6)Huck Finn as an Existentialist Hero.
Actual Letter: Hi, I'm
looking for research on Huckleberry Finn as an Existential
hero. I'm having a bit of trouble understanding the whole thing
and I have a
research paper due eventually. I'm having no luck with anything
else so I
figured I'd ask you for some help in atleast pointing me in the
right
direction. Thanks for your help.
Answer Given: Ummm,
sounds like a tough thing for a term paper, hmmm, let's see, as
an existential hero, that would mean that, people who are
proponants of existentialism would find huck a hero, and
existentialism, off the top of my head, if I remember, is the
belief that we are placed on this earth by god, and pretty much
left alone. Which ultimatly leads to the carpe diem philosophy
which entails the idea of "sieze the day" we only live
once type of thinking. (see this is how a good paper is written,
with a lot of BS :)
Allright, well, basically, it seems we gotta find Huck in
situations where his actions show that he doesn't care about the
future, but about the 'now' Well along those lines, Huck shuns
religion, there is a quote, where Huck like says he doesn't want
to go to heaven since people like Mrs. Watson are there. Since,
Huck doesn't really profess any religion, that is in a way
existentialist. Another part of Huck is his decision to go down
the river with Jim. Basically, it's Huck's want for freedom that
makes him existentialist.
Oh well, hope that helps....