A villainous character is usually described as the complete opposite of the hero in the story. A villain is selfish when the hero is selfless, cruel when the hero is kind, and sometimes evil when the hero is good. The juxtaposition of classic villains and heroes is undeniably important in that, when a reader compares the two characters, it is easy to see how they define each other. The Picaresque novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is no exception to using this tool in order to enhance the way the reader views the protagonist of the story. Mark Twain utilizes villains in order to propel Huck’s character development, thus demonstrating themes of morality and lies and deceit. Throughout Huck Finn, Huck is forced to deal with more than
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Society is violent where Huck is a passivist. Society as a whole acts out of anger and does not care who ends up hurt. The southern, close- knit towns present throughout the story all seem to have a lot in common. After being duped by the conmen, there are multiple towns that attempt to hurt them. The last prank the two men pull is rewarded with a cruel and unusual punishment. Huck reports that “they [are] all over tar and feathers,” (Twain 232). While this might not sound awful a first glance, the more one thinks about this, the more horrifying it becomes. This fate is absolutely torturous if one takes the time to think about what it is really like to have burning hot tar poured on one’s body and then poked with feathers. While the duke and the king are terrible people, society treated them with no respect and acted much more violently than was necessary. When Huck is able to distance himself from these awful acts, the reader is able to notice his full transition. Huck possesses all of the positive aspects that society lacks. Furthermore, society shows a thirst for blood throughout the novel, and it is often corrupt. An example of this trait can be seen in the town where the duke and the king performed their show, The Royal Nonesuch. When the first audience discovers they have been tricked, they plan to “talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town,” (Twain 153). The idea that the people in this group would rather have other people tricked than to be honest with others about losing their money is disgusting. Instead of being truthful about what happens at the show, they talk it up in order for everyone else to lose their money. The people living in this town would rather see others suffer the same fate as them than help one another
Society is violent where Huck is a passivist. Society as a whole acts out of anger and does not care who ends up hurt. The southern, close- knit towns present throughout the story all seem to have a lot in common. After being duped by the conmen, there are multiple towns that attempt to hurt them. The last prank the two men pull is rewarded with a cruel and unusual punishment. Huck reports that “they [are] all over tar and feathers,” (Twain 232). While this might not sound awful a first glance, the more one thinks about this, the more horrifying it becomes. This fate is absolutely torturous if one takes the time to think about what it is really like to have burning hot tar poured on one’s body and then poked with feathers. While the duke and the king are terrible people, society treated them with no respect and acted much more violently than was necessary. When Huck is able to distance himself from these awful acts, the reader is able to notice his full transition. Huck possesses all of the positive aspects that society lacks. Furthermore, society shows a thirst for blood throughout the novel, and it is often corrupt. An example of this trait can be seen in the town where the duke and the king performed their show, The Royal Nonesuch. When the first audience discovers they have been tricked, they plan to “talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town,” (Twain 153). The idea that the people in this group would rather have other people tricked than to be honest with others about losing their money is disgusting. Instead of being truthful about what happens at the show, they talk it up in order for everyone else to lose their money. The people living in this town would rather see others suffer the same fate as them than help one another