I got to steal that money, somehow; and I got tot steal it some way that they won’t suspicion that I done it….(226)
Huck says this once he sees that the men are going to trick “this family and this town for all their worth”(226). He plans to steal it and then hide it for Mary Jane, the owner, to find. This passage not only reveals the caring side of Huck, but suggests the importance that other people have to him. Instead of saying that he will take the money for himself, he wants to give it back to Mary Jane since it was taken from the crooks. Literally, the passage shows Huck being a more caring individual. Figuratively, however, it suggests the changes that Huck has gone through on his journey, given that early on, he would have wanted the money for himself. Huck steals the money and gives her a note telling her where it is hidden. This is a big step for Huck in his development throughout the book, and he will continue to change and mature as he continues his wild adventure.
-Jarrett Kunze
Huck says this once he sees that the men are going to trick “this family and this town for all their worth”(226). He plans to steal it and then hide it for Mary Jane, the owner, to find. This passage not only reveals the caring side of Huck, but suggests the importance that other people have to him. Instead of saying that he will take the money for himself, he wants to give it back to Mary Jane since it was taken from the crooks. Literally, the passage shows Huck being a more caring individual. Figuratively, however, it suggests the changes that Huck has gone through on his journey, given that early on, he would have wanted the money for himself. Huck steals the money and gives her a note telling her where it is hidden. This is a big step for Huck in his development throughout the book, and he will continue to change and mature as he continues his wild adventure.
-Jarrett Kunze
posted by jkunze at 10:58 AM
3 Comments:
Jarrett the analysis of this passage is absolutely fantastic. The thing that one would question is what Huck's newfound generosity stems from- guilt on behalf of the duke and king who conned the whole town, or the pure motive to do the right thing. Like with the Sheperdsons Huck does not hesitate to do good for a girl he finds paricularly attractive. His choice to give the money away can also be seen as part of his "unlearning," for Huck has to undo all the influence Tom Sawyer had on him. However, in stealing the money and giving to to Mary Jane he is betraying his "friends" the duke and the king. Whether this is of any significance to Huck is not revealed in the passage. Also Huck takes care to steal the money in a fashion that "they won't suspicion that I done it." He doesn't want any credit for his good deed, although he is also avoiding possible punishment.
I agree with this and also bring forth the thought that this theme is brought up even earlier in the book when Huck gives his money to Judge Thatcher instead of just asking for all of it and running. I disagree that this passage is showing the maturation of Huck because Huck has always been caring for others even though earlier on he said that he would "do whichever come handiest at the time"(127). This still is a great interpretation but I believe it goes a little deeper than what was commented.
I like the journey that you paint here and how you show that this will be a new kind of Huck, one that is more mature and more knowledgable. I personally think that Huck felt bad for stealing that money, but I also think he thinks it's the right thing to do. Good analysis.
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