Journal 9: Huckleberry Finn

Quote:

"Because it ain't in the books so-that's why. Now Ben Rogers, do you want to do things regular, or don't you?-that's the idea. Don't you reckon that the poeple that made the books knows what's the correct thing to do?" (Twain 114)

Summary:

This quote is from the Chapter two of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Here, Tom Sawyer is trying to explain his friends what the books say about "ransom[ing]" people, which he does not really understand, but when Ben Rogers tries to complain and wants to know what exactly that means, Tom says that whatever that means they have to do it according to waht the book says, because the books are correct.

Response:

I think this quote is Mark Twain’s mockery of “the books” which represent the laws and things kids are thought during his time. These books about piracy and wild stories about murders are what Tom Sawyer reads and he tries to come up with some kind of interpretation, which he does not fully understand. However, he does not want to go against what the books say because the books know what is to be done. In other words, Twain is saying that the way society works in this time is that everything must be followed according to what it’s thought, meaning that there is no room for personal interpretations or individual opinions.
Plus, when Tom threatens Ben saying “do you want to go against the books”, he is practically making a statement about how strict was the teaching and the laws during that time. Basically, this question is enough to make Ben be quiet and follow the Tom’s command. I consider this quite interesting, because Twain was able to make a strong statement about what he thinks about teaching and he put it in the words of some kid, who were just fantasizing about some game. At the same time, I really like the irony of his words, because Tom doesn’t know what the books are talking about and what are the true meanings of the words, however, he follows it. This would mean, that people are mainly being brainwashed by the law and by the “books” teaching, and they will just accept any teaching, even if they do not really understand or do not really agree with it.