Examples Of Romanticism In Huckleberry Finn

Romanticism in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Through the eighteenth century, romanticism was a major movement in regards to art, music, and literature that emphasized the importance of nature, imagination, and old folk traditions. The resulting literature heavily promoted the use of emotions and senses over the use of intellect and reason. In his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain attacks the civilized world and satirizes the romanticism present in the south of his experience. Twain also presents the opposing rationale of realism. Through the alternating presentations of realism and romanticism, Twain criticizes the beliefs and reasoning equipped by Romanticism. Twain provides a secure example of romanticism with Tom Sawyer near the beginning of the novel. When Tom wants to start his gang, he follows stories that he has read for the basis of their actions and the inauguration of the gang. Regarding how the Tom Sawyer Gang will deal with the people that they will not kill when robbing stages and carriages, Tom says that they will "keep them till they're ransomed" (7). However, it is revealed that he does not even know what it means to ransom someone and replies, "But that's what they do. I've seen it in books; and so of course that's what we've got to do" (7). This instance of …show more content…
Huck Finn fails to understand Tom's rationale in trying to complicate matters when there is a simple way to accomplish the task, such as when they are trying to create Jim's escape plan. Huck also reveals his Realistic views when he encountered the Wilks family. While the duke and duchess played out the scenario and posed as people that they were not, Huck could not continue on as his false identity and had to create a way to return the money to the family. This strong longing to return to a sense of reality and stay true to his beliefs exemplifies his Realistic