The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a thrilling and complex novel. It seems to have it all: well-developed characters, original adventures, detailed settings, humor, and a deep theme. No wonder Mark Twain is called the "greatest American humorist of his age" and considered one of the best American authors ever.
The characters in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are interesting and well-developed. The Duke and the King are the most fascinating of them all. The Duke and the King are like Professor Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Besides their obvious similarity in all being con men, there are many more comparisons. In both books, the reader immediately knows they are fakes, as do the main characters, Huck and Harry. Although it is so obvious to us and to some characters, the majority of the people are fooled by their act. Also, although both Huck and Harry know about them being con men, they do not try to expose them. Huck does reveal the Duke and King's true nature, but most of the time he, like Harry, is just astounded by people's gullibility, not caring if people see the truth.
The scene at the Phelps's house is very unrealistic. Huck Finn is usually plausible and only fantastical in character's extreme actions. The scene with the Phelps does not follow that plot line. The fact that the family who imprisons Jim happens to be Tom Sawyer's family and he is about to visit is just too many coincidences. Other events in the story are spectacular, but they could happen to anyone if sought out. However, pretending to be the Phelps's relative, Tom Sawyer,whom Huck knows everything about,is just too much unbelievable luck.
I really do not like people's attitude to black people back then, especially Huck's. People in the pre-Civil War era treated blacks like dirt because of their bigotry and greed, and then had the audacity to teach them "Christian Ways." Huck disappointed me because I thought a boy in his situation would have more sympathy and understanding for Negros. He lived most of his life thought of as less than a person. In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer he was thought of as a cretin, a son of a drunk. Yet he rose above these circumstances and became a person that when thought dead many respected people searched for and mourned him. He of all people should understand that even if others did not think so, Jim was a human. Even though he noticed endless similarities between white and black men, he still did not see the truth because of generations of bigotry. He even called the slaves and his friends the offensive nigger. He constantly thought he would go to Hell because he helped a man or as he called it stealing Miss Watson's "property". I am frustrated that Huck in such a similar place could not empathize with a runaway slave.
The theme of the story is striving for a better life, as that is what all the characters pursued. Even if they went about it the wrong way, it is what drove them to keep fighting. This is human nature. The Duke and the King believed money is what made life better, so that is what they fought for. Pap believed power and booze were the keys to happiness, and thus drank and exerted his power over anyone he could. Since Huck was the only one that abided it, he received the worst of Pap's dominion. Pap still tried to control others like Judge Thatcher, who he tried to force to give up Huck's money. Jim improved his life by running away, because what quality of life could you possibly have if you are not free. Huck strove for the impossible, what would indeed be the perfect living; fun and complete freedom, yet still being cared for and looked after. He did not find it, but instead settled for being wanted and looked after. Huckleberry Finn is a layered book. The first layer is an exiciting adventure, second is the political and economic issues of the time, and third is an accurate and scathing portrayal of the nature of humans and what defines human nature.
