Twain’s choice of giving him a name derived from things of nature Huckleberry Finn, a huckleberry being an edible berry found in nature and a fin being the body part of various sea animals the use of the wildness in his name adds to the uncivilized emphasis of who Huck is especially when put against names like Widow Douglas, Tom Sawyer, Ben Rogers and even Jim.Īnother way that Twain accentuates Huck’s role as the rogue in this picaresque story is by speaking through him as the narrator and allowing his dialect to emphasize who Huck is, where he comes from and what his primary traits are. A more abstract trait that shows Huck as a picaro is his name. Tom’s role emphasizes the picaro role played by Huck Finn, while they both are boyish and do naughty things Tom’s civilized nature intensifies the readers perception on how uncivilized Huck is. His unruly ways are highlighted when casted next to his companion Tom Sawyer, who is educated and depicted more as a middle-class citizen. The Widow Douglas attempts to reform and “improve” Huck, but he refuses to give in to her attempts and maintains his self-regulating and ill-disciplined ways.

Huck is depicted as usually dirty, messy and often homeless even when he is provided shelter by the Widow Douglas. His father is a drunk, no good who disappears for long periods of time only to show back up to steal away his sons money. From the beginning of the novel, Mark Twain makes it clear that Huck is a boy that comes from the lowest level of white society. First it is necessary to exam the character of Huckleberry Finn’s personality traits to illustrate how he could invoke the role of the rascally hero. Through the use of Huck as the rogue there are several qualities in this novel that make it a solid picaresque tale. A picaro or rogue is an unprincipled adolescent who is very mischievous in personality, also known as a rascal or scoundrel. There are many aspects of the novel that portray picaresque through the history and personality of the main character, Huck Finn.Īlthough Huck has good intentions and is by nature innocent, he is the picaro in the story. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is an eminent example of picaresque literature. An Analysis of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a Picaresque TaleĪn Analysis of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a Picaresque Tale A picaresque novel is based on a story that is typically satirical and illustrates with realistic and witty detail the adventures of a roguish hero of lower social standing who lives by their common sense in a corrupt society.

Story of huckleberry finn