Huckleberry Finn Pastoral Analysis

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn exploits the ills of society by promoting individual thought through the na?ve and innocent character, Huck Finn. For Huck to become an individual he had to escape from society to nature or the pastoral. The pastoral setting is often depicted on pasture with sheep, a shepherd, and serenity, but the pastoral setting, in this novel, is instead portrayed as that natural, but the turmoil of the Mississippi River. Yes, the image of the Mississippi River contradicts with the original image of the pastoral, but it is a useful component of the novel in providing Huck and Jim a way of escape from society rules and ideology. The dilemma Huck faces with his friendship with Jim in the novel is contradicting with society?s ideology of slavery. The problem the …show more content…
As well as the assumption the pastoral is just an escape to be lazy and become burdens of society. It is the interaction between Huck Finn and the pastoral is what helps elevate the pastoral and Huck to the real meaning of the novel. The pastoral does not merely assist with adventure side of the story or is the source of laziness; it plays a prominent and complex role in the novel; furthermore, the purpose involves shaping the progression of Huck?s character to face the immorality and wickedness of society.
To society?s perspective, being civilized is a must to prevent chaos. From the Widow and Miss. Watson, civilizing Huck meant teaching him about praying, the good place, helping other, and not being selfish. All these lessons were valuable and good ideas, but the problem Huck does not understand the real application of these lessons while staying with the Widow and Miss. Watson. Huck attempts to figure out why helping people are important, but just comes up with the useless conclusion of there is ?no advantage about it-except for the other people??