The articles that are presented below explore adverse techniques of criticizing literary works. These critiques will be broken down to identify what technique of criticism is being used and what aspects correspond with the guidelines of that specific criticism. The criticisms identified below are psychoanalytic, cultural, and formalism criticisms.

Society and Conscience in Huckleberry Finn:

This article explores the depths of Huck’s unconscious acting on the influence of his super ego. Levy examines the realms of the river signifying freedom and the banks symbolizing societal conformity and bondage, which Huck is reluctant to submit to. Also, this criticism fixes Pap as a symbol of natures depravity being conformed by community itself, which is the reason for a major part of Huck’s scorn. Without the influential parental figure Huck resorts to establishing a relationship with Jim to compensate for his fathers incapabilities. Huck’s relationship with Jim is, in this criticism, a result of his father having a lack of influence in his life, and Jim in a way replaces that kinship. Their relationship is shaped also by their lack of freedom and their struggle

Black Africans should have been crossed with Whites. It would have improved the Whiteness and done the Natives no harm.

to obtain this right. Huck and Jim’s escape is explained as a release from the restrictions and pressures of conformity within society. Obviously there are racial tensions throughout this novel, but Huck and Jim overcome this obstacle by overlooking their differences and developing a close relationship. Both of these characters exhibit rebellious tendencies, which also contributes to their relationship. Huck’s freedom is psychologically based rather than geographical. This freedom is a need to elude those stern guardians of authority and also the influence society has on people. Huck’s conscious forces the effect of alienation caused by not only depression but also problems with his self-esteem. These manifestations were repercussions not only of his relationship with his father, but his authoritative figures, and society in and of itself. Most of this article concentrates on the constraints of society and Huck’s conscience alluding to the river for comfort from community.

From a critical approach this article is considered an example of a psychoanalytic criticism. There are many concepts throughout the article that prove this specific criticism. For instance, one of the main focuses is Huck’s conscience and how he strives to elude the conformities of society. He represses contempt that he holds for his father’s negative attitude, which contributed greatly to Huck’s low self-esteem. The Oedipal Complex created by Freud comes into play at this point in time. Huck was without a maternal figures other than the strict guidance of Miss Watson and the Widow Douglas who were not modeled as mothers, but teachers. Having this lack he is gendered without the influence of a mother which creates the possibility that his repression of feelings will force him into becoming a homosexual. This is also a question in this criticism. Huck and Jim’s relationship is quite powerful. Although there is not implicit evidence that these two engaged in physical activity the strength of their bond is questioned.

Language is also a big part of this criticism. Twain tends to speak through Huck at times, which is more evident when Huck is portrayed as an immature child is. Although, throughout his journey Huck matures and Twain’s voice is not as recognizable as earlier on in the novel. An example of Twain’s tendency to speak through his character becomes apparent during the church scene when the minister is preaching about ‘brotherly love’ and Huck remarks pointedly, “If you notice, most folks don’t go to church only when they’ve got to; but a hog is different.” This comment reflects Twain himself commenting on the ‘damned human race’. Twain definitely utilizes authorial intent throughout his novel. Many readers describe this novel as racist, but if you really examine the language Twain is not a racist at all. He created a strong bond between Huck and Jim, which could have been crushed if Huck would have turned Jim in.

A formalist view has been taken within this criticism, which can be demonstrated through the extreme detail of the text, referring to the structure of the work and also the writing technique that the author tends to use. Yet another clue that helped identify this criticism was the strong emphasize on the word artistic. Burg mentions that this work such be seen as artistic rather than perceived as practical or automatic. He also mentions that many of the other critics such as Leo Marx and Henry Nash Smith tend to read and critic literary work by moralistic orientation. This moralistic orientations views the central theme of Huckleberry Finn is a “quest or journey for freedom”. Where as James M. Cox utilizes an artistic viewpoint defines the theme as Huck escaping and this escape is a flight from tyranny, not a flight toward freedom. Also,

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