Why Is Huck Finn A Hero

Huckleberry Finn is probably the most controversial character in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Huck, as he is more commonly known, is the idol of most children growing up; at the same time, he is despised by the children’s parents. Huck Finn, in all of literature, is well-known by many people. “Huckleberry was cordially hated and dreaded by all the mothers of the town, because he was idle and lawless and vulgar and bad — and because all their children admired him so” (Twain 33). Huck is the son of town drunk. He does not have strong parental influence, so Huck wanders around the town and does what he wants whenever he wants to do it. Huck enjoys his life of freedom, but throughout the book Twain hints at the fact that he is lonely.
Many of the kids in the town envy what Huck has. He has complete freedom and his father seemingly does not care what he does. All kids long for freedom so that they can have fun and play all the day long. Huck is admired because he has this freedom and because he does not have parents controlling him. Tom Sawyer, for example, has his Aunt Polly who watches over him and sets some rules for him. The children do not necessarily admire Huck, but they admire the life he lives. The children have one big misconception regarding this lifestyle. If they did not have the love and support from their families, they would long for that which they do not have. While Huck is admired by all of the children in the village, he is equally despised by their parents.
All parents want their children to grow up and to be able to provide for themselves, as well as for a family of their own. In order for this to happen, the child must go to school, work hard, and get a well paying job. They must show respect to their authority figures and their parents. The parents of the village despise Huck because his lifestyle, in the eyes of their children, is everything they will need to be happy. Huck does whatever he pleases and does not have respect towards his father because of who his father is. As the parents see their children act like Huck it makes them mad because they know their children are better. More accurately put, the parents hate the lifestyle of Huck and not him individually. In many circumstances, Huckleberry Finn is one of the most talked about people in the village. The children admire him and long for the life they think he lives, and the parents despise him for showing their kids that he is happy without all of the rules. Huck truthfully wants what the other kids have. He would love to have the things the kids take for granted. He does not have a father who is always there for him and can provide for him. If the kids truly knew how Huck feels, the children would not be so fond of a life of freedom and no
responsibilities.