The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Huck and His Free Spirit - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1288 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/05/17 Category Literature Essay Level High school Topics: Huckleberry Finn Essay Mark Twain Essay Did you like this example? The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain writes about Huck and his free spirit. Whenever he falls in the care or presence of rules he wants out and he wants to leave. Twain proves that rules and order dont make sense to Huck and always leaves him asking why. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Huck and His Free Spirit" essay for you Create order Huck has trouble following rules and understanding how serious they are especially if he doesnt like them. While in the care of the widow who has all these rules Huck is exasperated at the number of rules he is needing to follow, as Huck explains The widow rung the bell for supper and you had to come to time. When you got to the table you couldnt go right to eating (Cite chapter and name). As we get to know Huck in these first chapters we realize that Huck believes that some rules are silly and just plain dumb to follow. Huck feels like he can decide when to eat, he can decide when to pray, Huck may not agree with the widow, but he is not ill-mannered about her beliefs. Being a deep thinker Huck believes that rules can be dumb. Huck wonders about the difference between rules as dumb as that and then the rules that allow half of humanity to enslave and abuse the other half. Hucks friend Tom is also a rule follower, except his rules are about fiction. When talking with Huck, Tom explains How you talk Huck Finn. Why youd HAVE to come when he rubbed it, whether you wanted to or not (Cite name and chapter). After having this conversation with Tom, Huck decides to give it a try, after rubbing the lamp he realizes the rules are fake and are lies. Tom continues to try and coax Huck into thinking that if genies were real; they would follow the rules as well. Huck starts to make out the differences between the widows and societies arbitrary rules and another set of arbitrary rules, fiction. As Huck grows in th e book he realizes the different types of rules; both are arbitrary, the widows/societies and then the ones about fiction and make-believe stories. At certain points in the book, Huck feels annoyed with the rules, some of them make him unable to do things that would benefit him or he just feels that the rules are weird or dumb as they may be could save his life one day. As Huck goes on to talk about his father and the history they have together he mentions how Pap went to court to take me away with him. When Pap went to the court the widow went to court to take me away from him (cite chapter and name). Sometimes it might be fairer to break the rules; however, the judge doesnt agree. It may be breaking the rules but we all know Huck is better off without his dad, Huck doesnt even want the widow to have custody of him Huck wants to live on his own, with his own rules, on his own time; however, living without his dad is better than living with him. Huck is afraid to be living with Pap or being in the care of him. While talking to Buck about feuds between people and how they are almost governed, to the point where it makes no sense and its confusing to why anyone would ever use these rules. Buck explains by and by everybodys killed off, and there aint no more feud. But its kinda slow and takes a long time (cite chapter and name). This is but another exa mple of an arbitrary rule about the governing of feuds, the only difference is that these rules will leave everybody dead. Thinking about this Huck probably chooses to listen to this rule for there is a reason to be following it; to save his life rather than sitting straight at a dinner table and praying before everytime you eat it wont kill you if you dont do it. Huck never has the mindset of staying out of trouble, when he gets into trouble he always seems to know about all the consequences. Being knowledgeable about the consequences. Huck actions can have on him he proceeds to explain, it would get all around [] Huck Finn helped a nigger [] I was ever to see anybody from that town again Id [] get down and lick his boots for shame (cite chapter name). Huck knows and understands what consequences are and how they affect people, for example if you went to a midnight movie Thursday night instead of studying or finishing an essay you fail. Or if you help a slave escape and then everyone makes fun of you for doing that. Consequences can affect people in many ways big or small it can lead to bigger things down the road. Huck always knows when he is in trouble but never knows how to get out of it, he gets trapped by decisions and cant make the right one, while helping Jim escape Huck understands how I was full of trouble, full as I could be; and d idnt know what to do (cite chapter and name). To Huck breaking the rules is like driving on the left side of the road, no only is it exciting and fun; it is dangerous and wrong and breaking the law. Huck would feel alot better, at least for a small portion of time if he followed the rules; even if the lines on the road are arbitrary. Breaking