"The Name is Huck... Huck Finn."

"Make the best o' things the way you find 'em, says I--that's my motto," (Twain 142).

            It was a hazy afternoon when my journey through The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn began. Since this was my first time reading the novel, I did not know what to expect. Mark Twain is a provocative author; he is not afraid to shock his audience, to make them think.  Although I greatly appreciate Twain for his literary talent, I found that each time that I picked up the dauntingly thick book, it was difficult. The language and dialects used throughout the novel were uncommon to me, and with my dyslexic tendencies, reading and comprehending each page of the novel seemed like a long and arduous process. Reading has always been challenging for me, but at times with this novel, it seemed painful...frustrating. Then, realization struck as I read the simple passage above in regards to Huck's motto. Rather than being discouraged, I decided to be like Huck and make the best of my situation. With a newfound perspective, I trudged through the pages, focusing and enjoying the story to be told.

            Novels centered around satire - and exposing the vulgarity of the human race - normally lack enjoyment in my taste  (as my sense of humor never quite grasps irony and sarcasm), but with this novel, I found myself laughing and smiling at Huck's simple thoughts and crazy ploys. Admittedly, I was thoroughly amused with the random happenings that occurred. From traveling down the river, to meeting feuding families, to encountering frauds committing crimes, I was enraptured by Huck's simplicity, but also saddened by the sticky situations he was placed in, along with the grotesque actions of humanity that he was forced to witness. My heart dropped as I watched his childhood innocence slip away. To see a child's eyes open to reality in such a harsh manner is depressing, but inevitable. With the turn of each page, I had only hope that Huck would at least maintain his quirky charm that reminded me he was still young, still able to question the world willingly and innocently. 

            In all, throughout this picaresque novel, I found myself in awe of Huck's unconventional optimism and heroism. For an individual who was constantly exposed to the harsher truths in life, such as having no mother and being abused by an alcoholic father, Huck's ability to cope and survive is admirable. I found myself empathizing with Huck throughout the novel, as many individuals probably can. Whether it be because we also had an alcoholic parent, or a parent who neglected us, or simply the feeling that people only believe the worse in us, we can find some form of commonality with Huck - or at least I did.

            Nevertheless, Huck Finn is a character with flaws, increasing his realistic and relatable qualities. From his moments of guilt and contemplation, to the times that he felt tears brimming in his eyes, Huck's vulnerability as a young boy could be felt; from moments like these, I could see the progression of Huck's maturity-- his coming-of-age. Hence, my favorite aspect during this entire novel was witnessing the moral development of Huck's character. It was fascinating to see how Huck began the novel as a young, rebellious boy who did not quite know right from wrong, or rather, believed it did not matter. To see Huck transform into someone who sees someone as a friend rather than for the color of his skin, someone who learns how to apologize, someone who disagrees with fraud and sets out to make the situation right-- it was heartwarming. Watching Huck develop into a young adult and define his moral beliefs is what kept me invested in the novel; I anxiously anticipated what Huck would do next with the turn of each page.  The lessons, moments of self-reflection, and epiphanies that Huck had throughout the novel were profound, and I found myself having similar realizations and moments of self-reflection. To think about how far I have come in terms of moral development is enlightening, as I reflect upon my own experiences that have taught me right and wrong, good and evil. I can only imagine that Huck felt the same as he floated down the Mississippi River in his raft (canoe, boat, or whatever you wish to call it).

            In testament to Huck's moral development, my favorite passage in the novel highlighting Huck's personal dilemma and uncovered conscious is as follows:

"It was because my heart warn't right; it was because I warn't square; it was because I was playing double. I was letting on to give up sin, but away inside of me I was holding on to the biggest one of all. I was trying to make my mouth say I would do the right thing...go and write to that n's owner and tell where he was; but deep down...I knowed it was a lie--and He knowed it. You can't pray a lie--I found that out," (Twain 222).

            This passage to me shows Huck's deep introspection and the ultimate lesson that we all learn at some point in time as we "come-of-age"-- sometimes the right thing and the wrong thing are the same. While reading, I realized that inevitably, there is not always a clear definition of what is "right" and what is "wrong", but rather it is an issue of what our gut, our conscious, our heart tells us so. As we age, I have learned, we come to decipher and define what is "right" and "wrong" in our own terms, as the definitions that we create for these two simple terms are based upon our experiences and perceptions of those experiences, thus determining our actions, our decisions. It defines what type of adult we will become.

            Overall, I enjoyed Huck's adventures. Although I faced some challenges with literary aspects of the novel, I thoroughly enjoyed the context of the story. In a mere 300 pages, I felt that I witnessed Huck grow as a person. I enjoyed the opportunity to watch him face the realities of life, as well as the rewards that can come from doing right, or at least, doing what is respectable in the eyes of one's self.