Abstract

Mark Twain is one of the greatest American writers in the 19th century and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is his representative work. Hemingway speaks highly of it and says that all modern American literature comes from it. Many works of study about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn have interpreted it from different perspectives. Nevertheless, there are not enough studies analyzing Huck’s growth from his own aspect. The thesis proposes that as a classic initiation story, it is necessary to discuss Huck’s growth by the inner aspect and give the youth some help and enlightenment.

After briefly introducing Mark Tain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the thesis first discusses the definition and origin of the initiation story and American initiation story. In this novel, Huck’s growth mainly includes two aspects: his understanding of human rights and his understanding of the civilized society. And his growth is divided into three stages: dilemma, confusion and epiphany.

His father’s ill-treatment lets Huck lose his own human rights and Widow Douglas’s discipline makes Huck feel the constraint of the civilized society. Falling into such a dilemma, Huck decides to run away from the civilized society. In the raft journey along the Mississippi River, Huck meets all kinds of accidents and people. As for Jim, he feels confusion of slavery and freedom and confusion of ownership and human rights. As for the civilized society, he feels confusion of fraud and sincerity and confusion of civilization and barbarism. Huck finally has a better understanding of human rights and the civilized society by going through such experiences.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic American initiation story and Huck’s initiation is the development of both his physiology and psychology through various conflicts. It is also a process of realizing society and human nature better. The writer hopes that Huck’s growth will have a positive influence on the teenagers as well.

Keywords: Mark Twain; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; initiation stories; growth

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1.Introduction-6

1.1 Research Background-6

1.2 Research Situation-7

1.3 Research Methods-9

2. The Initiation Story-10

2.1 The Definition and Origin of The Initiation Story-10

2.2 The American Initiation Story-11

3. Huck’s Dilemma-13

3.1 The Loss of Human Rights-13

3.2 Constraint of The Civilized Society-14

4. Huck’s Confusions-15

4.1 Confusion for Jim-15

4.1.1 Slavery and Freedom-15

4.1.2 Ownership and Human rights-16

4.2 Confusion for The Civilized Society-17

4.2.1 Fraud and Sincerity-17

4.2.2 Civilization and Barbarism-18

5. Huck’s Epiphany-20

5.1 Understanding of Human Rights-20

5.2 Understanding of The Civilized Society-21

6. Conclusion-22

References-23