The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Group

Question:

rtg-goyani
rtg-goyani
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, why does Huck assume Tom Sawyer's identity?

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Posted by rtg-goyani on Sunday March 1, 2009 at 10:26 AM and tagged with characters, huck, identity, plot, the adventures of huckleberry finn, tom.

Answers:


  1. charcunning Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Huck Finn has to pretend to be Tom Sawyer because he realizes that the family that is holding Jim is none other than the family of Tom Sawyer. Because he wants to maintain easy access to Jim so he can free him, he takes on Tom's identity so that he'll be welcomed like family while devising his plan.

    As with most lies, this one that Huck creates spurs several other lies, and Tom, as a result, has to lie about his identity also.

    The boys keep their secret regarding who is who until the end of the book where they manage to free Jim from the shack. While running away, Tom (the real Tom) is shot and nearly killed. Finally, in the end, the boys tell Aunt Sally and Uncle Silas who is who and why they did it.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/finn/summary

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    Posted by charcunning on Sunday March 1, 2009 at 1:04 PM