the rules may excite Huck but in the end Huck always knows what is consequences are coming for him. Although Huck understands there are consequences for his actions he seems to act like it is a game, he doesnt understand the severity of consequences or rules, he thinks they can even be fun and silly. While talking Huck explains, I shoved the whole thing out of my head and said I would take up wickedness again (cite chapter and name). Huck talks about how he shoved all the thoughts of maybe I shouldnt do this or what consequences will come of this action, out of his mind and decides to go in and embrace the evil inside of him; even though Huck doesnt have much if any at all. As a reader it is hard to believe that someone like Huck thinks they have enough evil or corruption to break all the rules he finds. As Huck continues to explain his pla n he mentions because as long as I was in, and in for good, I might as well go the whole hog (cite name and chapter). Huck seems to think rules are a game and he can play around with them as he sees fit, because Huck seems to think about this being a game he doesnt realize what going for the whole hog really means. Huck never seems to think things through, he never seems to understand rules and why they are there. Understanding what Huck is thinking of doing is crucial to make rational decisions. Understanding consequences is only half of what is important, understanding why the rules are there in the first place is just as important; maybe even a little more. As Huck grows in this book he never seems to fully understand rules, even after he breaks them and gets in trouble, he always seems to ask why. Hucks free spirit will always be noticed, there will never be a time when Huck isnt free and does his own thing; bad or good. He may want out of rules but as he grows even more hell understand that he cant live without them.

A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift and Tartuffe by Moliere

Commerce is frequently thought of as the activity of buying or selling on a large scale, whether it be goods or not, but commerce can be thought of in a different manner, simply defining it as social dealings between people. If commerce is looked at as simply the social interactions between groups of people, it exists practically everywhere on nearly a daily basis. Whether it be the exchange of some sort of â€Å"good† on a mass scale from one group to another satirically seen in Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"A Modest Proposal†, arranging marriages as seen in Moliere’s Tartuffe, or 3RD TEXT, it can all be considered some kind of commerce. The presence of commerce in Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"A Modest Proposal† is anything but modest, but nonetheless it is there and it does take a certain side on finding a solution for society’s main problems at that specific time. In the early 1700’s, conditions in Ireland slowly began to worsen, henc e his satirical, scathing response to the lack of solving the ever so present economic crisis the people of Ireland were experiencing. As he mentions in his proposal, poor children, predominantly Catholic, are seen all across the country, and in his point of view they are seen as burdens to their families and not so much of good use to the commonwealth. He begins to make a â€Å"modest† proposal that he claims will be a much better solution than anything else that someone can come up with, and is where the majority of the commerce is present. â€Å"That the remainingShow MoreRelatedThe Enlightenment: An Incredible Change1163 Words   |  5 PagesNeo-Classical era, many world famous writers such as Jean-Baptiste Poquelin known by Moliere, Jonathan Swift, and Francois-Marie Arouet know by Voltaire wrote some incredible stories, poems, plays and articles about the age of reason. In literature, all of them are well known by the tactics and methods they used in their styles of writing in order to persuade or inform the readers. In the Age of Enlightenment, Moliere, Swift, and Voltaire used the concept of â€Å"Satire†, such as verbal, situational, and dramaticRead MoreSatire in Tartuffe and Modest Proposal1560 Words   |  7 Pagesfollies and vices in society. In Molià ¨re’s Tartuffe and Jonathan Swift’s essay A Modest Proposal, that both obliquely criticize and burlesque human behavior and the perception we have towards others. Through a satirist delivery, these authors offer an insight past the seemingly obvious, and aim to improve this faulty custom of one sidedness rather than eliminating it. Although these pair of literary pieces illustrates satire, it is Molià ¨re’s play Tartuffe that generates a more effective delivery.Read MoreA Modest Proposal On Satire1239 Words   |  5 Pagessociety. In Molià ¨re s Tartuffe and Jonathan Swift s article A Modest Proposal, both diagonally condemn and criticize human conduct and the discernment we have towards others. Through a comedian conveyance, these creators offer an understanding past the apparently self-evident, and expect to enhance this flawed custom of one sidedness as opposed to disposing of it. The key topic of Tartuffe is hypocrisy, as presented with the disposition of the antagonist. Hypocrisy is represented in Tartuffe s characterRead MoreA Comparison of A Modest Proposal, Tartuffe, and Candide1134 Words   |  5 PagesWriters use personality traits and events to change the classical ideals. Majority of the writers focus is to change peoples attitudes. Jonathan Swift, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Moliere, Francois-Marie Arquet de Voltaire use characterization and plot to challenge the themes of the Neo-Classical period. nbsp; In A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift challenges the Neo-classical period by creating a sense of instability in their way of thinking. He attacks the society by carelessly endorsing

