The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Huck and his Free Spirit

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. 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 the 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 ain't no more feud. But it's kinda slow and takes a long time (cite chapter and name). This is but another example 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 won't kill you if you don't 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 didnt 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 plan 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.

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