The Adventures of Tom Sawyers and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Compare & Contrast

Huck has a troubled relationship with his father. Mark Twain has portrayed Huck’s father as a drunk and violent figure who is a nuisance for Huck and Huck wants to get away from his control. Huck is aware that his father will take away his fortune due to which, he has handed it over to Judge Thatcher. Huck’s father’s interest in his money can be seen in chapter 5 where he asks for his money as he says:

“I heard about it (Huck’s fortune) away down the river too. That’s why I come. You git me that money tomorrow – I want it.” (Chapter 5)

Therefore, Huck’s father has come not for his son but for the money. Huck’s father abuses Huck for his school-going and living with Widow Douglas. He abducts Huck and takes him away to a faraway cabin in which, he keeps Huck as a prisoner. Pap tries to kill Huck when he is drunk largely as he considers Huck as the “Angel of Death”. Later on, he shuts Huck in the cabin and leaves for the whole three days.

Huck feels that he would die if his father would not return. He makes his way out of the cabin because he remains hungry for three whole days. He also thinks that his father has died or drowned due to which, he has not returned. He escapes from his father’s custody and accompanies Jim through the Mississippi River. Pap dies and Huck knows about it near the end.

For Huck, Pap was not a kind or compassionate relationship, it was a troubled relationship and Huck wanted to flee away from this relationship as he says in chapter 6:

“He (his father) kept me with him all the time, and I never got a chance to run off.” (Chapter 6)

 This sentence is a clear indication that Huck wishes to live without his father due to which he adopts a free life. Huck’s father also showed interest in Huck not based on love or affection but for his fortune and forced custody.

Doubling: The function of Injun Joe and Buck Grangerford

Injun Joe and Buck Grangerford are two different characters in two novels, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”. There are some similarities found in both characters. Injun Joe is the villain of Tom Sawyer while a small portion is given to Buck Grangerford in Huckleberry Finn. Both characters can be linked to one another on the basis of their killing motives and being killed.

Buck Grangerford is near Huck’s age but he is informed by his family about a feud with the Shepherdsons and he remains ready for killing any member of the Shepherdsons. Once he misses a chance to kill Harney Shepherdson for which, he swears later on. Buck gets killed in a family feud with Shepherdsons and Huck is the eyewitness of the incident. Huck tries to escape from the scene and is successful. The reason for the feud is unknown as buck informs Huck in chapter 18 on asking why he wants to kill members of Shepherdsons, Buck replies:

“Only it’s on account of the feud.” (Chapter 18)

Injun Joe also keeps intentions for killing Dr. Robinson and Widow Douglas. He wants to avenge Dr. Robinson because of his imprisonment because of Dr. Robinson. Injun Joe like Buck Grangerford is motivated to kill. Injun Joe was a villainous character, unlike Buck. He is portrayed as a character that is frightening for Tom and Huck, as they always doubt that Injun Joe will hurt them as Tom Sawyer narrates in chapter 25:

“He (Tom) felt sure he never could draw a safe breath again until that man (Injun Joe) was dead and he had seen the corpse.” (Chapter 25)

Both of the characters are for teaching Huck and Tom about weapons and life as a whole. Injun Joe and Buck Grangerford have similar as well as contrasting qualities and both function for giving knowledge to Huck and Tom.