Narrative Voices in Huck Finn
Narrative Voices in Huck FinnNarrative Voices in Huck Finn
Huckleberry Finn provides the narrative voice of Mark Twain's
novel, and his honest voice combined with his personal vulnerabilities
reveal the different levels of the Grangerfords' world. Huck is
without a family: neither the drunken attention of Pap nor the pious
ministrations of Widow Douglas were desirable allegiance. He stumbles
upon the Grangerfords in darkness, lost from Jim and the raft. The
family, after some initial cross-examination, welcomes, feeds and
rooms Huck with an amiable boy his age. With the light of the next
morning, Huck estimates "it was a mighty nice family, and a mighty
nice house, too"(110). This is the first of many compliments Huck
bestows on the Grangerfords and their possessions. Huck is impressed
by all of the Grangerfords' belongings and liberally offers
compliments. The books are piled on the table "perfectly exact"(111),
the table had a cover made from "beautiful oilcloth"(111), and a book
was filled with "beautiful stuff and poetry"(111). He even appraises
the chairs, noting they are "nice split-bottom chairs, and perfectly
sound, too--not bagged down in the middle and busted, like an old
basket"(111). It is apparent Huck is more familar with busted chairs
than sound ones, and he appreciates the distinction.
Huck is also more familar with flawed families than loving,
virtuous ones, and he is happy to sing the praises of the people who
took him in. Col. Grangerford "was a gentleman all over; and so was
his family"(116). The Colonel was kind, well-mannered, quiet and far
from frivolish. Everyone wanted to be around him, and he gave Huck
confidence. Unlike the drunken Pap, the Colonel dressed well, was
clean-shaven and his face had "not a sign of red in it anywheres"
(116). Huck admired how the Colonel gently ruled his family with
hints of a submerged temper. The same temper exists in one of his
daughters: "she had a look that would make you wilt in your tracks,
like her father. She was beautiful"(117). Huck does not think
negatively of the hints of iron in the people he is happy to care for
and let care for him. He does not ask how three of the Colonels's
sons died, or why the family brings guns to family picnics. He sees
these as small facets of a family with "a handsome lot of quality"
(118)....
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