In the
final chapters of Huck Finn, I see a moral digression in Huck. Tom Sawyer is
having the effect that I thought he would have on Huck’s behavior: he’s a bad
influence on him. They play a few pranks to pass the time between trying to get
Jim out of the cabin. The boys constantly steal and replace spoons when Aunt
Sally is trying to count them so that she wouldn’t notice the fact that the
boys were sneaking things to her captive. Jim and Huck continue to follow
everything that Tom says, because that’s how the books do it. The boys try to
roll a grindstone into the cabin so Jim can carve on it, like in prison. One of
the most childish scenes in the entire novel ensues during this period of moral
decay for Huck. The boys think that its a good idea to put creepy crawlies in
Jim’s cabin to commemorate his final night of captivity.
The final
escape of Jim is hectic and uncalled for. The Phelps’s show up to their house with
a mob to stop the “bandits” from stealing Jim. Huck and Tom, luckily, have the
tunnel that they dug to get Jim out still intact. During there mad dash for the
raft, Tom is shot and Jim, once again, shows his caring and nurturing side. He
wont move until Tom is taken to the doctor. During this crisis, we see Huck
grow morally because he now takes control of the situation. He makes a decision
based on common sense and logic. Toms plan to get a doctor is intricate and unnecessary,
so instead, Huck trusts his own ability to lie and retrieve the doctor the
treat Tom.
2 comments:
Hey Gabe! I disagree that Huck has a moral regression in the final chapters. If anything, Huck experiences more moral progression than he has at any other point in the novel. Although Tom Sawyer is back in the fold, Huck is far mature this time around and recognizes Tom’s grand plans as ridiculous and convoluted. Huck has learned a lot from the over the course of the novel such as kindness and common sense which he uses frequently during the final few chapters in order to help Jim escape captivity and become a free man. Although I disagree with your opinion your blog was very good.
You were right! Tom had a horrific influence on Huck throughout the last chapters of the novel. Tom got in Huck's way and made everything more complicated than it had to be. With Tom in the picture Huck went back to his role of a "follower". Also, I love this "Huck grow morally because he now takes control of the situation". Being able to see Huck capable of making his own decision for the very first time says a lot. His mind has really evolved and become extraordinarily complex. If it wasn't for Huck being presented with conflicts having to do with his closest friend, Jim, Huck never would have made it to this point. Great job!
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