A Critical Commentary on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is set in St. Petersburg, USA, and serves as the boyhood recollections of Huck. The novel is often praised for its humor, with many comedic elements throughout. However, it is more frequently criticized for its bad grammar, coarseness, and perceived lack of seriousness. Written in the style of local color, dialects, and imperfect grammar are considered tolerable because the characters in the novel are portrayed as ignorant. They speak with a southern accent, and many of them are black, whose English is not perfect. This results in numerous grammatical errors, but this is an intentional and realistic choice by Twain.

The novel is deeply serious, tackling issues such as racism, social defects, impostors in society, and a lack of laws. Ernest Hemingway has notably praised the work. Huck’s recounting of his own story, with its superb rendering of dialect, speech, and idioms, further adds to the realism of the novel. Despite appearances, the book is not confined to the sensuality and limited vocabulary of a 14-year-old boy. While it may seem light-hearted because of Huck’s age, the story, through the innocence of a child’s perspective, addresses many serious themes.

Huck represents the genuine outlaw, helping a fugitive black man, being dirty, illiterate, indifferent to religion, and resistant to the restrictions of civilization. He refuses to conform to social responsibilities and is a completely individualistic boy. Huck speaks in blunt, practical terms, constantly referring to profit and advantage. He is not particularly romantic, and his outlook is grounded in realism. Tom Sawyer, in contrast, is often seen as a more romantic figure, while Huck is more practical and realistic.

Although Huck longs for a simpler, more natural life, nature itself is not romanticized in this realist novel. As Huck and Jim travel down the Mississippi River, their raft becomes a symbol of peace and freedom, and their friendship grows stronger. Huck’s internal battle regarding whether to help Jim, coupled with his growing opposition to slavery, is one of the most moving aspects of the book. Huck faces a moral challenge: whether to help Jim or not.

While the Mississippi River is not free from evil, the land represents a stronghold of cruelty and prejudice, making Huck’s desire to escape even more poignant. The river and the island also serve as shelters for Huck and Jim, adding to the symbolic nature of their journey.