Huckleberry Finn ( Huck Finn ) :: Essays Papers

Huck Finn5The concept of what truth is, is a prevailing theme in both The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and the essay excerpt by Andrew Lang. Lang writes around truth as being found in lack of distortion from the actual world. Langs nous of truth is certainly found in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. For Twain, theology is a larger part of his concept of truth than likeness to nature. Truth, for Andrew Lang is factual, precise, and objective. He admires The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as an accurate picture of the time, as if Twain were simply mirroring back an sign of his world as told through Huck Finn. Lang admires Twain for crafting a believable, natural character in Huck Finn. He thinks that in Twains accuracy, in that location is truth, just like there is truth in a historical document. For Mark Twain, the pursuit of truth is a pursuit of moral truth. Huck journeys bulge out the river with a runaway slave. The river is symbolic for Hucks moral journey Huck is m oving down the river while everyone else is standing still. The reader can delay that Hucks unintentional journey towards truth culminates in chapter 31. Alright, then, Ill go I to hell. (p. 210) Ironically, it is at this moment when Huck believes he is succumbing to his own execration that we see he has reached the moral truth the river had been leading him to. But Huck doesnt see his inability to accept what he has been taught and act accordingly as a new way of thinking Huck is a reluctant rebel. Twains presentation of truth here is masterful he communicates his idea by saying the exact opposite of what he means. Twain tackles with other aspects of truth, throughout the book. Huck lies, wears disguises and schemes. On his journey towards the truth, Huck has proven to be a talented liar. This shows that for Twain, the idea of truth, is more complicated than simply telling the truth. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a masterpiece. I can agree with Andrew Lang on this, but hi s reasoning behind it, I cannot. Lang sees Huckleberry Finn as, a vivid and original picture of life . . . naturally displayed . . . possible and plausible. All of these are true, but I believe it is Twains soused use of irony in his presentation of truth, and the tension between What Huck has been taught and his instinctively good nature that make The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and extremely well crafted novel.