Comparison of Huckleberry Finn and The White Heron
...either of them aware of what the outcome might be. Both children seem to find themselves in places they are not accustomed to. This plays a major role in their development. Huck has been uprooted from his home (on his own free will) and on his journey’s to foreign places, learns about people around him and more importantly about himself. Sylvia similarly was taken from her home in the city and brought to a country environment. “…it seemed as if she never had been alive at all before she came to live at the farm.” She did in fact come to life on the farm, and learned a lot about the person she was. With this change in locale came a change in her person. She became very attached to the natural world around her, finding companionship in a cow, and a new understanding of the value of life and the value of herself. When Huck escapes to Jackson’s Island he begins to explore his surroundings. Huck seems to get lonely on the island and is greatly relieved to find Jim there. In this segment of the story we see how independent Huck really is. He seems to be able to live on his own and he fends fairly well for himself alone on the island. Unlike Sylvia, Huck does not seem to form a bond with nature. It seems to be another obstacle that will develop his identity. Both children are exposed to adults and adult mentalities. Unlike their innocent states of mind, they are faced with the corruption, greed and selfishness that come with age. It is interesting to see these children make distinctions of what is right and wrong, regardless of the insight from their more “knowledgeable” elders. The duke and the king are prime examples of how corrupted adults can truly become. Their entire role in the story consists of them conning, stealing and lying to everyone around them. Once again, Huck’s wit is revealed. He is aware that the men are in fact con artists, but is smart enough to know that he would be better off not commenting on it. “I learnt that the best way to get along with this kind of people is to let them have their own way.” At the same time, though, Huck seems to be amused by the duke and king’s antics and at times does not seem to mind having them around, reminding us again, that he is just a child. Sylvia is exposed to the greed of adults when a monetary reward is offered for the capture of the heron. “I would give ten dollars to anybody who could show it to me.” Jewett adds that the hunter offered “desperately.” Instantly Mrs. Tilley gave “amazed attention” to the offer. Not for a moment do either of the adults consider the life of the rare bird, but Sylvia does. Her moral development throughout the story is what protects the life of the bird. Huckleberry Finn begins with the widow Douglas trying to force Huck to wear new clothes, give up smoking and read the bible. Huck is not enthusiastic about his new way of life and does not adapt easily. He fights with the widow and rejects her ideas. Early on, we see Huck’s innocence, for only a child would choose hell over heaven just because the latter seems boring. At one point, Huck does admit to getting used to the new way of life, even though he misses his old one. He eventually gives up fancy clothes and scheduled feedings and escapes back into freedom. Sylvia never appears to be controlled by a parent or guardian figure. On the contrary, Mrs. Tilly seems to be lenient with her. Sylvia takes her time in the woods and comes and goes rather freely. She is detached from people and bound to nature. Her interactions with people are mechanical, whereas her time spent in the woods is natural and effortless. It is where she seems happiest. “A White Heron” does not show the reader what Sylvia was like back in the industrial city she lived in with her parents and siblings. We only see her in her new environment and surviving rather well without close relation. Jewett informs the reader that the change in her personality has been for the better. A time in the story does arise however, that society comes into her new world and threatens her. She is faced with the same conflict that Huck has, society vs. freedom. When Sylvia is in the woods and hears the whistle, she instantly knows that it is a foreign sound, and instantly becomes afraid. Similarly, when she encounters the hunter she is afraid of him. Just like her aunt said, “afraid of folks.” She is terrified by the man who approaches her innocent peaceful world, a reminder of what she has left behind. With the conflict of society versus freedom, the children must decide what the right and wrong decisions are. Primarily, these decisions play the largest roles in both stories. By assessing certain situations on their own and placing themselves in charge of these situations, Huck and Sylvia manage to further develop their personalities. They must approach each decision they make with the knowledge that they will be responsible for the outcome. Within both stories, these decisions serve as climaxes and affect the moral of each story. Huck, after...