The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Context & Writers Techniques

Context

Brief Biography of Mark Twain

Early Life:

• Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in 1835, grew up in Missouri, a slave state. His childhood experiences with slavery profoundly influenced his writings. Early Career:

• As a teenager, Twain worked as a printer's apprentice and later as a typesetter. He contributed articles and humorous sketches to his brother Orion's newspaper. Travels and Writing:

• Twain spent much of his life travelling across the United States and wrote extensively about his adventures. Death:

• Twain died of a heart attack in 1910.

  

Steamboat Pilot:

• On a voyage to New Orleans, Twain decided to become a steamboat pilot. The Mississippi River later became a significant setting in many of his works. Major Works:

• He is best known for his novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), the latter often considered the Great American Novel.

The Novel's History

• When and Where Written: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was written in Hartford, Connecticut, and Quarry Farm, located in Elmira, New York.
• Publication: The novel was published in 1884 in England and 1885 in the United States.
• Initial Reception: The novel received mixed reviews upon release but has since been hailed as one of the greatest works of American literature.

Literary Contexts

Historical and Political Context

• Reconstruction Era: Twain began writing the novel during the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War ended in 1865 and slavery was abolished. Despite the abolition of slavery, African Americans faced systematic oppression through Jim Crow laws, which institutionalized racial segregation.
• Abolitionist Views: Twain, a staunch abolitionist, critiques the racial segregation and oppression of his day through the theme of slavery in Huckleberry Finn.
• Second Great Awakening: The novel also reflects Twain's critical view of religious revivalism during the Second Great Awakening, highlighting the hypocrisy and zealotry he perceived in some Christian practices.

Cultural and Social Context

• Picaresque Novel: Huckleberry Finn follows the tradition of picaresque novels, characterized by episodic structures and satirical social critiques. It is influenced by Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote.
• Realism vs. Romanticism: The novel challenges romantic epics like Herman Melville's Moby-Dick with its realism and local colour, providing a more practical perspective through Huck's adventures.
• Literary Influences: Twain's work can be compared to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, which also addresses the injustices of slavery, though Huckleberry Finn is seen as more literary rather than propagandistic.

Philosophical, Religious, and Intellectual Ideas

• Critique of Society: The novel offers a critique of societal norms and values, particularly regarding slavery and racial discrimination.
• Moral Growth: Huck's moral development and his internal conflict between societal values and his conscience are central to the narrative.
• Hypocrisy of Civilization: Twain explores the hypocrisy and corruption of "civilized" society, contrasting it with the more honest and unpretentious life along the Mississippi River.

Useful Concepts to Be Aware of in the Novel

• Dialect: Twain employs various local dialects in the novel, meticulously reproducing regional speech patterns with idiosyncratic spelling and grammar to add authenticity and depth to the characters.
• Satire: The novel uses satire to critique social norms, particularly those related to race, slavery, and religion.
• Bildungsroman: Huckleberry Finn can be seen as a bildungsroman, focusing on Huck's growth and development as he navigates moral dilemmas and societal expectations.
• Freedom and Slavery: Central to the novel are the themes of freedom and slavery, both in the literal sense (Jim's escape from bondage) and in the metaphorical sense (Huck's quest for personal freedom).
• Friendship and Loyalty: The evolving friendship between Huck and Jim highlights themes of loyalty, trust, and human connection transcending racial boundaries.
• Moral Ambiguity: The novel explores the complexity of moral decisions, with Huck often caught between his ingrained prejudices and his developing sense of right and wrong.

Writer's Techniques

Structure and Plot

Picaresque Structure

• "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" employs a picaresque structure, presenting an episodic narrative that follows the adventures of its protagonist, Huck Finn.
• Each episode or chapter introduces new characters and situations, highlighting social issues and moral dilemmas prevalent in pre-Civil War America.

Realistic and Detailed Descriptions

• Twain provides vivid and detailed descriptions of the Mississippi River and the American South, grounding the novel in a realistic setting.
• The natural environment plays a crucial role in shaping the narrative and Huck's journey, emphasizing the themes of freedom and adventure.

Bildungsroman Elements

• The novel is also a bildungsroman, detailing Huck's moral and psychological growth as he grapples with societal norms and his conscience.
• Huck's evolving relationship with Jim, a runaway slave, serves as a central plotline, illustrating Huck's journey from prejudice to empathy and moral independence.

Language and Style

Use of Dialect

• Twain employs various regional dialects to authentically capture the voices of his characters, particularly Huck and Jim.
• This use of vernacular speech enhances the realism of the novel and provides insight into the characters' backgrounds and social standings.

Satire and Irony

• Twain's satirical tone is evident throughout the novel as he critiques the hypocrisy and absurdities of society, particularly regarding slavery and racism.
• Irony is a key stylistic device, with Huck's naive and straightforward narration often highlighting the moral failings of the adult world around him.

Symbolic Names

• Characters in the novel often have symbolic names that reflect their traits or societal roles.
• For example, "Huck" suggests his rough, unrefined nature, while "Jim" is a common name that underscores his everyman status as a slave seeking freedom.

Symbols

The Mississippi River

• The Mississippi River is a central symbol in the novel, representing freedom and the possibility of a new life away from the constraints of society.
• For Huck and Jim, the river is a sanctuary where they can escape their respective oppressions and form a bond based on mutual respect and humanity.

The Raft

• The raft symbolizes the fragile yet hopeful space of freedom and camaraderie that Huck and Jim create together.
• It represents an alternative social order based on equality and trust, contrasting with the corrupt and oppressive societies they encounter onshore.

The Fog

• The fog that envelops Huck and Jim during their journey is a symbol of confusion and moral ambiguity.
• It highlights the uncertainty and danger of their quest for freedom, as well as the challenges Huck faces in making ethical decisions.

The Duke and the King

• The con men, the Duke and the King, symbolize the deceit and corruption present in society.
• Their schemes and exploitation of others serve as a critique of the moral decay Twain observed in the social institutions of his time.