In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain there is an inverse proportion of Huck’s and Jim’s happiness with the complexity of the society they are living in and the food they are eating.  Wherever Huck and Jim are, Twain always mentions the foods that they are eating and their reactions.  Food is used as a window into the minds of Huck and Jim.  Not only does their diet and reactions change depending on whether they are on or off of the Mississippi river and in and out of being “sivilized”, but is seems that their overall happiness increases too.

While on the Jackson’s island, Huck seemed to enjoy his simple meals, consisting mainly of the berries he could find and the meat and fish he could find and kill.  These were simple meals, but they seemed to satisfy him and (when they met up) Jim.  Neither Huck nor Jim complained at all about the life, one which any “normal” American southerner at the time would have frowned on.  They ate meals made with their catch of the day, but whether it was meat or fish, it was prepared by them over a campfire, not by slaves.

Another example of this is when Huck was living with Miss Watson.  He was having the kind of life that would be envied by most other people during that time period.  He was being educated, had nice clothes, was with family, and most of all he was fed well.  He had slaves that would take care of him, prepare his meals and follow his every order.  But he was not at all satisfied.  He was constantly running away to be out in the wilderness with Tom and the “gang.

Another example of him liking “the simple life” was when he was with pop, he was beaten routinely, and seemed to always be locked in the cabin, Huck complained less and seemed to be happier overall.  He had alone time in the cabin, and best of all he ate whatever he and his father were able to kill and cook.  There was nothing fancy and it seemed he was living with the bare basics, but he was happy.

Another example of the effect that food had on Huck was when he was at the Grangerfords, and he had the same kind of pampering as when he was at the Watsons.   After Huck left the Grangerfords, when he and Jim got back on the raft “and there ain’t nothing in the world so good when it’s cooked right”.[1]  This shows his dislike of the “sought after” wealthy American likestyle.  The raft life was a simple one, one without clothes, and simple meals.

Why does Huck prefer this life?  The complexity of the food usually relies on its preparation.  Huck has always been “against the grain” in his views on society.  He has befriended and helped a slave, something not only considered morally wrong, but against the law.  He has always been independent and chose to eat out of “a barrel of odds and ends”.  All of his complex meals were made by others, so one reason he would like the simple meals would be his own creation.  All of his complex meals would be made by others and therefore interfere with his independence.  He seems to like food that was made with ingredients that he can touch, see and smell.

Another reason that Huck may not like complex meals is that his meal preferences would follow his life preferences.  He prefers a simple life, one on a raft, without clothes, and most importantly simple meals.  He likes the adventure of seeing what he could reel in that day and whip up readily over a relaxing campfire. 

In conclusion, Huck prefers a simple life, one without boundaries, and limitations. This is reflected in his diet choices/preferences sand reactions on land and on the Mississippi river, and the contrast between the two. 

[1] 1 Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. (New York: Pocket Books, 2004) p. 172.  All further references to text will be cited by page number.