The acts of violence seen thus far in Huck Finn have been ones that seem so incorporated into everyday life they seem to be validated as a common occurrence, thus making them justified or ordinary. This casual, nonchalant manner Huck discusses violence is almost disturbing. His constant exposure to it almost making him hardened or impervious to anything that isn’t thrown directly in his face.
Huck seems to be most effected by violence when it is thrown in his face during the family feud when he sees a family that cared for him and took him in are killed over something so trivial and frivolous. This seems to be the case for all the people discussed in this novel, they aren’t effected by violent acts until the violence overflows onto their front doorstep. The people of the “mud” town are only shook by violence when a man is shot in broad daylight in the middle of their town, but not when the dogs murder pigs on the same street. The only difference is pigs are killed everyday.
This collective disillusionment of violence seems to be a common theme seen here in Huck Finn, one that Mr. Twain often resorts back to again and again when describing the different groups of people that Huck comes upon. This book is overflowing with characters lacking moral decency and Huck seems to be the only one struggling with make the right decision. Everyone else is so set with their preconceived notions on how the world should be, especially when it comes to violence. Everyone seems to be adherents of the cliche “that’s the way it was, the way it is, and the way it’s going to be.” Maybe Twain is trying to bring this archaic way of life to the forefront.
