How Does Tom Sawyer Influence Huck Finn

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Some say that throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the main character Huck is innocent and doesn’t seem to grow or mature. Additionally, they critic that this lack of growth and innocence is a weakness to the entire novel. Although these readers have argued that lack of growth and innocence is a weakness to the entire novel, closer examination shows that it is actually a strength.There are factors such as, the battles he has to face, Tom Sawyer's influence, and his way of life that lay the groundwork to this strong and entertaining novel. While examining this novel we can see that there many instances where Huck is faced with battles, both external and internal. Because of his young age, he is able to approach his battles with …show more content…
Kids at a young age usually look up to someone and get inspired. Huck looked up to Tom as an inspiration. Huck is always found reading adventure books written by Tom and always tries to face problems in a way that Tom would approve. When Huck finally meets Tom, he asks him to help Jim, the runaway slave huck is travelling with, escape from where he was being kept. Tom agrees and comes with the absurd and overly complicated plan. “And there ain't no OTHER way, that ever I heard of, and I've read all the books that give any information about these things.They always dig out with a case-knife—and not through dirt, mind you; generally, it's through solid rock. And it takes them weeks and weeks and weeks, and for ever and ever.” (__) Instead of just stealing the keys to unlock Jim’s restraints Tom insists they carry the plan out in a way that he read in the books. Listening to this Hucks questions himself about Tom’s plan being outrageous yet soon submits and follows this the plan. This decision shows the reader that Huck is a kid and he is looking up to his hero. No matter how absurd the plan may seem he wants to have an adventure and experience the thrill alongside his hero. Twain intended this book to be for children when it was written. Any child that read this book most likely is fond of adventure and if Twain decided to make Huck choose the simpler way to help Jim escape then the

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