Huckleberry Finn: Strength versus WeaknessSome people consider the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain to be a classic, while others perceive it as a weak and trivial novel. The strengths and weaknesses seen throughout this novel have sparked enormous controversy as to whether it shows greatness or ultimately creates confusion for readers. One of the strengths that Mark Twain presents is the realistic actions and feelings of the young boy, Huck, and how he makes him a relatable character. A notable flaw of the book is the last 12 chapters, which have no relation to the rest of the story as they only distract and take away from the main idea. Although this flaw causes confusion among readers, Mark Twain is able to overcome this flaw through his style of making Huck accessible and practical. Mark Twain's strength in portraying Huck as realistic is demonstrated by the feelings and relationships he has. Huck was adopted by two sisters, the tough Miss Watson and the gentler Widow Douglas, who tried to civilize him into a real boy. Huck said, “So when I couldn’t take it anymore, I switched off. I took on my old rags and my sugar head, and I was free and content,” which shows that Huck is miserable under the roof of the two sisters and their rules and commandments (Twain 13). Huck unfortunately also has a relationship with his father, who is a town drunk and only cares about the money Huck has in the bank. These personal relationships with Huck are far from those of a caring family, and Mark Twain uses "the repetition of a simple word, like 'lonely'" to describe Huck's (Morrison) constant feeling. Later, when Huck escapes, he flees to Jackson Island and surprisingly finds Miss Watson's slave, Jim, who also... middle of paper ... a disappointing excuse for American literature. As some readers are confused and focused on the bad qualities of the book found in the last 12 chapters, readers should also recognize Twain for his brilliant talent and motivation in making Huck a realistic character and attracting people more towards him and l the plot of the story. The feelings and moral growth that Huck experiences overshadow the entertaining chapters, making Twain's novel a positive piece of American literature that will be discussed for years to come. Works Cited Morrison, Toni. "Introduction." International Creative Management, Inc., 1996. Web. February 27, 2014. Smiley, Jane. "Say It Ain't So, Huck: Thoughts on Mark Twain's 'Masterpiece'" Harper's Magazine, January 1996. Web. February 27, 2014.Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York and London: Harper & Brothers, 1899. Print.