Huck Finn Paper

How would you like to have a drunk, abusive father? Well in Huckleberry Finn's everyday life that's what he has to deal with. Huck's father, which he calls Pap, has a really bad drinking problem which adds on to his abusive ways. In this story Huck inherited a large sum of money and the towns people knew that Pap would be coming for him and the money. Pap is characterized different from the novel, the movie, and Big River, can he really be compassionate? Pap seems to be victimized by the government as the town drunk and not a good role model for his son, but it turns around when he shows compassion when he thinks Huck has died.

In the movie Huck portrays his death so he could escape his abusive father. When Pap arrives to the made up murder scene he seems very upset. Pap started crying and screaming at the thought of his son being murdered. The money that Huck inherited was the driving force for Pap to be reunited with him. The made up death however shows that Pap wanted to be a part of Huck's life. Pap wanted what was best for Huck. It seemed like Pap wanted to be a part of Huck's life that's why he brought Huck out to the cabin to where no one could civilize him.

In the novel, Pap didn't seem to care about Huck. The only reason he wanted to take Huck into his custody was for the money so he could buy alcohol, as that's what the people in the town thought. Huck was afraid of his father since he always abused him. "I used to be scared of him all the time, he tanned me so much. I reckoned I was scared now, too" (Twain 19). Huck was in a good home, living with Widow Douglas and Mrs. Watson; he was actually getting educated and the positive teaching such as praying as he should. "She told me to pray everyday" (Twain 12). Pap didn't want that; he didn't feel the need for his son to be educated if he wasn't. "You're educated, too, they say--can read and write. You think you're better'n your father, now, don't you, because he can't?" (Twain 21). Even though Pap was very abusive, a drunk and seemed to be really mean, he struggled through the death of his son.

In Big River, Pap and Huck are victimized by the government. The song "Guv'ment", The song "Guv'ment", shows the struggle Pap has with the government.