The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin (Reading #2)

   The subject that I'd like to discuss within this chapter, is the hypocrisy of society within the book, how the common goal of society seems to be distorted. 

   The way that Pap interacts with Huck speaks wonders about what Twain would like to reflect about parenting throughout this novel. Not only does Pap ridicule every little thing that the Widow and Ms. Watson preached, he physically punishes Huck for even considering the proper way of life. The physical and verbal bashings that Pap gives Huck ridicules the “proper” parenting that the widow and Ms. Watson instills and the complete lack of parenting that Pap represents.

   Secondly, the Grangerford vs. Shepherdson battle is much like that of William Shakespear’s rendition of Romeo and Juliet; both samples of literature are accusatory of the hypocrisy of society of the time period. To summarize, in each situation, although the families are prosperous and well to do within their communities, they continue to oppose their rival family for no apparent reason! This rivalry stretches to the extent that generations upon generations teach their children to despise the “enemy” although none of the family members can even recall in the slightest why the families began feuding in the first place. In the case in “Adventures of Huckleberry Fin,” The Grangerfords oppose the Shepherdson so incredibly much that they preach to a complete stranger, Huck, that the Shepherdson are just wretched people. The irony in the situation, though, is exposed when each the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons religiously attend church on Sunday, and the preacher’s homily addresses equal and brotherly love.

    Another set of characters that seem to embody the distorted American way, is the Duke and Dauphin. These characters seem to present deception to their core, for they lie about the most basic elements of human identity: their names, heritage, and history. Not only that though, but these con artists also threaten Huck and Jim by saying that they’d expose Jim’s runaway status for a profit. The Duke and Dauphin thrive on nothing more than pure lying and greed.

   The more we, the reader, connects with Huck, the more we personally can feel the effects of the evil characters and evilness of society.