Light in August An Analysis Free Essays

William Faulkner’s Light in August gives us an exploration of pertinent issues in the society namely; gender, race and class.   The writer reveals his interests in history and its significance to the present by arriving at a novel which illuminates Mississippi in August, which seems to come from the far past; hence the symbolism of the title. Yet Lena Grove, a protagonist in the story contributes more meaning to the title as it also signifies her new-born child who was born in August and the â€Å"light† that the baby carries signifying a new generation devoid of racism, prejudice and discrimination. We will write a custom essay sample on Light in August: An Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now Our aim is to be able to unveil through the characters and their interactions in the story the issues which serve as the themes also of the novel.   A lot of the characters are introduced in two or three ways; first through the eyes of the other characters; second thorough a self-analysis of the characters by using internal monologues and; third through the narrator in a series of flashbacks and stream of consciousness technique. This illustrates the elements in the context where we live; the presence of rumor mongering, envy, relative perception, deception, misunderstanding and isolation. It is important to note that the narrator’s style poses before the audience a challenge of determining the truth and engaging them in the process of understanding the characters; the way it is in actual reality. The narrator may seem unreliable because it highlights how untrustworthy each of the characters’ own perceptions is, by contrasting them with each other. It does not reveal bluntly the truth even reaching a point where the narrator’s self-contradiction impacts on the complexity yet meaning of the story. I would like to use the character and situation of Joe Christmas, as significant in the revelation of racism in the society. To Christmas, traces of his Negro ethnicity, represents a stigma, which is even worsened by the way people treat him. Blackness is conceived as evil because of the perception of its impurity and aloofness from God. However the confusion lies in Christmas’ inability to decipher his true African-American lineage as he appears European. However, he also feels he does not deserve to belong in White communities and hide or run away from them. His racial identity and his mixed reaction towards it, is a play on his fondness of dealing with the society in varied ways. As he often willingly tells people that he is black, he enjoys their condemnation and hatred. In the Jefferson community even people who are sympathetic to Blacks are attacked. This is represented by the characters; Joanna and Hightower. Joanna Burden continues her ancestors’ struggle for Black emancipation, which makes her peripheral in the society just like Christmas. Joanna and Joe had sexual relationship, intensifying the affinity of their interests and perhaps the closeness of their â€Å"ostracized† situation. Hightower on the other hand has been treated with less consideration because of his ideas regarded as sacrilegious by his fellow men. When Joe Christmas and Joe Brown were suspected of Joanna’s murder, Brown had initially found a way of bringing Christmas closer to their suspicion by revealing that he was Black. It has been expressed nonetheless that accusing a White of being Black is worse a crime than being Black itself. Clearly, racial discrimination against the Black is presented here. Yet the performance of Christmas as a victim of racism is quite unclear more than being a victim of false accusations and society’s lack of â€Å"reason† and propensity to misinterpret others. One may even doubt the success of his performance in the way things are understood by the audience. His Blackness is not directly admitted by the narrator although the perception that he is brings him a lot of misfortunes. This is perhaps what the author wants us to understand. The truth most of the time is neglected in the society. Hatred and self-interests lead the people to think what they want to think of others in a manner that will benefit them. The same is true with Ms. Atkins, the dietitian, Brown, and the rest of the townspeople. The issue of racism because of this has been intensified yet alongside this is the traditional culture of condemnation that people feel toward each other in the light of selfishness. The identity of Christmas therefore becomes more than the tragedy of Blackness; it is also a tragedy of class and gender. The narration has often insinuated homosexual tendencies in the relationship