Psychoanalytic Theory in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a reoccurring theme throughout the novel involves the moral education of Huck. This theme of positive character development within the harsh social constructs of the 1930’s and 1940’s, defines Huck’s morality. The psychoanalytic literary theory helps support this theme of choosing morals over the majority of society.
Throughout the teachings shown to Huck by the Widow Douglas and the society around him, he chooses to go against those teachings to do what he believes is right. “Then he got up slow and walked to the wigwam, and went in there, without saying anything but that. But that was enough. It made me feel so mean I could almost kissed his …show more content…
There are parts of this character where he debates within himself to what is right or wrong, as in the scene of the wrecked steamboat. “...There’s a gang of murderers in yonder, and if we don't hunt up their boat and set her drifting down the river so these fellows can't get away from the wreck, there’s one of’em going to be in a bad fix...” (Twain, 56). Huck explains how he wants to avenge the victims of the steamboat by letting the escape boat of the robbers go down the river, so that they would be stuck on the wrecked boat (Luckily, Jim prevents this by mentioning the lost of their own raft). When Huck notices the robbers inevitable fate after Huck and Jim escape, he second guesses his previous thought of justice for the victims. “Now was the first time that I begun to worry about the men- I reckon I hadn't had time before. I begun to think how dreadful it was, even for the murderers, to be in such a fix.” (Twain, 58). This is an example of Huck’s growth, Huck wanted to hurt the murderers for what they did, but after the murders got that they deserved anyways, Huck felt bad. He put himself into the shoes of those on the steamboat, feeling dreadful for even the bad guys of the situation. Huck goes in between choices, of what he thinks is the best decision by acting on impulse (the id), or by letting things go their own way. Huck shows a type of desire of feeling bad for the murders, looking to them as
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a reoccurring theme throughout the novel involves the moral education of Huck. This theme of positive character development within the harsh social constructs of the 1930’s and 1940’s, defines Huck’s morality. The psychoanalytic literary theory helps support this theme of choosing morals over the majority of society.
Throughout the teachings shown to Huck by the Widow Douglas and the society around him, he chooses to go against those teachings to do what he believes is right. “Then he got up slow and walked to the wigwam, and went in there, without saying anything but that. But that was enough. It made me feel so mean I could almost kissed his …show more content…
There are parts of this character where he debates within himself to what is right or wrong, as in the scene of the wrecked steamboat. “...There’s a gang of murderers in yonder, and if we don't hunt up their boat and set her drifting down the river so these fellows can't get away from the wreck, there’s one of’em going to be in a bad fix...” (Twain, 56). Huck explains how he wants to avenge the victims of the steamboat by letting the escape boat of the robbers go down the river, so that they would be stuck on the wrecked boat (Luckily, Jim prevents this by mentioning the lost of their own raft). When Huck notices the robbers inevitable fate after Huck and Jim escape, he second guesses his previous thought of justice for the victims. “Now was the first time that I begun to worry about the men- I reckon I hadn't had time before. I begun to think how dreadful it was, even for the murderers, to be in such a fix.” (Twain, 58). This is an example of Huck’s growth, Huck wanted to hurt the murderers for what they did, but after the murders got that they deserved anyways, Huck felt bad. He put himself into the shoes of those on the steamboat, feeling dreadful for even the bad guys of the situation. Huck goes in between choices, of what he thinks is the best decision by acting on impulse (the id), or by letting things go their own way. Huck shows a type of desire of feeling bad for the murders, looking to them as