MENGFanwen
Abstract：TheAdventureofHuckleberryFinnisthemasterpieceofthefamousAmericanwriter,MarkTwain.ThisisalsoregardedasthegreatestworkAmericanliterature.ThewritersuccessfullymoldstheimageofHuckleberryFinnthroughlayingthesocialenvironment,describingthesceneryuniquely,child’slanguagestyle,contradistinctionandprovidingandthepsychologicaldescription.ItisworthyofthegreatestworksofAmericanliteratureforitsprolificallyconnotationandinimitablelanguagestyle.
Keywords:society;environment;scenery;language;contradistinction
作者简介：孟凡文，任教于内蒙古通辽市第五中学。
TheAdventureofHuckleberryFinnmainlynarratesHuckleberryFinn,awhiteboy,andJim,aNegroslaveboy’sbreathtakingexperiencewhentheyflowaimlesslyontheMississippitogether.Thestoryhappenedin19thcenturybeforetheWarbetweenSouthandNorth.Huckisawaifabout12-13yearsold.HeeithercannotbeartheafflictionofhiseverydaydrunkfatherorisunwillingtoaccepttheraisingofthewidowDouglas.SoheranawaydowntheMississippibyflatatamoonlightevening.Meanwhile,hisadventurestarted.HemetaNegroescapingonthewaytotheNorthtotheNorthforfreedom.TheytookoneflatwanderedontheRiver.Theymetvariouskindsofpeopleandoddthings.Huckisapersonwhoisinnocentandbrave,hightalentedandstressonpractice.Heispureinmindandupright.Hecandistinguishbetweenrightandwrong,goodandevil.Henotonlyrefrainsfromsavagelybeatofhisfatherandthewidow’sstifflife,buthelpsJimtoavoidbeingsoldbytheowner.Heisaplainboybuthasthedistinctivecharacterhimself.Heisvividandsubstantial,andfullofchild’sexemplaryinthisnovel.Whollyspeaking,nomatterfromwhichparts,ideologyorart,thisnovelispubliclyregardedasthemasterpieceofMarkTwain.Hemingwayhaseversaid:“AllmodernAmericanliteraturecomesfromabooknamedTheAdventureofHuckberryFinnbyMarkTwain.”[1]
I.Descriptionofthesocialenvironment:VastbutAuthentic
Everyonecannotgetawayfromtheenvironmenthelivedalong,especiallyforchildren.Theyaremucheasiertobeinfluencedbyseveralofsocialphenomena.MarkTwain,inhiswork,describedabundantofsocialsurroundings.Particularlythechaosofthattime:themurderedonMississippi,scandalinchurch,thearbitraryofthelocaltyrantsandevilgentry.Inthechildreneyes,alltheseseemtobemoretrueandaccurate.Manyoflifepicturesjumpedintooureyes,andallthethinghappenedwillleaveanexperiencetothelittleprotagonist,Huck.ThestoryhappenedbeforetheWarbetweenSouthandNorth.Atthattime,savingslaveprevailednearlyineverystateofAmerica.Simultaneously,thefightingagainsttheslaveowneractivityhasneverstopped.Escaping,intheactivity,playsamainroleallthetime.Allwhitesagreedthatslaveshouldneverbeinfringed,thesameaspersonalproperty.Ifsomeonehelpedslavetoescape,it’smuchmorecontemptiblethanstealingandrobbing.Andthecriminalwillnotbeforgivenforever.Earssoakedandeyesdyed,Huckwasinfectedwiththetraditionalideasnaturally.Underthisbackground,thisnovelnarrateswhatJimandHuckencounteredontheirtraveling.Thewriterunfoldsthemindconflictsandaction,andexposesthecrimeofslaveryandspeakshighlyofpersonwhosupportstoabolishtheslaveryandliberatetheslave.
