- like. The adults that cross Huck in his journey look up to him as an adult figure. Pap looks to him as a punching bag, and also survives off of Huck. Since Huck has money stored away with Judge Thatcher, Pap forces Huck to “git me that money tomorrow- I want it” (19). It seems like a normal father-son relationship, only with Huck as the father giving his dad money to get drunk. Twain jokes at the seriousness of adulthood by depicting them as immature children, doing things only children would do. These childish characters like Jim lessened the value of adults “because the adolescent Huck is portrayed as equal or superior
to the adult Jim in decision- making capability” (Sova par. 2). Society makes adults the ultimate supreme and kids should look up to them no matter what. With Pap as a father, Huck had to learn his morals by himself, so he possesses a slight sense of the world around him and has a certain maturity that people like Jim and Pap do not have.
to the adult Jim in decision- making capability” (Sova par. 2). Society makes adults the ultimate supreme and kids should look up to them no matter what. With Pap as a father, Huck had to learn his morals by himself, so he possesses a slight sense of the world around him and has a certain maturity that people like Jim and Pap do not have.