Huckleberry Finn

Often in literature, the personalities of characters become complex as they are influenced by outside forces. The same holds true for Huck Finn, the main character of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. Huck has a strong dislike for inhumane acts, such as violence, theft, and cruelty towards others. Huck is also very caring and understanding towards Jim and other characters throughout the book. However these positive traits are contradicted within Huck's personality. In contrast to his detestation for immoral acts, Huck plays practical jokes on people throughout the book. Also, despite his caring and understanding nature, Huck appears to be very racist. However, this racism is mostly influenced by the society Huck lives, the south during the early 19th century. Huck's personality is characterized by a series of contradictions: he hates immoral people and thus feels distrust among them.

The author Mark Twain starts to mock the king and the duke as soon as they are first introduced in the novel. Their appearance gives a negative impression right from the start. The king is described as having, Ð"ўв‚¬Ð*"an old battered-up slouch hat on, and a greasy blue woolen shirt,Ð"ўв‚¬Ð'Ñœ and heÐ"ўв‚¬Ð²„Ñžs wearing, Ð"ўв‚¬Ð*"ragged old blue jeans britches stuffed into his boot tops.Ð"ўв‚¬Ð'Ñœ(Pg. 121) The duke is described as much the same. This first impression makes us feel as if these men are scum and we donÐ"ўв‚¬Ð²„Ñžt have a very good perception of them. The second thing that these men do also is used to mock society in two ways. The first man (the duke) makes up a story that he was actually the Duke of Bridgewater. He said that he was the son of the infant duke that was ignored to take over a position. Not to be outdone, the second man (the king) makes up a story that he was actually the rightful King of France.