According to societal views, happiness and fulfillment can be achieved through a civilized lifestyle. In the novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, however, the protagonist Huck leads an uncivilized lifestyle and, despite this, eventually achieves fulfillment. Through Huck’s thoughts, the reader gains insight into a definition of a fulfilling lifestyle. Twain suggests that despite societal views of leading a civilized lifestyle, an uncivilized lifestyle can be just as fulfilling.
Through Mark Twain’s language, he characterizes Huck as one who rejects the Widow’s civilized lifestyle. As a result of Huck’s residence with Widow Douglas, he frequently finds himself questioning and disapproving of civilized aspects of her life such …show more content…
Huck views this civilized behavior as foreign due to the lack of discipline he received from Pap. The Widow in all her ways was “dismal regular” (Twain 1209). The use of the word “dismal” meaning “causing gloom or depression, dreary, ” (“dismal”) defines “regular”, as “usual or normal”, (“regular”) emphasizing Huck’s lack of desire and his disinterest in what the Widow views as the superior lifestyle. To Huck, Widow Douglas’ life is outlandish, and this establishes Huck’s resistance to “sivilizing”. He sees nothing wrong with wearing his old clothes, eating at an undesignated time, and teaching yourself through life experience. All of this is just as fulfilling to him as a civilized lifestyle is to the Widow. Huck also describes living in a house with the Widow is “rough”. Referring to his new lifestyle as “rough” meaning “difficult to endure or live through” (“rough”) indicates that Huck is not satisfied with his stay there due to all the rules that the widow makes him follow. Huck has not been subject to these rules, so it is normal for him to rebel and gets into his “old rags.” These “old rags” are a symbol of Huck’s life before living with the Widow, which he found fulfilling.
Through Mark Twain’s language, he characterizes Huck as one who rejects the Widow’s civilized lifestyle. As a result of Huck’s residence with Widow Douglas, he frequently finds himself questioning and disapproving of civilized aspects of her life such …show more content…
Huck views this civilized behavior as foreign due to the lack of discipline he received from Pap. The Widow in all her ways was “dismal regular” (Twain 1209). The use of the word “dismal” meaning “causing gloom or depression, dreary, ” (“dismal”) defines “regular”, as “usual or normal”, (“regular”) emphasizing Huck’s lack of desire and his disinterest in what the Widow views as the superior lifestyle. To Huck, Widow Douglas’ life is outlandish, and this establishes Huck’s resistance to “sivilizing”. He sees nothing wrong with wearing his old clothes, eating at an undesignated time, and teaching yourself through life experience. All of this is just as fulfilling to him as a civilized lifestyle is to the Widow. Huck also describes living in a house with the Widow is “rough”. Referring to his new lifestyle as “rough” meaning “difficult to endure or live through” (“rough”) indicates that Huck is not satisfied with his stay there due to all the rules that the widow makes him follow. Huck has not been subject to these rules, so it is normal for him to rebel and gets into his “old rags.” These “old rags” are a symbol of Huck’s life before living with the Widow, which he found fulfilling.