Inaddition,theinfectionofreligionspreadouteverywhere.Forinstance,Huck’sadoptivemotherisawidowofstiffandstrictlyupright“Thewidowrangabellforsupperandyouhavetocomeontime.Whenyougottothetable,youcouldn’tgorighttoeating,butyouhadtowaitforthewidowtotuckdownherheadandgrumblealittleoverthevictualsthoughthereweren’treallyanythingthematterwiththem,thatisnothingonlyeverythingwascookedbyitself.”[2]Huckobservedthescenebeforesupperinhischildrenmental.Hedidn’tknowwhatthewidowdoistoprayforthemeal.Hehatesrestraininghimselfhungrybeforeeverymealtowaitforthewidow“hmhmhm”.Helovesnewthingandhopefornewlife,andcannotputuptheinhibitedlifeunderthereligion.Waslin,widow’syoungsister,teachesHack.InHuck’sopinion,sheisboredandoldlady.SheusuallyteachesHacktoobeytherule,andthreatenedhimby“goingintothehell”.ButHucksaid:“IsaidIwishedIwasthere….;AllIwantedwastogosomewhere,allIwantedwasachange,Iwasn’tparticular.”[3]Thentheladyseducedhimby“goingtoheaven”.AgainHacksaid:“WellIcouldn’tseeadvantageingoingwhereshewasgoing.SoImadeupmymindIwouldn’ttryforit.”[4]ThiscompletelyreflectsHuck’sboringtotheenvironmenthelived.TheauthornotonlydescribestheenvironmentaroundHucklively,andsetabackgroundofmakingHuck’sideaandactionacceptedabsolutely.
II.Thedescriptionofintraphysicconflict
Violentcontradictionofsocietyoftencomesalongwithfierceconflicts.ThisnovelmainlynarratestheambipsychologyofHuckwhilehehelpsJimtofightforfreedom:obeythetraditionalideatosellJimorbeloyaltofriendshiptosavehim.
Hucklivedinaslaveprevailedenvironment.AsaWhiteboy,hewasinfluencedbytraditionalidearacialdiscrimination.WhenhefirstlymetJim,hefeelsveryhappybecausehewasaloneintheIsland.ButhewasshockedafterheheardthatJimwasaslave.Sincethen,theconflictsbeganinhisheart.HebehavedsmartandbravesenoughwhenhehelpedJim.Yethehasanuneasyconscience.Hefeltwhathedidwasdegrading.“ThemoreIstudiedaboutthis,themoremyconsciencewenttogrindingme,andthemorewickedandlow-downandorneryIgottofeeling”.[5]Thecondemnofconsciencemadehimshakeliketobefever.Hewanttogiveuptoagoodboy,whodidthe“right”and“pure”thing.HeeverhurriedlywrotetotheslaveownerandtoldhimwhereJimwasnow.…buttheletterwasnotsentout.Whentheysailingtogether,HuckfoundJim’ssupercharacter:honestandselfless.ThehardexperienceandthepursuingforfreedominitiateHack’ssympathy.Asawhiteboy,HucklooksdownuponJim.Hescoffedonhim,laughathimandplaytrickswithhim.HuckoncecheatsJimmischief,butlookedthroughbyhim.JimblamedHucksadly.ThismadeHuckcompunction:“ItmademesomeanIcouldalmostkissedhisfoottogethimtotakeitback.”[6]Meanwhile,HackbegantoknowBlacksalsohavethesamesentimentanddignityasWhites.HesaidsorrytoJimandpromisednevertoletthiskindofgoddamnitthinghappen.IteducatedHackimperceptibly.Huck’smentalwasalsogettingchangedcontinuously.WhenhesentlettertoMissWaslin,Hack“gottothinkingovertrippingdowntheriver,andIseeJimbeforeme,allthetime…wouldalwayscallmehoneyandpetme,anddoeverythinghecouldthinkofforme,andhowgoodhealwayswas!”[7]Hackdistressedhimselfaboutthematter.Howtogetoverit?AtthecriticaljunctureofsellingJimaway,Huckdefeatedinthemindconflictsandtoretheletterinmessfirmlyanddefinitely.“Allrightthen,twillgotothehell,”“IwouldgotoworkandstealJimoutofslaveryagain”.[8]Uphere,ourlittleprotagonisthasbecomeanadultinmind,eventuallygotsucceed.ThedescriptionofintrapsychicconflictofHuckcondemnedtheAmericanracialdiscriminationandraisingslave.ItmakesHack’simagemorecompletelyandlively.Furthermoretheworkbecomesmoresignificantinpracticalworld.
