Huckleberry Finn as a Bildungsroman

Even though Huck’s transformation is subtler and less definite than Harry’s, it is evident that the growth is still there. In the beginning of the novel, Huck followed Tom and trusted him without question because of Tom’s familial and educational background. However, as the story progresses, Huck is forced to leave Tom’s shadow and make it on his own. With every new adventure, Huck learns if not something about himself, then something about others. He learns how cruel people can be to one another when the Duke and the King were tarred. Another monumental instance is when Huck ultimately decides to do away with civilization in order to rescue Jim. There are many times when his revelations are so brilliant that you would think that it is the pivotal moment for his transformation. However, these moments are always followed by a regression. Unlike Harry, we cannot pinpoint the specific experience that caused his coming of age. In this way, I think that Huck’s growth is more realistic than Harry’s. I do not think that it takes one particular experience to change a person. We are who we are because of the many experiences in our lives. Therefore, I believe that Huckleberry Finn is a bildungsroman.

Huck and Jim

As the story progresses, Huck and Jim’s relationship slowly transforms from a “white boy and black slave who happen to know each other” type of relationship, to a surprisingly profound friendship. Even though they were so different from one another, they were both outcasts. They took comfort in one another, and the freedom from civilization that they had on the river. As they experienced the adventures and hardships together on their journey, not only was there growth in the bond between them, but also their dependence on one another. They took care of each other, and always looked out of the other’s best interests. In many ways, Jim was more of a father figure to Huck than his real father. Jim showed Huck the affections that a good father should express to his son. He made sacrifices like taking Huck’s shift as well as his own so Huck can sleep. As for Huck, he was the only friend that Jim has ever known. When Jim was captured, Huck made the ultimate decision to go against society and civilization in order to help Jim escape. Together, these two unlikely pair were a team. Whatever the one lacked, the other would make up for.

Huckleberry Finn

A major conflict is Huck’s struggle with his decision to help Jim escape slavery. In the beginning, Huck did not think too much about this issue. But when they thought they were close to their destination, Huck begins to feel uneasy about what he is doing. He begins to doubt his decision and puts himself down for committing such a crime. He would think of himself as an uncivilized sinner. Therefore, in his attempt to move towards a more civilized life, he told himself that he would not help Jim and went so far as to write a letter to his master. But when he reflects on his relationship with Jim and all the things that they have gone through together, he decides to do away with trying to be civilized. If helping to free a person from their bondage is considered against civilization, I wish more people had been uncivilized. Even though Huck thought of himself as a lowly person for doing such a thing, what he did is nothing less than heroic. Ironically, for someone who is so young and uneducated, he had a better understanding of what it truly means to be civilized than most of the characters in the book.

Harry Potter as a Bildungsroman

Being the last of the seven series, this book reveals the transformation that takes place not only in Harry but in many other characters as well. After Dobby’s death, Harry comes to accept the fact that he was meant to know about the Hallows, but not meant to seek them. From then on, Harry dedicates himself to destroying the Horcruxes, while putting the Hallows on the back burner. By choosing one and not the other, Harry has chosen to fight evil instead of trying to attain power. He has grown into someone that is truly selfless and heroic. In addition, Ron also grows a great deal in this last installment. After rescuing Harry and destroying one of the Horcruxes, Ron realizes that he is significant to the group. He too has a role in fighting evil. He suppresses his feelings of insubordination next to Harry, and comes into his own. Hermione also reveals her growth as Beatrix was torturing her. For someone who was so emotionally weak, and cries all the time, she revealed how strong willed she could be. Through these characters and their gradual development, this book reveals the coming of age aspect that qualifies it as a bildungsroman.

Dumbledore's contribution

I really like professor Dumbledore because in the previous books he was perceived as this perfect person that everyone loved and respected. He is seen as an exemplar to all those who were against Voldemort. However, as secrets about Dumbledore’s life slowly reveal itself, we find that he too has made mistakes. He too possesses sorrow and remorse. In spite of his extraordinary wisdom and better judgment, he brings about his own death by putting the ring on his finger. Even though Dumbledore can no longer be thought of as perfect after this book, I still think that he is someone to look up to. Dumbledore had already died in the previous book, but I believe that he was the driving force behind everything that took place. It was as if he knew what was going to happen, and planted people and things along the way to help Harry. In a sense, Dumbledore’s mistakes have not only made him a better person, but a better teacher. He was able to learn from his mistakes and did everything that he could to prevent Harry from making the same mistakes that he had made.

The internal and external conflicts of Harry Potter

The interconnecting events that progressively take place throughout the novel not only reveal the conflicts that Harry must overcome for the greater good, but also the ones he must battle within himself. While the main conflict in the novel is Harry going on a journey to defeat Voldemort and his regime to rid the wizarding world of all who are not purebloods, an underlying conflict arises as the story progresses. On top of assuming all the responsibility for finding the horcruxes and destroying them, Harry has been fighting to discover himself, and the truth about Dumbledore. After Dumbledore’s past and secrets begin to unravel, Harry finds himself confused, betrayed, and alone. How can he continue to carry out Dumbledore’s orders when he feels that he barely knew him at all? The one person whom he had trusted and loved had found it unnecessary to tell him so many things about himself. However, as Harry overcomes the conflicts in defeating Vodemort, he also finds resolutions to his own internal conflicts. Harry learns to accept that not everything can be revealed to him, and that he must find them out on his own. Only by doing so can he truly find himself.