"I was trembling because I'd got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: "All right, then. I'll go to hell." (246)
This particularly poignant scene in Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," is rich in meanings and symbolism. Twain is very much like his beloved character of Huck Finn, a sort of lovable scoundrel that isn't afraid to do things in a different way that most. Twain took so many chances throughout his life and with his career- and his very engaging sense of humor and his quiet inner turmoils reflect Huck completely. Huck's wrestling with 'right and wrong,' mirrors how Mark Twain had to wrestle with the choice of writing what he was told to write- and writing what he felt he needed to write. While the first path might have made an easier way for him, Twain stuck to his guns and, much like the beloved Huck Finn, never backed down. Twain's fiery spirit was the soul in his books- and his determined and playful personality came through in everything he wrote.
Wikipedia writes: "The main premise behind Huckleberry Finn is the young boy's belief in the right thing to do even though the majority of society believes that it was wrong." How often did Twain come against the very same obstacle? His writings were turned away, papers denied him, and his books were banned from schools and libraries. Although he suffered moments of darkness, he pressed on despite how 'society' urged him otherwise. His vision paid off- I remember reading Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn as a girl- and then wildly running through our back woods pretending to be them. Twain gives his readers that incredible sense of freedom- he supplies us with the knowledge that confines and rules don't need to apply to everyone. While I eventually put my clothes back on and returned to society- I still have my Huck Finn moments...and for that I'm proud. If for a mere instant I can emulate the strength and spirit Twain and his characters emulate- I'm living a life worth living. Twain leaves us with life lessons, but most importantly, he leaves us with his humor that remained no matter what he faced in his life. As he famously once said: "Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place. "
Mark Twain
I think you're right although Twain's humor often has a dark sharp side.
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