Huck Finn: Colonel Sherburn 's Speech
In Mark Twain’s book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, chapters 21 and 22 tell us of a harmless town drunk (Boggs) who meets his untimely demise. Boggs is gunned down by the town 's ruthless and lawless lawman (Sherburn) for slandering his name. The society is full of hypocrisy, who looked on and watched Boggs laid dying in the streets. Huck Finn also was a witness to this heartless act of violence. Sherburn returned home as if nothing happened moments before.
Boggs was “the best natured-est old fool in Arkansaw—never hurt nobody, drunk nor sober.” (Twain, 2003, p.). Boogs character shows that a level of intoxication can alter a person 's behavior. In this case, Boogs became more outspoken and …show more content…
Hang him! Shebrug asks them… Hang who? Hang me?” The people of the town believe it 's an eye for an eye. Sherburn laughs in their faces, telling them you all are a joke. Twain sees that Sherburg is a lying hypocrite who kills at will. He is supposed to protect and de-escalate issues, but he escalates the issues with violent. To add insult to injury, Sherburn begins to belittle Buck Harkness, stating “You brought part of a man—Buck Harkness, here—and if you hadn’t had him to start you, you’d a taken it out in blowing”. (Twain, 2003, p.). This behavior has had a negative impact on the community. Sherburg has taken Boggs life, so now the mob feels Sherburg’s life should be forfeited. However, Sherburg has other ideas. He greets the towns people with a shotgun, and tells them”The pitifulest thing out is a mob; that’s what an army is—a mob; they don’t fight with courage that’s born in them, but with courage that’s borrowed from their mass, and from their officers” (Twain,2003, p.) Twain has proven an angry crowd can not affect change, rather it can be picked apart and judged …show more content…
Huck Finn found this to be entertainment rather than a loss of life. I think Huck does not see Boggs as innocent, rather he see Pap, the towns drunk who he escaped months earlier. Huck witnessing Boggs die was him seeing one more man failed to be a man and protect their family and community. I think Huck witnessing this drunk man get shot was symbolic to him being freed from his past. Trying to escaping his past Huck is constantly reminded of his father downfall. Twain has created an ironic situation in that Pap and Sherburg, were both men whose duty was to protect, yet they were willing to take a life. In the end it was the town’s foolish drunks, Boggs and Pap, who shared the same
In Mark Twain’s book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, chapters 21 and 22 tell us of a harmless town drunk (Boggs) who meets his untimely demise. Boggs is gunned down by the town 's ruthless and lawless lawman (Sherburn) for slandering his name. The society is full of hypocrisy, who looked on and watched Boggs laid dying in the streets. Huck Finn also was a witness to this heartless act of violence. Sherburn returned home as if nothing happened moments before.
Boggs was “the best natured-est old fool in Arkansaw—never hurt nobody, drunk nor sober.” (Twain, 2003, p.). Boogs character shows that a level of intoxication can alter a person 's behavior. In this case, Boogs became more outspoken and …show more content…
Hang him! Shebrug asks them… Hang who? Hang me?” The people of the town believe it 's an eye for an eye. Sherburn laughs in their faces, telling them you all are a joke. Twain sees that Sherburg is a lying hypocrite who kills at will. He is supposed to protect and de-escalate issues, but he escalates the issues with violent. To add insult to injury, Sherburn begins to belittle Buck Harkness, stating “You brought part of a man—Buck Harkness, here—and if you hadn’t had him to start you, you’d a taken it out in blowing”. (Twain, 2003, p.). This behavior has had a negative impact on the community. Sherburg has taken Boggs life, so now the mob feels Sherburg’s life should be forfeited. However, Sherburg has other ideas. He greets the towns people with a shotgun, and tells them”The pitifulest thing out is a mob; that’s what an army is—a mob; they don’t fight with courage that’s born in them, but with courage that’s borrowed from their mass, and from their officers” (Twain,2003, p.) Twain has proven an angry crowd can not affect change, rather it can be picked apart and judged …show more content…
Huck Finn found this to be entertainment rather than a loss of life. I think Huck does not see Boggs as innocent, rather he see Pap, the towns drunk who he escaped months earlier. Huck witnessing Boggs die was him seeing one more man failed to be a man and protect their family and community. I think Huck witnessing this drunk man get shot was symbolic to him being freed from his past. Trying to escaping his past Huck is constantly reminded of his father downfall. Twain has created an ironic situation in that Pap and Sherburg, were both men whose duty was to protect, yet they were willing to take a life. In the end it was the town’s foolish drunks, Boggs and Pap, who shared the same