The Huck Finn Soliloquy

Following last week's post is a further discussion of the Hamlet Soliloquy in Huck Finn.  The passage was the subject of a 1969 article by E. Bruce Kirkham in the Mark Twain Journal ("Huck and Hamlet:  An Examination of Twain's Use of Shakespeare."  Vol. 14, Summer, pp. 17-19).  Prof. Kirkham begins with an analysis of the soliloquy, comparing each line to the original Shakespearean texts (Hamlet, Macbeth and Richard III).  He continues with a discussion of variations between them, explaining why it might be that these differences occur.  He believes that Twain was purposeful in his selection of source lines and in the changes that he made.  He presents Twain's passage in translated modern English, read as an "original composition."

Prof. Kirkham's thesis is that the soliloquy parallels a thread running through Huck Finn.  Each of the sources within the soliloquy embodies themes of action and inaction.  We have seen this previously in Hamlet.  Its protagonist knows what he must do, but he fails to act.  Huck has the same issue in Twain's book.  He debates the morality of helping Jim to escape.  "Society tells [him] he should not; humanity tells him he should."  Upon hearing the soliloquy, which urges "action at all costs in all situations," and seeing Jim returned to slavery, Huck decides that it is time to act.

As Prof. Kirkham concludes, the soliloquy serves as more than mere comic relief.  It "serves to point up an important theme in the story."