Chapters 4-6 Summary
In the beginning of chapter four Huck talks about his experiences with school. Huck talks about how he learned his read and write a little as well as learned his multiplication tables up to six times seven which equals 35. Then Huck sees footprints in the snow that have a cross nailed in the heel, which was a sign to ward off the devil. Huck then goes to talk to the Judge becuase he recognizes the pattern from his fathers shoes. Huck sells his entire fortune to the Judge for a dollar. Huck is worried so he goes to talk to Jim who has a magical hairball that can tell the future. After Huck pays Jim, Jim tells Huck the future that the hairball predicts. According to the hairball Huck will be fine and everything will be okay. In the beginning of chapter five Huck sees his father. Huck is scared, and Huck's father mocks Huck about his clean clothes. Huck's father is upset with the widow's attempt to civilize Huck. Huck's dad tries to take the money Huck got on his adventures with Tom, but after he learns Huck doesn't have it he takes the dollar that Huck sold it for and goes out to drink. Widow Douglas tries to get custody of Huck, but she isn't allowed to have custody. The judge tries to make Huck's father stop drinking, but after Huck's father goes out to get drunk again he gives up. In chapter six, Huck's father tries to sue the judge to get Huck's fortune back. Huck's father doesn't want Huck to go to school, but he does anyways. Huck tries to run away from his father and the widow, but his father catches him as he is escaping. Huck's father,Pap, is upset about the wait for the trial and he goes on rants about all of the problems with society. Huck's father goes out a gets drunk again and when he wakes up he chases Huck around the house with a knife. Huck's father passes out before he can catch Huck, but Huck is still afraid so he waits for his father to wake up with a rifle pointed at his chest.
Reflections on Chapters 4-6
I find it odd how Huck is okay with his father being back for a while. Although his father beats Huck and treats him terribly Huck is not overly upset about it. When Huck originally sold his fortune, it made no sense to me, but throughout the chapter I understood that it was so that Huck could keep the money away from his father. When Huck decides to run away I think it was good decision, but I think he should have tried to return the the Widow. It was both happy and sad that Huck was caught while trying to escape. Although Huck doesn't appreciate what the widow does for him, she is helping him to become like society and be able to have a successful life as an adult. I sincerely hope that Pap doesn't get Huck's money in the trial and that Huck will be given custody of to Widow Douglas. It scared me when Pap was chasing Huck around with a knife, and I felt relieved when he passed out and Huck was safe.