1. Rebellion against the Father in Huckleberry Finn浦妤
14级文学硕士研究生

2.  Similarities of the two Works
The theme of rebellion—a hostile treatment of the father figure.
The death of the father figure brings a curious sense of relief/release for the reader.
From the psychoanalytic viewpoint, all the rebellion is in essence a rejection of parental, especially paternal authority.

3. Rebellion and Escape
From the Sociological viewpoint, Huck rebels against the unjust, inhumane restrictions of a society.
His father, the lowest denominator of social authority.
His escape from his father is similar with Jim’s escape from Miss Watson
From the symbolic perspective, the aim of their escape is to gain freedom and regain the prelapsarian bliss.
In order to reach their aim, they must escape.

4. Similarities between Pap Finn and Miss Watson
Extremes
of authority
the most contemptible
the most respectable
Social & legal morality
The sole guardian by law
Hold near-absolute power over Huck/ Jim
An authority condoned by society
Authority
Superego
Huck refused to turn Jim in to authorities.
They escaped the oppressive tyranny/cruel restraints.(超我的压迫暴虐与残忍束缚)

5. ★ Linked analogy between the structure of this novel and the Freudian structure of the human psyche.
Images/ events in the novel
Psychoanalytic Interpretation
River
female/maternal imagery
Dark & mysterious serenity of the river(P139)
prenatal state & death
The tension between land & water
conscious & unconscious
Huck’s escape
finds the symbolic mother in the river
returns to the womb and undergoes symbolic death and rebirth
★James M. Cox, fake murder—without identity—rebirth at the river bend—recreate himself.

6. Jim, a hermaphroditic figure.
Blackness—darkness
(death, the unconscious & the maternal）
Jim’s qualities are more maternal than paternal.
(gentleness/loyalty/kindness)

7. A Story of the Child as victim
Philip Young has detected similarities between Huck’s plight and the Hemingway hero.
A man who lives correctly, following the certain principles of honor, courage, and endurance which in a life of tension and pain make a man a man.
Huck, the wounded child is scarred by traumas of death and violence.
An excessive exposure to violence and death produced a compulsive fascination with dying, an ideal symbol for it.
This ideal symbol is the dark river.
Freudian death instinct: all the living things return to the nonliving state and thereby achieve permanent surcease from the pain of living.
生命的诞生既催生了维持生命的意愿，也导致了趋向死亡的冲动。《自我与本我》