NovelGuide: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Novel Summary: Chapters 4-6

Chapters 4-6

Chapter 4: Huck explains that he has been going to school fairly regularly now, and that he doesn't mind it too badly. He also says that he's getting used to living with the Widow Douglas and her sister.

In this chapter Twain continues to show Jim's belief in superstition and magic, as Huck says that the slave taught him quite a bit about the subject. He even tells Huck's fortune for him, telling him that his life will be filled with both joy and grief. Later, the reader will notice that Jim's magic signs often serve as foreshadowing for the future.

Chapter 5: Huck's pap surprises him when he climbs into his bedroom window to confront him. The fifty-year-old man yells at his boy for getting an education, demanding that he quit school and give up "religion" immediately. It seems the old man is afraid that his son will know more than he does. What his father mainly wants, however, is to get his hands on Huck's six thousand dollars.

Later, going before the judge, Huck's pap promises to change his ways, saying that he will become civilized and live decently. This cons the judge for awhile, but when the old man gets drunk the very same night, everyone realizes that there's no chance he will ever change.

Chapter 6: In this chapter, Huck's pap kidnaps the boy, and the two live a few miles away in a shack deep in the woods. For two months the father and son live together there, and Huck admits that he didn't really want to return to the Widow Douglas' house anyway. Huck enjoys the freedom life in the wilderness affords him, noting that he took up cussing again since his father didn't mind.

One night, however, Huck's pap gets drunk and starts chasing him around the cabin with a knife, calling him the Angel of Death. Luckily he falls asleep on the floor, sparing his son's life for the time being at least.