Huckleberry Finn Characteristics
Children of alcoholics either become withdrawn and futile or use their arduous experience to become a stronger person. Huckleberry Finn’s father, as known as Pap, is an irredeemable, verbally and physically abusive man due to his addiction. According to statistics of children who come from abusive homes, Huck is more likely to become: suicidal, neurodivergent¹, physically unhealthy, a smoker, drug dealer, criminal and a high school drop-out. By choosing the latter and relying on his wit and intellect, he has surpassed these qualifications. In the beginning of the novel, the reader observes Huck and learns that he is superstitious, uneducated and sometimes illogical. Pap’s sudden appearance and abusive nature come as a surprise to the reader.
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looting an old house, scamming with ‘royalty’). Additionally, Huck mentions wanting to smoke in Chapter 1, just as statistics predicted (Benoit-Bryan, 1). Throughout the novel, Huck compulsively lies, seeks normalcy, judges himself harshly and possesses low self-esteem (Geringer Woititz). To illustrate, compulsive lying has become a survival tactic and a personality trait for Huck. He thinks of himself as “bad” and feels that he is a bad person for not living up to societal expectations. But, as far as lacking a conscience goes, he has fallen short of that expectation when it comes to people he cares for. For example, Huck plays a trick on Jim and quickly apologizes for making Jim worry about him, despite it being uncouth to humble himself to a n*gger. The bad habits Huck has acquired due to his upbringing are trivial at best. Despite being the child of an alcoholic, he has become a functioning person with morals and near-normal brain development. If Huck is willing and determined to fix his bad habits, he could very well have a bright future ahead of him. Since Pap has died, Huck is finally free to truly live how he
looting an old house, scamming with ‘royalty’). Additionally, Huck mentions wanting to smoke in Chapter 1, just as statistics predicted (Benoit-Bryan, 1). Throughout the novel, Huck compulsively lies, seeks normalcy, judges himself harshly and possesses low self-esteem (Geringer Woititz). To illustrate, compulsive lying has become a survival tactic and a personality trait for Huck. He thinks of himself as “bad” and feels that he is a bad person for not living up to societal expectations. But, as far as lacking a conscience goes, he has fallen short of that expectation when it comes to people he cares for. For example, Huck plays a trick on Jim and quickly apologizes for making Jim worry about him, despite it being uncouth to humble himself to a n*gger. The bad habits Huck has acquired due to his upbringing are trivial at best. Despite being the child of an alcoholic, he has become a functioning person with morals and near-normal brain development. If Huck is willing and determined to fix his bad habits, he could very well have a bright future ahead of him. Since Pap has died, Huck is finally free to truly live how he