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.