between him and Brown as perceived by the townspeople and the encounter with the prostitute whom he beat, and his hatred to mostly feminine characters. His poverty as an orphan for instance has led him to a series of miseries until his death. His capture in the same way was triggered by money with the ransom placed by the relative of Joanna. So, his perceived hatred against his lineage may also translate into hatred against his social class and gender. The reader must be careful in reading or deriving the true convictions of the novel, and essentially the reading of Joe Christmas. For me, Joe Christmas is a tool for the realization of issues rather than clear-cut facts. Another character that I would like to use in relation with the issue of gender is Joanna Burden. Her relationship with Joe Christmas is described as sexual although the presentation of her two-distinct characters is important in understanding how society perceives sexuality and gender. The description of the narrator of Joanna’s feminine and masculine sides comprises stereotypes. One part is her public persona: where she is a middle-aged single woman who has lived in deep seclusion for almost all of her life, with the exception of the black people whom she takes care of, and who care for her in return. She is presented here as completely independent, calm, and unemotional. The narrator uses male adjectives to describe her. Yet who or what determines male characteristics? The other half of Joanna is her â€Å"night† personality-wild, lustful, conniving, and, according to Christmas, very feminine. Yet who qualifies feminine attitudes as we know them today, feminine indeed?   The narrator has brought to us all the time what the majority thinks of every character in the society. The author’s beliefs and ideas are concealed and are dependent on the capacity of the audience/readers to disclose them by analysis. Notice that reading and analysis are two different tasks; while most could read; only some could analyze. In relation to Joe Christmas, Joanna Burden represents all that society; its orthodox culture and mainstream tradition have imposed upon the mind-set of people. Joanna Burden represents; gender discrimination, racial and class discrimination. The painful part for Christmas is that he is bound to kill her for the â€Å"burden† that she implicitly bestowed on him. To Christmas, Joanna’s insistence for him to be educated, to be religious and her intentional deception of her other persona manifest weakness and fakeness. He felt he was deceived as she tries to be one of â€Å"them†, meaning the majority, the townspeople, the unreasonable, discriminators. Joanna symbolizes responsibility which Joe was trying to run away from. He does not want to conform. Christmas’ pasts and experiences, his uncertainties and self-confusion and identity crisis- all represents the â€Å"common† individual. We are all confused of how things are done and decided in the society. Some subject themselves to conformity just to be comfortable, while others refuse. Both died in the end. The two deaths represent both the death of all societal conditions of discrimination and confusion. The birth of Lena’s child who is a character of innocence and purity of intentions suggest the inevitable role of equality and reason in liberating from repression. In short, the way the narrator has exposed to us the events call for some historical, analytical, political and even philosophical understanding. We can not directly buy the motives presented by the narrator nor could we simply rely on the gossips of the townspeople in determining the truth. The author concealed information about the characters because the facts are treated less important more than the sentiments and beliefs that transpired in every act. The story does not even call for a â€Å"guess who† or â€Å"find out† type of goal. The tone which is one of confused nature is intended, effective and meaningful. The essence of the novel lies in that tendency of the reader to feel rather than to be satisfied, to yield an inquiring mind rather than a comfortable ending. As in the previous sections of Light In August, in the final chapters Faulkner meditates on the problems of storytelling. The information of the death of Christmas was revealed by an unknown character while the case of Lena and Byron were also resolved by a seemingly insignificant character. This poses before us that in normal circumstances, the â€Å"prominent† consisting of the highly-educated, and the elite is the source of all â€Å"perceived† truths and knowledge. We accept them not because they are real but because of the stature of the source- not knowing that beyond class, truth is not exclusive to the authority and the â€Å"famous†. The author suggests that the ability to give the past significant power in the present as it is highlighted in the discussion of Hightower’s life in the last chapter may be the key to enlightenment. In our society now and the way it is constructed, much is derived from the remains of history. The themes of racism, discrimination and inequalities for example are rooted in our colonial past. There is no light in August if these are not delved into, considered and critically understood.    How to cite Light in August: An Analysis, Essay examples