HUNK FINN VS HOLDEN Essay, Research Paper

Huckleberry Finn and Holden Caulfield make take journey into self-discovery. In The

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck Finn is trying to find purpose and identity through

conflicting of morals. While Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye, is an adolescent

struggling to find mature into manhood. In comparison, they are both on a journey towards

maturity and identity. Life itself is a journey full of bonding and experiences which lead

to wisdom and understanding. Without maturity one may never have these essential

experiences. This leads to an empty shell of a person, never truly feeling passion, love or

peace.

Huck Finn is a young boy deciding which morals to hold true. The quest for what’s right is

long and confusing. During his adventure is forced to choose between his morals and his

conscience. When Huck runs into the bounty hunters he is forced to make one of these

decisions. He must choose whether to turn his run-away slave friend Jim as his conscience

advises or to trust his morals and protect his friend in need. Fortunately, his will is

strong and he creates an elaborate lie to prevent Jim’s capture. Huck seeks refuge in

nature, where right and wrong don’t exist and life’s beauty is what is truly important. He

mentions that nature is peaceful and he need not worry about either his morality or

conscience but is allowed to ponder these personal discrepancies.

Holden Caulfield, however, has a much more complex yet equally important struggle. His

struggle is of his own hypocrisy and misunderstanding. This struggle can be overwhelming

for some and it is for Holden who requires help to come to terms with maturity. Even though

he is constantly speaks as if he is experienced in connection and bonding, they were always

just fa?ades. Holden thinks he is superior to his environment because he has a false

knowledge of it and it’s workings. This is best explained by his reaction his old friend

June whom he would like to have a meaningful relationship with but cant come to grips on

how. Inspite of all he thinks he knows he is really only the faker he despises.

Both Huck and Holden must complete their own journey’s to become complete individuals. This

journey is only a step on the staircase of life which ultimately leads to inner-peace and

happiness. Each experience is unique and powerful but are essential to getting the whole

picture.

What Huck finally comes to terms with is that life’s questions should be answered from the

heart. He also decides that humanity has evolved into a corrupt species whose ideas aren’t

worth the headache. His answer is to flee society and all of it’s constraints and live in

nature where he is free from civilization. Holden has a tougher decision to make since he

must completely reverse his thinking completely. The first step is to realize his hypocrisy

which he was able to do but couldn’t truly solve his problem and was forced to seek

professional help in the end. Fortunately, both characters ultimately progress onto the

next step by some means outside the conformity of normality.