III.Sharpcontradictionandthesetting
Childrenhavethesamenature:na?veandfullofcuriosity.Buttheywillneverbethesameincharacter,forthedifferenceofenvironment,educationandclass.ThewriterhereononehanddescribesthegapclearlybetweenHuckandadult;ontheotherhandsetsasharpcontradictiontotheotherchildren.Therearenottoomanychildreninthisnovel.Butit’senoughtocompletetheimageofHackthroughtheirdifferentactionandwordswithHuck.AyounggirlnamedEmilinwholikesdrawingdrawapicture:
“Atendergirl,cryingintoahandkerchiefforadeadbird.”
“Ayounglady,lookingupatthemoon,withtearsrunningdownhercheekbecauseofdisappointinginloveaffairs.”
“Awomaninaslimblackdresswhowasverysadleaningpensiveonatombstone.”[9]
Huckisboringofthesepaintings.Inhiseye,themoonishisgoodpartnerwhichaccompaniesJimandhistraveling.Andthebirdinhismindneverwillbedead.Whenheheardthedyingoflittlepainter,hewasn’tsad,butsaid:“…..withherdisposition,shewashavingabettertimeingraveyard.”[10]
AfterbeingsoldbycheaterofJim,Huckwasreallyworriedabout.Butanotherboytoldhimhappily:“There’stwohundreddollarsrewardonhim.It’slikepickingupmoneyontheroad.
It’saclearcontrastagain.Theboywantstopurchasemoney,howeverHuckcaresmoreaboutJim’slifeselflesslyandwholeheartedly.
ThesharpestcomparisonunfoldedbetweenHackandTom.Bothtwoboysarena?veandlikingadventure.YetwhatTomdidmakenolittleactionandwordsincommon.Atthebeginningofthestory,Tomwasreadytofoundabanditband.WhenhewenttoHuck’shousetomeethimonenight,theywerenearlyfoundedbytheworker,slaveJim.Suddenly,anideacomesuptoTom;hewantstoplayatrickwithJim.ButHackthoughtitistoodangerousincasefoundedbyJim.“ButTomwantedtoreskit.”They“slidintothecookhouseandgotthreecandles”“Iwasinasweattogetaway,butTom…mustcrawltowhereJimwasandplaysomethingonhim.”[11]Attheendofthestory,thetwoboyssavedJimoutofPhillip’s.Thisthingmakestheircharactermuchsharper.Tomwasborninarichfamily.Hereadalotandevereducatedformally.WhathedidtocooperatewithHackandsaveJimisjustlikeanexperienceforhim.Hewantstopracticewhathelearntfrombooks.Intheprocedureofsaving,actuallytheycanusespadequicklyinsteadofusingknife,Hacksaiditwasakindofwastetimeofsawingthelegofbedinhalf,sewingtheropeladder,diggingcannel.Nevertheless,Tomdidandsaid:“Wellifthatain’tjustlikeyou,HackFinn.Youcangetuptheinfant-schooliestwaysofgoingatathing.Why,hain’tyoueverreadanybooksatall?.....Whoeverheardofgettingaprisonerlooseinsuchanold-maidywayasthat?No,thewayallthebestauthoritiesdoes,istosawthebedlegintwo,andleaveitjustso,andswallowthesawdust…Nothingtodobuthitchyourropeladdertothebattlements,shindownit,breakyourleginthemoat-becausearope-ladderisnineteenfoottooshort……”[12]AllwhatTomwantstodoistopracticeaccordingtothebooksandsatisfyhiscuriosityashesaid:“Iwantedtheadventureofit,andI’dawadedneck-deepinbloodto…..”.[13]ForJim,whocares?However,Hacktrustsfriendsandpaymoreattentiontofriendship,andprotectsJimhereandthere.ThewritersuccessfullyportraitstheimageofHack.
