Huck Finn 6: 185-109

1.) “No, there ain’t no good way but one. I got to steal that money, somehow; and I got to steal it some way that they won’t suspicion that I done it” (189).

The removal of Huck’s influences allows him to formulate his own ideas. His moral process now reflects who he is as a person, and not who someone else wants him to be. For example, when it comes to stealing, the widow said, “no decent body would do it” (76), but Pap says there is “no harm to borrow things, if you was meaning to pay them back” (76). Previously, Jim and Huck were faced with the decision of whether or not to steal food. They decided both Pap and the widow were right. They came to the conclusion that it is fine to borrow some, but leave the rest. Now, Huck is faced with a new dilemma. Two frauds stole money from three innocent girls. These girls showed Huck nothing but kindness; therefore, they do not deserve to be treated in such a way. Should he tell Mary Jane or the doctor the truth or should he steal the money from the frauds?

2.) “I reckon a body that ups and tells the truth when he is in a tight place, is taking considerable many resks, though I ain’t had no experience, and can’t say for certain; but it looks so to me…like the truth is better, and actually safer, than a lie” (200).

You can lie as much as you want, but it won’t get you anywhere. Lies have no future and will only hurt yours. Huck may be right; telling the truth is a risk, but it is a risk worth taking. Huck has more experience with this issue than he thinks. Everywhere Huck goes he tells a different story of his life. Every family he comes across, he has a new name. For example, when he first met a woman he said his name was Sarah Williams, when she asked again he said Mary Williams, and then clarified by saying Sarah Mary Williams. It was clear that his name was not Sarah, Mary, or Sarah Mary. Another example was when he made his friend Buck spell his name so he could simply remember it. Just recently, while Huck was having a conversation with Joanna he made up so many lies he couldn’t keep track of them. Not only is telling the truth safer, it’s easier. You don’t have to keep anything in mind when you are honest. Telling Mary Jane the truth might be a risk for Huck, but it will help her in the end.

Vocab. Words:

1.) Melodeum (Melodeon): a kind of accordion
“They had borrowed a melodeum-a sick one; and when everything was ready, a young woman set down and worked it” (194).

2.) Passel: a group or lot of indeterminate number
“March off like a passel o’ fools and leave eight or nine thous’n’ dollars worth o’ property lyin' around jest sufferin’ to be scooped in?” (190).