Huck Finn 2: 28-46

1.) “And after supper he talked to him about temperance and such things till the old man cried, and said he’d been a fool, and fooled away his life; but now he was agoing to turn over a new leaf and be a man nobody wouldn’t be ashamed of” (31).

What kind of judge allows a father to have custody of his son even though he has a history of being negligent, intoxicated, and abusive? Huckleberry Finn’s father is in no condition to take care of him. His deceitful nature allowed him to get what he wanted. His father promised the new judge that he changed and was going to be a new person. This was the second time he lied to the judge, “said he was boss of his son, and he’d make warm for him” (31). Honesty has no importance to Huck’s father. Huck values the truth though, “and don’t ask me nothing-then I won’t have to tell no lies” (25). Nothing good ever came out of lying, and Pap will soon learn this. If Huck remains honest and truthful, he won’t turn out like his father.


2.) “The sky looks ever so deep when you lay down on your back in the moonshine; I never knowed it before” (45).

Huckleberry Finn is independent and carefree. Despite his young age, he feels comfortable away from the world and looking up at the nighttime sky. He escaped his father’s control and can now relax. It is strange that Huck has never noticed this before because he has spent so many nights sleeping outside. People look up at the moon for guidance when they are lost. The moon can also demonstrate a journey someone will go on or it can be a symbol of hope for the future. Nature is related to peace and tranquility, Huck can forget about the things that are wrong in his life and start over.

Vocab Words:

1.) Stanchion: an upright bar, beam, post, or support, as in a window,
“In the night sometime he got powerful thirsty and clumb out onto the porch-roof and slid down a stanchion” (33).

2.) Nabob: any very wealthy, influential, or powerful person
“The awfulest nabob in the State” (37).