Social Ostracism in Mark Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay

Social Ostracism in Mark duets Adventures of huckabackleberry FinnIn the words of Pap, You think youre bettern your father, now, dont you, because he groundworkt read and write? (2). In Mark Twains adventure novel Adventures of huckleberry Finn, Huck Finn escapes from cultivated companionship to traverse the Mississippi River. Throughout the book, Twain uses various themes such as social ostracism to comment on human nature and its contri neverthelession in shaping fellowship. Sometimes mainstream society is not as right and moral as it believes, and when individuals try to justify it they push a musical mode their own munificence. Twain demonstrates this through the various lifestyles, comparing the intellects and beliefs of different social classes, and Hucks conforming to each facet of society.One of the first instances Twain uses to portray sociological exclusion reveals itself in the contrast of lifestyles. Throughout his life both prior to and after his murder, circumst ances expose Huck to opposing ways of life including scarcely not limited to rich vs. poor and simple vs. complex. Personifying middle-class society, Widow Douglass acts as a mother figure for Huck, deeming it her duty to sivilize (1) her adopted son, dressing him headspring and sending him to school. On the contrary, Pap observes that Youve Huck put on frills and swears to take him down a peg (14). The two family icons pull Huck in opposite directions, that as influential as they may be, Huck knows he does not have a place in either world. If anything, Huck identifies more with the relaxation of Paps natural way of life than with the materialism of the middle-class of society. Willfully shunning both Pap and Widow Douglas, Huck finds a way to keep Pap and the widow from following him instead of moving far enough off before they missed Huck (31). Furthermore, a contrast of the characteristics of men and women presents itself when Huck attempts a reconnaissance mission as a girl in St. Petersburg. Huck cannot go as himself because society would catch him and return him to what he escapes from, but the way men and women live is different enough that they cannot impersonate each other. Although he practices and thinks he manages, Jims comment that Huck does not walk alike(p) a girl (41) does not do it justice. Almost instantly the woman Huck chooses to question sees through his disguise, explaining that Hi... ...inds a way to fit in precisely to find that he doesnt belongbelonging to all societies, yet none of them. The wholly place where he finds relative peace is on the river. It is the only place where there is nothing to struggle against. Huck is a misfit wherever he goes, rejecting and rejected by mainstream society and every other accepted society that he finds along the river.Throughout his journey, Huck finds different ways of separating himself from society while being a part of it. He sees how quickly life changes and how lifestyles can affect a person. Further set apart by his views, Huck forsakes traditional beliefs for superstition and the balance of luck. Through his journey along the Mississippi River, Huck also understands how much intelligence changes. Feeling no affinity for any aspect of mainstream society he experiences, Huck willingly spurns what he knows as humanity for the society that suits him. At the close of his journey when Aunt Sally makes plans to adopt Huck and sivilize Huck, Huck informs the reader that he has no desire to join high societyhe been there before (220).*The paranthetical documentation is for the Dover Thrift edition of the book.