Huckleberry Finn Essay on being civilized by mundeazy

Essay by nabhatiesHigh School, 12th gradeA, December 2004

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Huck Finn has lived a life of absolute freedom; he isn't used to following any rules or orders from anyone. In the start of the story, Huck moves in with the Widow Douglas and her sister Miss Watson. Both women are fairly old and are really somewhat incapable of raising a rebellious boy like him. Nevertheless, they attempt to "sivilize" him, in hoping to make him a better person.

The Widow Douglas and Miss Watson make Huck go to school, teach him various religious facts, and make him act in a way they believe is socially acceptable. Huck, who isn't used to this, runs away. He soon comes back, but, even though he becomes comfortable with this new lifestyle, he never really enjoys the life of manners, religion, and education that the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson impose on him.

From the very beginning, Huck states that he doesn't want to conform to society; "The Widow Douglas she took me for her son, she would sivilize me...

I got into my old rags and my sugar hogshead again, and was free and satisfied." Miss Watson lives with Huck and she is always picking at him, trying to make him become conventional She doesn't let Huck smoke when he wants and she is always nagging. "Miss Watson would say, "Don't put your feet up there, Huckleberry;" and "Don't scrunch up like that, Huckleberry set up straight;" and pretty soon she would say, "Don't gap and stretch like that, Huckleberry why don't you try to behave?."

Huck is an independent person and wants to live a life free of complications. The Widow Douglas would try and explain things to Huck, while Miss Watson would nag him about things. From the beginning of the story we see his instinct come into...