Will Huck Ever Be Happy?

One question that I seem to be asking myself throughout the book is: when will Huck ever be happy? Ever since he has been living with the widow, Huck has not seemed content with his surroundings. The widow and Miss Watson took Huck in, planning to help him out and try to give him a better life. However, despite all the new commodities such as a warm bed, food, and new clothes, Huck said that this is not what he wanted, and that he was much more content with the life he had before. Huck seems to me like a very simplistic and basic person; he does not need to live or behave “properly” to be happy. Huck felt like he was caged in at the Widow’s, with Miss Watson constantly poking at him, saying, “ Don’t put your feet up there, Huckleberry, don’t scrunch up like that Huckleberry-set up straight.” Her nagging grew tiresome, and it seemed like he would get away from it when his raucous and belligerent father came along.
Huck’s father is like him in a way-- he didn’t need any fancy clothing or bedding to be satisfied. All he ever needs in life is his whisky jug. But Huck was not happy with him either, he instead gave the impression that he was afraid of him. Pap was constantly tearing down what he had learned with the Widow and Miss Watson, saying that Huck thought he was better than his own father. One of the first things that Pap said to Huck when he saw him was “ You’ve put on considerable many frills since I been away. I’ll take you down a peg before I get done with you. You’re educated, too…You think you’re better’n your father, now, …I’ll take it out of you. Who told you you might meddle with such hifalut’n foolishness?” Instead of being proud of his son, for at least making some effort to do something productive, he’s angry with him. Pap has obviously been a failure in his life, and he wants to drag Huck right along with him. As we could imagine, Huck grew tired of having to put up with Pap. With Pap, he didn’t have to dress up, behave, or go to school. However, Huck still didn’t have the freedom that he desired because Pap had him locked up in the log cabin. Maybe after leaving Pap and going out on his own, Huck may be satisfied with his life. The “adventure” that he’s going out on with Jim may help him find himself and what he really wants.
One thing that I keep noticing in Huck is his rebelliousness. He clearly doesn’t want to conform with society’s expectations. He thinks that this is what he should be doing, but it’s not what he wants, so he’s not just going to follow along. When Huck was living with the Miss Watson, he had to listen to her talk to him about her religious beliefs. When she explained to him the difference between heaven and hell, Huck responded by saying that he’d rather go to hell simply because he wanted a change in his life. He also continued to smoke after the widow told him not to. This may come in part from not having a real father figure in his life. All he’s ever seen from his father are drunken rants. Basically, Huck had had to be his own boss, and live by his own rules. This could be the source for his disobedience.
-posted by Wendy C.