huckleberry finn, questions - written assignment

Chapter 35 - 39

Mark Twain's contrast between romanticism and realism is evident stated in this novel. He uses Tom Sawyer as a symbol of romanticism, and I would also say the society. This is all compared to Huckleberry Finn who is very realistic. The book will also show us that Huck is the one who is right. His simple soul is able to watch events from the outside, but without blameing people. I think romanticism was just too much for Mark Twain.

It's clear that Huck changes when Tom Sawyer comes back. He starts to go by Tom's plans in stead of making his own. This affects Jim's freedom because Huck just wants to get him out of the plantation, while the romantic Tom wants to do all kind of unnecessary things to get him free and he only does it for his own adventure. I think what Twain tries to show us is that Huck as a realist is a better person. Romanticism is too much drama for Twain.

To make Jim a real prisoner, Tom brings up all kinds of animales that symbolizes the romanticism. He says he needs it, but Jim doesn't want to. So Tom gets mad, and makes Jim apologize to him (chapter 38). In chapter 39 Tom writes some annomus letters to the Phelps family. All this shows us how big deal Tom has to make out of things. They don't really make any sense, it's all to his own adventure.