Resumo de The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

Writing in a period just after the Civil
War, where countless Americans soldiers fell, it is no wonder that the theme of
death and dying is so strong through Twain?s works. The very words ?death? is
among the ones most often repeated throughout Huckleberry Finn. In fact,
the only time the shore society congregates is during a time of death, or the
pursuit of such an end. This is evident in the scene when ?the streets? full,
and everybody excited? to watch the shooting, and later, to lynch Sherburn
(138).

The central
message behind Twain?s works is that society is ubiquitous and inescapable. One
of the most poignant moments is when Huck has an internal battle over whether
or not to turn in Jim. Even though he finally thought he had made up his mind
and was ?all in a sweat to tell on him? (102) when the moment arrived, ?the
words wouldn?t come? and he lied to protect Jim (102). This is the ultimate act
of rebellion against society?s laws, and Huck is very well aware of that. The
extent to which he has internalized society?s rules forces him to make the
awful decision ?I?ll go to hell? (181), rather than tell himself that
there is something inherently wrong with society?s view on slavery. Ultimately,
Huck believes that there is something wrong with himself, and that ?he warn?t
man enough? (102) to act. However, Huck losing this internal battle to society
does not really matter; it is the fact that he made the choice to act
externally that causes his final schism with society. It is the action of
hiding a run away slave that forces Huck to be on the run relentlessly.

One must also consider the character of
Sherburn when examining the topic of an individual who fights against society,
because on the surface, it seems as if he wins. When the mob went to his house to lynch him, he
not only stepped out of his house ?perfectly ca?m and deliberate? (138), but
intimidated the crowd so much that they ?broke all apart? (139). However, a
very clear distinction needs to made here; Sherburn is not a man marginalized
and rebelling against society. Twain deliberately gives him the title of
?Colonel? (137), and the only way that a man is able to ascend the ranks in an
army is to first follow orders. Sherburn intimidates the crowd by holding a
?double-barrel gun in his hand? and ?run his eye slow? along its length, until
the members ?dropped their eyes? (138). These are certainly not unique methods
that have never been employed by members of society before. Finally, he uses
words and logic, once again the construction of society, to label the crowd
?cowards? (139) and forces them to disband out of shame. Thus, although it
seems as Sherburn has managed to fight against society and avoid death, what he
is actually employing the weapons that society has presented him with, and thus
still keeping with societal conventions. If someone as marginalized as Huck had
been in Sherburn?s position, without either education or familiarity of how to
manipulate a man psychologically, he would have met with a very different
end.

At first, it
seems that Twain creates nature to be an place of refuge for the fugitives. The
river first enables Huck to escape from his father, and provides ?baker?s
bread? (69) for him to eat. However, the ?monstrous big river? (120) still
betrays both, as it lures them deeper and deeper south, into the heart of
darkness and slavery. Huck decides to ?light out for the Territory? at the end,
because he ?can?t stand? (230) to be civilized. Even then he realizes that he
will only be ?ahead of the rest? (230) and soon, even nature won?t be able to
conceal him any longer; when this happens, death is the only available option. Although
Twain has left the end of the novel ambiguous as to whether or not Huck
literally dies a physical death, as he is plunged into obscurity with only one
foreseeable future, he is in essence dying a metaphorrical death.

The story is
a bleak one, and Twain forces home the power of society. It is obvious that
Twain himself is a non-conformist at heart, but he has chosen to obey the rules
of society externally, as Samuel Clemens. Only through the persona Mark Twain
is he able to tell stories hypocritically, hiding the message within a
structure that can still be accepted by society. Twain once again demonstrates
that what happens internally does not matter, it is only when those thoughts
start to manifest themselves as actions will there be dire consequences.

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