Huckelberry Finn – Chapter 1 Commentary

There were things he stretched, but mainly he told the truth. Straight away couple shows us the irony and hypocrisy of American fellowship through the eyes of the young and innocent Huck. For Twains story to come out as he has intended the voice of the narrator is a crucial part. Twain has deliberately chosen a 13-year-old boy as the first person narrator to give the reader a greater sense of belief and curse which Huck quickly gains through his innocence. A young boy such as Huck would be less influenced by the world around him and, therefore, he will be telling the story straight from the heart and what he truly believes in. His vision isnt clouded by the sivilised association, which Twain perhaps purposely uses to hold still for the way in which American society attempts to place people into a certain stereotype.The language Twain has used is very simple which reflects Huck himself. The grammatic exclusivelyy incorrect English. This seems to give Huck more appeal as it furthe r demonstrates his innocence and h nonpareilsty. Further more, Twain provides us with two contrasting characters in the leave Douglas and Miss Watson in both their personalities and language they use. Their main partake is to behave in the manner that is considered by the society to be sivilised. This gives the reader the impression that they atomic number 18 fake and not true to themselves but rather more worried about what others will think of them.From the beginning it is clear that Huck believes to be confine by what he believes to be a confined society. When he is away from this Huck feels free and satisfied but now that the widow and Miss Watson have interpreted to Civilizing Huck, his new clothes symbolise the way in which he is feeling on the inside. Huck feels all cramped up and tiresome and unfrequented. He feels so lonesome that he wishes he was dead. All Huck wants is to go somewhere and he warnt particular. He is so desperate to get away from the society that is con stricting him that Huck wishes he was at the bad place. Twain perhaps uses Miss Watsons criticism of Tom Sawyer going to the good place not by a considerable light as a way to emphasize Hucks fear of being lonely. Huck is very glad at this thought because he wants Tom and him to be together.Perhaps one of Twains greatest concerns about Americas society is its evident hypocrisy. This is greatly exemplified by the widows ban on smoking because it was a mean practice and wasnt clean while she herself took snuff too. As she has authority others are willing to ignore her faults and of course that was all right, because she done it herself, whereas Huck is compelled to follow the rules, only because he has not yet been sivilised. This passage alike seems to explore the idea of criticizing others in order raise themselves. By condemning Huck for smoking, the widow is making herself feel better knowing that she has the authority and that it is all right for her to smoke. Twain uses the ide a of Miss Watson using the spelling book perhaps to symbolise the way in which Huck sees this sivilised society- I couldnt stood it much longer.The societys concern with being respectable is emphasised by the irony that Huck is only allowed to join Toms band of robbers if he goes back to the widow and becomes respectable. A possible hint of this is that no one would suspect a respectable person. The society would straight away try and accuse the unsivilised rather then point the blame on somebody of a respectable status. Therefore, in order for Huck to join the band of robbers he must establish himself as a respectable member of the society so as the blame wont be pointed at him.Throughout the chapter the tone changes but particularly towards the end there is a darkness which is mainly created by the use of sounds. I heard an owl, away off, who-whooing about somebody that was dead, and a whippowill and a dog crying about somebody that was going to die, all add to the lonely irrita bility that Huck is feeling at the time and his wish that he had some company.Through Huck Twain is also able to express his views of racism in American society at the time. The use of the word nigger shows the acceptance of the term. Hucks observation that things go better when mixed up seems to refer to the racial segregation. Twain is perhaps portraying his view that society would be a better place if we all mix up and swap around.As the society in which Huck is being bought up in easy attempts to sivilise him, Hucks character and values seem to grow stronger. As he fights against the society that is attempting to take away his individualism, Huck is determined to stay true to himself and tell the truth, with as little stretches as possible.