ⅣPortraitHackwithhisownlanguageandhumor
ThereisaparagraphwhichHuckdescribethedemeanorofJim:“Hewasn’taboytomeeklyalongupthatyardlikeaship;nohecalmdownandimportant,liketheramwhenhegotaffrontofus,heliftshishateversograciousanddaintylikeitwasthelidofaboxthathadbutterfliesasleepinit,andhedidn’twanttodisturbthem…”.[14]Huckdidn’tknowanddislikethe“civilizedsociety”.Heonlywantstoliveinthenaturesurrounding.Sowhathefiguredmoreorlesshassomethingwithnature.ThewriteralwaysusesHuckleisticvocabulary,toneandrhythmtonarrate.Allthesewordscoincidedwiththechildren’scharactercommonly,andeventuallyexpressedHuck’spositionandpsychologycharacteraccuratelyandlively.
Inthisnovel,therearemanyhumorsdevelopedbyHuck,whichmakesthestorymoreinteresting.Moreover,itcontainssharpsarcasmtothesociety.Forexample,whenHackspeaksoftheWhitesmoralconcepts,hesaid:“Ijudgedshewouldbeproudofmeforhelpingtheserapscallionsbecauserapscallionsanddeadbeatsisthekindthewidowandgoodpeopletakesthemostinteresting.”[15]Andforthecheater’sspeechofrefrainingfromdrink.Hucksaid:“Theydidn’tmakeforthembothtogetdrunkon”.[16]
AllthesewordsexpressHuck’scharacterofinnocent,lovingnatureandhisboringoftheregulationofcivilizedsociety
V.Thedescriptionofsceneryechoedwithchild’sage,moodandmind
Everystageofmanhastheirownattitudetothescenery.AllthesceneryweseeinthenovelwasnarratedbyHuck.Nodoubtitrepresentsthemindofthelittleprotagonisthimself.Sothiskindofscenerycansdirectlyresponsetheminorinner-heartprecisely.Huckhateswhatwasnamedcivilizedsociety.Thereallythinghelikebetteristhethunder-storm.Thereisashortpart:“……Itwouldgetsodarkthatitlookedallblue-blackoutside,andlovely;…andthenaperfectripperofagustwouldfollowalongandsetthebranchestotossingtheirarmsasiftheywasjustwild,andnextitwasjustaboutthebluestandblackest-fst…andnowyou’dhearthunderletgowithanawfulcrashandthengorumbling,grumbling,tumblingdowntheskytowardstheundersideoftheworldlikerollingemptybarrelsdownstairs,whereit’slongstairsandtheybouncesagreatdeal,youknow.”[17]
Hethoughtthestormwaslovableandhedescribesthethunder`isjustfitforhisposition:child.Thethunderlike:“aboundofemptybarrelsbounceddownfromthesky”,[18]“Thebranchestossingtheirarms”.[19]Allthesedescriptionaresuitablefortheprotagonist’sage,moodandmind.Hebringsthereaderintothescenery,evenperfectlycoincidewiththeimageofHuck,andmaketheinnocentandlovableboylivingandbreathing.ThestyleMarkTwainusedtodescribethepropagandistpersonallanguageisindeedtheoutstandingcontributionofliterature.Overlookthewholebook,wewillfind,fromthebeginningtotheend,thatitistheentireboy“sound”whowouldnotliketogohomeandto“bear”cultureruled.
TheworkofMarkTwain,whateverfromthecontentorthestyle,isfullofthefeaturesofAmerica.ItexpressestheideaandemotionofAmerican,andreflectsthevarianceofAmericansociety.Thewriterintheirowncountrylanguagenarratesthestoryoftheirowncountry.Theworkalsoshowstheartintelligenceoftheauthorsasareality’swritercompletelyandoverwholely.Theworkisnotonlyabookforchildren,butisworthyofthegreatestworksofAmericanliteratureforitsprolificallyconnotationandinimitablelanguagestyle.
Notes:[1]~[19]MarkTwain.TheAdventureofHuckleberryFinn[M].BantamClassics，1981.
Reference:
[1]马克·吐温.英语学习大书虫研究室译.哈克贝利·费恩历险记[M].新疆：伊梨人民出版社,柯高人民出版社，2001.
[2]张汉熙.高级英语[M].北京：外语教学与研究出版社，1995.
[3]朱维之.外国文学史(欧美卷)[M].天津：南开大学出版社，1994.
[4]朱永涛.英美文化基础教程[M].北京：外语教学与研究出版社，1991.
作者单位：内蒙古通辽市第五中学
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