Similarities Between Huckleberry Finn And Where Things Come Back

In literature, there are countless themes that play significant roles in many different books. Very frequently, these themes will reoccur in various novels. One such theme, identity, played a crucial role in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, as well as the novel Where Things Come Back. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the theme of identity is prevalent with the protagonist of the novel, Huckleberry Finn. In Where Things Come Back the theme of identity is present with the character Benton Sage. In the novels, both Benton Sage and Huckleberry Finn struggle with their identity. Both characters had values embedded in their minds from a very young age, and they were always told what to do and how to act by others. With Huckleberry, this is
With Benton Sage, this is present with his father. Throughout the novels, both characters make discoveries about their identities which ultimately leads them to make huge decisions. However, the way in which this change in identity or self-discovery affected the two characters is what differs in the two novels. From a very young age, Huck was taught and expected by others in society to look down on African Americans. Throughout the novel, however, Huck begins to develop and change his identity through his changing feelings towards African Americans. This is most clearly shown in his attitude towards Jim, the runaway slave. Originally, Huck treats Jim as society taught him to. However, one extremely critical scene in the novel sparks a change of identity in Huck. In this scene, Huck loses Jim, who floats away in the fog on a raft. Huck eventually finds Jim and convinces him that he dreamt the whole thing. Eventually, however, Jim puts the clues together and realizes that Huck lied and tricked him saying, “What do dey stan’ for? I’se gwyne to tell you. When I got all wore out wid work, en wid de callin’ for you, en went to sleep, my heart wuz mos’ broke bekase you wuz los’, en I didn’ k’yer no’ mo’ what