EDUCATION IN THE ADVENTURE OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN
温州师范学院外语系98英本(2)班 高玉荣
People who have ever read The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn knows Huck Finn comes
from a broken family, with a drunken father and almost no chance to make a life
for himself. Tom Sawyer, on the other hand, was given a chance. His family is
more of the traditional type and his upbringing seems to contain much more education
than the upbringing that Huck Finn had. But while reading the novel, it occurred
to me that Tom and Huck may have been switched at birth! Huck Finn appears to
have a much better head on his shoulders. He acts more educated and proper than
Tom Sawyer does. Huck understands people and why they do certain things. He is
almost able to predict their next move. He understands Jim and feels compassion
for Jim and his family who he left behind. Huck Finn has all of this insight and
love, but he never had a family or a good education. Tom Sawyer, on the other
hand, acts as if he was brought up by Huck's father. Instead of stealing Jim the
easy way, Tom must make up an extravagant plan to free him and send warning notes
to the family. Why would he do this? Tom thinks that this is just a game, but
Jim and Huck realize that it is a matter of freedom and it could be a matter of
life or death. Tom attempts to act smart, but what he is saying is not always
accurate. Huck just marvels at Tom's vast knowledge, but Huck actually holds the
real power. Why Mark Twain chose to portray these two characters in this manner?
In my opinion, Twain is attempting to show that school is not the only place where
the mind is cultivated. It is also necessary for us to understand human nature
and have compassion for those in need. Perhaps Twain is also trying to unite Americans
by showing that the educated people and less educated ones can unite and we all
share a common bond.
1． Man was born with good nature.
Let's say something about widow Dauglas and Miss Watson first. They try their
best to enlighten Huck. When Huck went her home after Tom told him to go back,
the widow she cried over him, and called him a poor lost lamb, and she called
him a lot of other names, too, but she never meant no harm by it. She put him
in them new clothes again. Miss Watson taught Huck with a spelling-book. They
asked for nothing just wanted to civilize him. In addition, Miss Watson freed
Jim before her death though she had planned to sell him.
2． School is not the only place where the mind is cultivated.
In the first part we have known man was born with good nature. But inevitably
there are many negative characters in the novel. So at the same time we should
know the surroundings around people affect man's characters. School is the main
surrounding, but school is not the only place where the mind is cultivated.
