The last time I read an abridged version of Huckleberry Finn, I was still in school. Funnily enough, I remembered the part where he dressed as a girl. He was caught because he closed his thighs to catch an item thrown to him. You see that guys would close their pant clad legs to hold an item but girls would open their legs wide to let their skirt hold it.
In our time, we would consider Huck's household an alcoholic single parent family. We would see him as a victim of family circumstances. But I suppose life was simpler then. He was brought up to be able to live off the river. With a raft they salvaged from a flood, "borrowing" an old and leaky canoe, he was free to live on the river away from authorities who would catch him to place him with foster parents.
It was hilarious to read about the capers of the two crooks: the King and the Duke. Like a cat with nine lives, Huck and Jim the runaway negro slave seemed to be able to land safely after each fall. Then Enter Tom Sawyer to "rescue" a slave who had been set free.
I wonder if there is anywhere on earth in civilization today where children could enjoy the great outdoor like Huck and Tom? Most children in my city are imprisoned within four walls and play computer or hand phone games. Perhaps those who live in the rural areas would fare better than the city bred kids!
No comments:
Post a Comment