Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Family Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

The widow she cried over me, and called me a poor lost lamb, and she called me a lot of other names, too, but she never meant no harm by it. (1.3)

We'll say she didn't mean any harm. In fact, it sounds a lot like the widow is really getting fond of Huck—like she feels like a mother to him. But Huck just can't get comfortable in the role of a son.

Quote #2

"Yes, he's got a father, but you can't never find him these days. He used to lay drunk with the hogs in the tanyard, but he hain't been seen in these parts for a year or more." (2.13)

When is a father no longer a father? Well, maybe when he's abandoned his son for a year after lying around drunk with the hogs. We're pretty sure that throws your parental role into question.

Quote #3

Pap he hadn't been seen for more than a year, and that was comfortable for me; I didn't want to see him no more. He used to always whale me when he was sober and could get his hands on me; though I used to take to the woods most of the time when he was around. (3.3)

It's hard to tell because of Huck's casual tone, but this is pretty grim. A son who feels better off without his father? No wonder Huck doesn't feel comfortable in society. The #1 societal bond, between families, is nothing but a horrorshow for him.