Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer are the best of friends with remarkably different personalities. Each brings their unique characteristics into this comical friendship giving the novel numerous amusing passages. Throughout the tale, Tom is often the leader while Huck is the reluctant follower. It doesn’t matter that Tom’s ideas are ridiculous and extravagant, and Huck’s are simple and practical, together they always proceed with Tom’s imaginative plans.

In contrast to Tom’s great imagination and creativity, Huck is humorless and literal minded. Tom’s imaginativeness comes only from knowledge he has gained through books. Huck, on the other hand, actually lives out the fantasies Tom can only imagine.

Tom Sawyer, already civilized, follows the values and beliefs of society. Due to these convictions, Tom always abides by the laws. For these reasons, Tom would never have helped free Jim unless he knew that Jim had already been freed. Conversely, Huck Finn rejects the philosophy of political beliefs for the fear of becoming civilized. He usually runs away at the first notion of him becoming “sivilized.”

Huck is able to function in any society with the help of his adaptability and survival skills. He is able to go from the freedom of the raft, to the perceived harshness of civilization, and back again with ease. Although Tom has been able to slip past Death’s grip so far, his chances of escaping may not always work out to his liking. Of the two, Huck will always be the survivor in life.

Together this pair achieves their goals because of their intelligence and witty personalities. They have the ability to put the knowledge they obtain into their every day

lives. They are two adventurous souls in search of fresh and exhilarating escapades. Their ages united with their exceptional education keeps them on their toes.

Huck’s humorless personality and Tom’s extravagance has made The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, a popular adventure for all ages. The American people have forever enjoyed this novel and have made it the American literary classic that it is today.

“So there ain’t nothing more to write about an’ we is rottin’ glad of it, because if we’d ‘a’ knowed what a trouble it was to make this essay, and, we wouldn’t ‘a’ tackled it, and ain’t a-going to no more.” -Mark Twain pg. 283

Word Count: 386