Introduction
Mark Twain was a celebrated American writer and humorist whose real name was Samuel Clemens. He is best known for his literature works, Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and for his iconic use of the vernacular language, satire and wit. But what inspired him to write the acclaimed novel, Huckleberry Finn?
Many experts argue that Mark Twain’s personal experiences growing up influenced him to write Huckleberry Finn. He was born in a humble family in the 19th century and worked a number of low wage and menial jobs, such as a navy soldier, a printer’s apprentice, a riverboat captain and a miner. Twains’ exposure to people and places of the Mississippi River during his childhood years also shaped his writing.
Detailed Experience
Mark Twain’s memoir, Life on the Mississippi, speaks volumes of his inspiration to write Huckleberry Finn. In the memoir, Twain illustrates why he loved the Mississippi, offering the reader a vivid description of his childhood experiences and the history he associated with it. As a child, Twain traveled frequently on the Mississippi via steamboat, undoubtedly experiencing adventures of his own along the way and observing different lifestyles.
The essence of being a child also inspired Twain’s writing of Huckleberry Finn. The character of Finn speaks directly to the emotions of a young boy as well as to the core of his desire to remain childlike and carefree despite the pressing oppressive laws and conventions of the white adult world. Being a father, Twain knew only too well how children yearned to be free and independent.
Religious and Racial Themes
In addition, Mark Twain’s views on religion and race were far ahead of his time, often expressed in his writings. Twain was strongly against slavery, and this sentiment is expressed through the character of Jim, a runaway slave in Huckleberry Finn. What’s more, Twain also took aim at religious hypocrisy, noting the discrepancy between religion values and its real-world applications.
Literary Style
On the literary front, Twain introduced a new form of writing, one of which is expressed in Huckleberry Finn. He used realistic and colloquial language rather than the overly formal language used by the literati of the time. While this form of writing was widely accepted by modern readers, at the time of its publication, it did not comply with the accepted norms, and as a result, his masterpiece was met with some criticism.
Themes
The story of Huckleberry Finn touches on several themes and explores ideas such as freedom,the search for identity and the value of friendship. It follows the journey of the protagonist, young Huckleberry Finn, and an escaped slave, Jim, and their quest to gain freedom. Along their path, they face several moral challenges. In the novel, Twain delves into the moral duality of human action and the peculiar ideology of the South during postbellum America.
The Power of Friendship
At the center of the novel is the powerful theme of friendship, and Twain clearly depicted the strength of the bond between Huck and Jim. Twain allowed the friendship between the two characters to be free of prejudice, showcasing true and mutual respect. The story sends a powerful message of the power of friendship, the need to be unafraid of different cultures and the obligation to do the right thing.
Courage and Kindness
The character of Huck in Huckleberry Finn is one of courage and kindness, something Twain explored and illustrated in the narrative. Often, when faced with moral dilemmas, the young protagonist is forced to deliver his own judgement on matters. Intertwined with the events of their journey, along with Huck’s internal struggles, Huckleberry Finn manages to portray a number of valuable life lessons as well as deliver messages of courage and kindness.
Freedom of Thought
Ultimately, the narrative of Huckleberry Finn is about the struggle for freedom and the pursuit of happiness. To Twain, freedom of thought and expression was of the highest importance, something the protagonist of his novel is ultimately able to achieve. Through his story, Twain speaks of the need for people to break through societal conventions, express individuality and pursue true freedom and happiness.
South’s Caste System
Although the story of Huckleberry Finn is set in the 19th century American South and postbellum period, it speaks to audiences in all times. Twain did not express any direct judgements on slavery and other social conventions of the South, but we can observe the effect of the region’s caste system on the characters. Through Jim and Huck, Twain displayed how social constraints limit a person’s potential and suppress their possibilities of freedom and happiness.
Huck’s Moral Values
Throughout the novel, we see the behavior of Huck and how he develops those of his moral values. Through his companionship and bond with Jim, Huck is able to break away from the norms of his society, ultimately finding strength of character and an unwavering sense of morality. His struggle to act based on conscience, rather than following societal conventions of his times, is an important message from the novel and speaks of the power of kindness rather than the influence of social norms.
Southern Slang
Finally, the incorporation of Southern slang in his narrative gave Huckleberry Finn a special flavor. Twain employed a vernacular and spontaneous way of writing, straying away from the more eloquent and proper language of the established literary works of the day. This linguistic innovation bridged the gap between literature and literature of the common people, and helped make Twain’s works part of the American literary canon.
