A Question of Civilization in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

At first look, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn may be mistaken for a children’s book about a fictional journey and adventures of a thirteen year old boy. However, deeper analysis demonstrates that in his writing, Mark Twain touched upon several important points for discussion, one of them being Huckleberry’s rebellion and resistance to being civilized. Huckleberry Finn rebels against civilization because he doesn’t agree with its standards, morals, and prefers individual development. Even though Huck Finn undergoes certain changes throughout the progression of the story, his position concerning cultural development is unaffected.

From the very beginning of the story Huckleberry Finn demonstrates his unwillingness to become civilized and behave appropriately, the way “appropriately” is defined by the society he lives in. As the narrator stated “The Widow Douglas, she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways; and so when I could stand it no longer, I lit out” (1) he attempted to escape regulations every time he had a chance to do so. Huck did not accept the rules, such as wearing appropriate nice clothes, coming on time for dinner and waiting for the widow to speak before eating, studying the Bible, going to school, and possessing good manners. His discomfort is clearly noted when he complaints “She put me in them new clothes again, and I couldn’t do nothing but sweat and sweat, and feel all cramped up” (1) in contrast to rebellious “I got into my old rags, and my sugar-hogshead again, and was free and satisfied” (1) where he uses words such as “free” and “satisfied” versus “sweat” and “feel cramped up”.

Huckleberry Finn’s rebellion concerns morals of “civility” as well, especially religious practices. His lack of understanding of religion and the widow’s and Miss Watson’s view of it is what sparks his unacceptance. Huckleberry Finn did not comprehend the importance of spiritual belief and benefit, and viewed religious practices that were taught to him as illogical, as supported by him saying “After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers…Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so then I didn’t care no more about him; because I don’t take no stock in dead people” (2). For Huck the “good” and the “bad” places had their own meaning as well. As the narrator pointed out “Then she told me all about the bad place, and I said I wished I was there…Well, I couldn’t see no advantage in going where she was going, so I made up my mind I wouldn’t try for it” (2). To him, the “good” place seemed dull and boring, meanwhile the “bad” place is where his friend Tom Sawyer will be, therefore, Huck didn’t have any intentions or logical reasons to strive for Heaven. Another important religious part that was rejected by Huck Finn because he did not understand its purpose was prayer. Huck viewed prayer as a way to accomplish materialistic goals, and when that failed he “went out in the woods and turned it over in my mind a long time, but I couldn’t see no advantage about it – except for other people – so at last I reckoned I wouldn’t worry about it any more, but just let it go” (8).

Huckleberry Finn’s preference of self development played a significant role in his rebellion against being civilized. He was able to break away from the standards of society and create his own rules and morals which completely satisfied him. Huck proved to himself and to the reader that there is no one holding him back from individualism when he mimicked his death and escaped to an island to live on his own, leaving all the people that took a part in his life behind. When Huck stated “Jim, this is nice…I wouldn’t want to be nowhere else but here” (37) as he and Jim were in harsh conditions during a storm, it demonstrates that Huck is satisfied with his decisions and his way of living, as long as he is the one making these decisions. On the contrary side, he was feeling uncomfortable when he was being “civilized” by being dressed into nice clothes, sleeping on a comfortable bed, and going to school. Throughout his journey, Huck not only learned individuality and self dependence, but also enhanced certain skills that could not always be taught in school, such as real life situation reasoning, as proven by “hold on, – s’pose you’d a done right and give Jim up; would you felt better than what you do now? No, says I, I’d feel bad – I’d feel just the same way I do now” (69). Huckleberry is able to reason with himself and reach a logical answer, a quality that represents maturity. In contrast, not even all adults are able to express this quality, as is demonstrated when the duke yells at the king “Leggo the boy, you old idiot! Would you a done any different? Did you inquire around for him, when you got loose? I don’t remember it” (155). This proves that even though Huck is not being civilized, doesn’t attend school, and doesn’t behave “properly,” he is well suited for life and its situations, which is what matters the most.

The final quote of the book “I reckon I got to light out for the territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally, she’s going to sivilize me and I can’t stand it. I been there before” (220) indicated that Huck has not changed his mind about being civilized and views it the same way he did at the beginning of the book. The ironic use of word “sivilize” in the beginning of the book and at the end of the book adds on to the fact that he has not learned grammar, religion, or standards of behavior, and therefore remained uncivilized, even though with the progression of the book Huck matured and developed greatly, not only as a character, but as a young adult. Thus, does Huckleberry Finn’s rebellion against being civilized necessarily mean lack of civilization?