Question

Read the following summary from a teacher’s handout about huck, the main character in mark twain’s novel adventures of huckleberry finn. huck runs away and travels on a raft down the mississippi river, where he meets jim, a runaway slave. huck’s distrust of people and his experiences as he travels down the river make him question what society has taught him. according to huck’s sense of logic and fairness, it seems "right" to help jim. how is huck’s character described in this summary passage?

a. he trusts everyone he meets.
b. he wants to leave the river and go home.
c. he listens to himself more than to others.
d. he does not like jim.

Answer 1

Huck, the protagonist in Mark Twain's novel, is characterized primarily by his independent thinking and critical reflection on societal norms. His experiences on the Mississippi River lead him to trust his own sense of logic and fairness, making option C (he listens to himself more than to others) the accurate description of Huck's character in the summary.

Step-by-step explanation:

The character of Huck in Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is richly developed through his experiences and the changing psychological landscape as he journeys down the Mississippi River. Huck's growth is particularly evident in his relationship with Jim, a runaway slave, which causes him to question the societal norms he's been taught. Unlike the descriptions of nature which oscillate between idyllic and corrupted due to human influence, Huck's character arc leans towards moral autonomy and empathy.

Contrary to the simple pleasure of an 'idyllic freedom' that the river could symbolize, Twain's narrative reveals a deeper connection between the natural world and society. Huck's portrayal is not of someone who trusts everyone he meets, nor is he someone yearning to leave the river and go home, and certainly, he does not dislike Jim. In fact, the summary passage suggests that Huck is someone who listens to himself more than to others, indicating a degree of independence and critical thought.

This introspective nature is further emphasized by descriptions of the Mississippi River not only as a place of natural beauty but as a realm intertwined with human activities, revealing the complexities of the social fabric that Huck navigates. Huck's reflections on the river scenes, combined with Twain's use of symbolism, underscore Huck's path towards self-directed ethical reasoning, rather than blind adherence to societal prejudices.

In conclusion, Huck is best described as a character who relies on his sense of logic and fairness, leading him to help Jim, which reflects option C: he listens to himself more than to others.