Society views chronic drunkenness as a disturbance, and they try to change alcoholics. Huck’s father Pap abuses alcohol. Pap has not been apart a large part of Huck’s life. After a few months of not seeing his Father, Huck finds Pap in his bedroom. Pap spends sometime in town, but his only motivation is to take Huck’s money he receives from the government. Judge Thatcher takes Pap in and tries to “make a man of him”. The Judge “[dresses] him up clean and nice”, so that he looks presentable (Twain 23). Society considers Pap to be inferior to the rest of them. If they did not believe he is inferior, then they would not try to change him. By trying to change Pap society wants everyone to follow the same set of rules, but those who do not will be expected to change. The author suggests that society does not address problems within itself but rather change and address problems of outcasts. Similar to Pap, Boggs abuses alcohol. Boggs is known in Arkansas, as a drunk who threatens people but he “never hurt nobody, drunk nor sober” (Twain 130). Boggs comes into town drunk and threatening Col. Sherburn, one day. Col. Sherburn is fed up with Boggs, so he shoots Boggs and “[walks] off” (Twain 131). The crowd believes that “Sherburn ought to be lynched”, but Sherburn never is hanged for the crime he commits. Sherburn is …show more content…
One night Huck goes on an adventure with Tom to steal items from Miss Watson’s home. However, Miss Watson’s slave, Jim, falls asleep on a tree. Tom wants to “tie Jim to the tree for fun” (Twain 9). Since slaves are considered property, Tom wants to play a cruel trick on Jim. If Jim were a white man, Tom would never suggest to tie him to a tree without doing anything to deserve it. Similarly, society did not consider black relationships as important, so they destroy them. The Wilks are three sisters who have just lost their father. Huck stays with the family because two con artists he is travelling with are pretending to be their uncles. All their property, including slaves, is being sold because the three sisters are moving to England with their uncles. Mary Jane cries because her slaves “warn’t ever going to see each other no more” (Twain 169). Slaves are used to benefit those who fit into society. In Tom’s case, tying Him to the tree would give him joy and entertainment, while Jim would be humiliated and frightened. In Mary Jane’s case, her family would be gaining money for the slaves, while the slaves are ripped away from the people they love and care for. In both cases, slaves are given little to no value. The author implies that outcast, slaves, are controlled and dehumanized in order to help those who fit into