Huck Finn: Then and Now

1. Huck Finn: Then and Now By: Sean McDaid and Michael Koehler

2. Background • We have chosen to evaluate the government corruption from back then and today's society. • Back then Twain realized the problems in government that needed to be solved.

3. Comparison/Difference Comparison Difference Hucks decision to just agree with Tom did not lead to anyone dying just the delaying of freeing Jim. However due to the co-pilot not telling the pilot his mistake the plane crashed with another plane and some 500 people died. • Huck did what Tom wanted him to because he questions himself, and does not want to offend Tom. (Twain 234) • Modern day is flight KLM 747 crash, where a co-pilot did not tell the pilot his mistake because he did not want to offend him.

4. Comparison/Difference Comparison Difference Back then people were so educated that they did not realize they were being scammed till it was to late. Where as now a days people know because they are more educated and with it being on the news. • The Duke and the King scamming people out of their money, just because they can not control their lust for money. (Twain 153) • In today's society people still try to scam people out of their money, and sadly in some cases they are still successful.

5. Comparison/Difference Comparison Difference Back then when people made smart comments no one knew about it except for the people who were there to hear it be said. Where as now, whenever people make comments it is usually on the news, on the radio for everyone to hear. • “Oh, yes, this is a wonderful government , wonderful” (Twain 27) • People who still feel that the government and in particular the president do not do what they say they will, so some people make smart comments.

6. Comparison/Difference Comparison Difference It was a common thing down south for there to be no schools because they were mainly fishermen and farmers. Although today, every where you go its is hard not to see some type of school or university. • Back then some towns were very uneducated, which lead to them being easy targets for scam artists. The government could have stepped in and built schools. (Twain 167) • There are still places in America today that are uneducated because either they do not have schools or the schools are low quality.

7. Comparison/Difference Comparison Difference Back then if a parent was still living and the child inherited anything, it would become the parents. Now a days, the judge and others must evaluate the parent to see if they are responsible enough to take care of a child and what they inherit. • Huck’s father tries to take ownership of the money Huck inherited. (Twain 22) • Still today certain parts of our justice system are corrupt and unfair. Based on the way people look, how they act, or where they come from, people make biased decisions.

8. Comparison/Difference Comparison Difference Back then they were fighting and they did not even know why they were, they were just continuing a feud that started before them. Now today when families or individuals have a feud, most of the time they know why they are fighting and what their fighting about. • The feud between the Grangerfords and the Shepherdson’s. (Twain 108) • In today’s society there are still certain wealthy and non-wealthy families that can not stand each other and fight as a result.

9. Videos • http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=0mce9nJg3Z4 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SovALlOhSg8 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zfw3w3FRMA

10. Works Cited • Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. United States of America: Tom Doherty Associates, 1988. Print. • The Overlook Press, Elizabeth Drew. Third World Traveler. 1999. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. • WikiLeaks-"Like" Documentary On Corruption in Government Operations. Web. 18 Feb. 2011 • Mike Adams. Corporate greed, corruption, and the coming collapse of America as we know it. 2007. Web. 18 Feb. 2011 • Jack and Suzy Welch. The High Cost of Corruption. 2007. Web. 20 Feb. 2011