How Does Tom Influence Huck
In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, the protagonist Huckleberry Finn grows and develops as a character. Huck undergoes a total moral transformation upon having to make life defining decisions throughout his journey for a new life. He is accompanied by his best friend, Tom Sawyer and runaway slave, Jim. Both Tom and Jim play a major role in influencing Huck’s way of thinking. Huck’s friendship with Jim and Tom greatly influence his way of thinking; while Huck looks up to Tom’s sense of adventure and intelligence, Jim’s good nature and steady friendship influence Huck and teach him about morals.
Huck sees everything that he is not and everything he does not have in Tom. Huck admires Tom and everything that he has. Not only does Huck envy Tom’s physical character, he envies his mental character. He believes Tom is intelligent and if “[Huck] had Tom Sawyer’s head, [he] wouldn’t trade it off to be a duke, nor mate of a steamboat, nor clown in a circus, nor nothing [he] could think of” (211; ch.33). Huck admires Tom’s way of thinking. He wishes he could come up with stories and plans as extravagant as Tom’s. Huck talks about Tom as if Tom is royalty. He dreams of having a family and life at home just as Tom does. While Huck feels that he is trash, he sees Tom as “a boy that is respectable and well brought up; and has a character to lose; and folks at home that have characters; and he is bright and not leather-headed; and knowing and not ignorant; and not mean, but kind” (212; ch.33). Huck feels that he has no worth and envies Tom’s character. He sees Tom as a leader and will do …show more content…
In this novel, society corrupts Huck’s true morality, freedom, and justice. Huck’s morals develop in response to his life experience with his friends, Tom and Jim. Although Huck is hindered by a pre-existing sense of ‘bad’ morality, he undergoes a moral
Huck sees everything that he is not and everything he does not have in Tom. Huck admires Tom and everything that he has. Not only does Huck envy Tom’s physical character, he envies his mental character. He believes Tom is intelligent and if “[Huck] had Tom Sawyer’s head, [he] wouldn’t trade it off to be a duke, nor mate of a steamboat, nor clown in a circus, nor nothing [he] could think of” (211; ch.33). Huck admires Tom’s way of thinking. He wishes he could come up with stories and plans as extravagant as Tom’s. Huck talks about Tom as if Tom is royalty. He dreams of having a family and life at home just as Tom does. While Huck feels that he is trash, he sees Tom as “a boy that is respectable and well brought up; and has a character to lose; and folks at home that have characters; and he is bright and not leather-headed; and knowing and not ignorant; and not mean, but kind” (212; ch.33). Huck feels that he has no worth and envies Tom’s character. He sees Tom as a leader and will do …show more content…
In this novel, society corrupts Huck’s true morality, freedom, and justice. Huck’s morals develop in response to his life experience with his friends, Tom and Jim. Although Huck is hindered by a pre-existing sense of ‘bad’ morality, he undergoes a moral