Few stories can boast such an authentic experience as Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. From the first sentence, the broken Southern dialogue immerses the reader in the 19th Century Missouri world Twain grew up in. The captivating adventures of Huck are not simply fanciful wonders of an imaginative author, they are built upon the experiences of a person who endured the hardships and joys of river life. Far more than mere entertainment, this tale is a window into a lifestyle and time that has long since past.
Frontier America in the 1800’s was a place of danger and endless work, but also beauty and opportunity. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” displays all the wonders of a young boy’s world on the river, through his eyes. The reader does not …show more content…
The actual implementation of these equalizing standards, however, proved more difficult. Personal views are not directly affected by legislation, and the legislation of the time was up against years of social structure. In this climate of change and protest, Huckleberry Finn was a view of the life the country had just left. The ending (which is possibly the most controversial aspect of the book) actually shows the end of this lifestyle, with Jim being freed. Whether it was his intent or not, Twain illustrated the closing of a chapter in American history, just as the next chapter began.
In today’s world, issues with race are still prevalent. The ever-important context of these issues, however, and their consequences are profoundly different from the world of 1885. Over 130 years have past since the close of the Civil War. Those legislative remedies that were combating tradition and personal bias have become the new social norm. Slavery is obviously no longer a part of the nation’s culture. African Americans and other minorities are now accepted in society; there has even been a black president. The world of the 2000’s differs in almost every aspect from …show more content…
The story was not merely a fictional tale of boyish exploits, but an invitation into a world long past from a man who lived it. Beyond the historical significance, the novel also explores the highs and lows of human nature. From a young boy committing what he believed to be an unforgivable trespass in order to save a friend to an unscrupulous father kidnapping his own son for money, Twain illustrates mankind’s moral dilemma perfectly.
The context of my life does not differ greatly from that of Common Sense Media, as their review was written just a few years prior to this writing. In my life, I have experienced very little that could be compared to 1885, with issues of race being much milder and the animosity between North and South dissipating. The luxury of time enables me to look back onto Twain’s world objectively, or at least more objectively than those who endured it. I see the Southern lifestyle depicted in Huckleberry Finn as simply a point in time, instead of a cultural enemy requiring
Frontier America in the 1800’s was a place of danger and endless work, but also beauty and opportunity. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” displays all the wonders of a young boy’s world on the river, through his eyes. The reader does not …show more content…
The actual implementation of these equalizing standards, however, proved more difficult. Personal views are not directly affected by legislation, and the legislation of the time was up against years of social structure. In this climate of change and protest, Huckleberry Finn was a view of the life the country had just left. The ending (which is possibly the most controversial aspect of the book) actually shows the end of this lifestyle, with Jim being freed. Whether it was his intent or not, Twain illustrated the closing of a chapter in American history, just as the next chapter began.
In today’s world, issues with race are still prevalent. The ever-important context of these issues, however, and their consequences are profoundly different from the world of 1885. Over 130 years have past since the close of the Civil War. Those legislative remedies that were combating tradition and personal bias have become the new social norm. Slavery is obviously no longer a part of the nation’s culture. African Americans and other minorities are now accepted in society; there has even been a black president. The world of the 2000’s differs in almost every aspect from …show more content…
The story was not merely a fictional tale of boyish exploits, but an invitation into a world long past from a man who lived it. Beyond the historical significance, the novel also explores the highs and lows of human nature. From a young boy committing what he believed to be an unforgivable trespass in order to save a friend to an unscrupulous father kidnapping his own son for money, Twain illustrates mankind’s moral dilemma perfectly.
The context of my life does not differ greatly from that of Common Sense Media, as their review was written just a few years prior to this writing. In my life, I have experienced very little that could be compared to 1885, with issues of race being much milder and the animosity between North and South dissipating. The luxury of time enables me to look back onto Twain’s world objectively, or at least more objectively than those who endured it. I see the Southern lifestyle depicted in Huckleberry Finn as simply a point in time, instead of a cultural enemy requiring