THEMES, SYMBOLS…. AND GEN’RAL STUFF I RECKON’ YA OUTTA LEARN

Conflict between civilization and "natural life" “Human beings can be awful cruel to one another.”

Honor: Doing the RIGHT thing The moral law supersedes government law. By protecting the black slave Jim, Huck breaks man-made law and feels guilty. But he refuses to turn Jim in because his moral instincts tell him he is doing the right thing. “Well, if ever I struck anything like it, I’m a nigger. It was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race.” "What's the use you learning to do right, when it's troublesome to do right and ain't no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?"

Race/Racism Does Huck condemn racism/slavery? "I do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their'n. It don't seem natural, but I reckon it's so.” OR Is it SATIRE? When Aunt Sally asks "Tom Sawyer" why he was so late in arriving, he tells her the ship blew a cylinder head. "Good gracious! Anybody hurt?" she asks. "No'm. Killed a nigger." "Well, it's lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt," she responds.

Race/Racism

Freedom All human beings are free, independent, and equal members of society. "I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can't stand it. I been there before."

Superstition Read Chapter 10

Wisdom Wisdom comes from the heart, not the head. The educated characters in the novel are often deeply flawed in some way–self- righteous, prejudiced, quixotic, bound to tradition. However, the uneducated–namely, Huck and Jim–exhibit a natural, intuitive understanding of the world. Though ignorant in many ways, they are wise in the ways that count, relying on conscience, common sense, and compassion to guide them.

Greed/Money Greed prompts Pap Finn to gain custody of Huck. It is the love of money that motivates the Duke and the King to work their scams. And, most important of all, it is the love of money that makes southerners retain the institution of slavery.

Mississippi River- THE symbol of the novel On the river and along its banks, Huck and Jim witness life and death, tragedy and comedy, strife and peace The river symbolizes freedom, in contrast to the restrictions and responsibilities Huck experiences on land. By the end of the journey, the river will have served as the vehicle for Huck’s development to maturity and for Jim’s transformation.

The Role of the Mississippi River in the Adventures of Huck Finn

Popularity of the Adventures of Huck Finn