Huck and Jim Book Report

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In many ways, the literary movements and philosophies of determinism and individualism are opposites of one another. Determinism is one of the facets of Naturalism, and is based on the idea that things happen due to causes and effects largely out of the control of people and that choice is ultimately an illusion. Individualism, however, is widely based on the idea of free will and the fact that people can take action to control their surroundings and their fates in life. Theodore Dreiser's Sister Carrie provides an excellent example of determinist literature and is based on the critical ideas of amorality and environmental factors controlling a person's fate, while Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an example of individualism and illustrates the idea that a person can take action to make his or her own fate.

Dreiser's work chronicles the rise to wealth and social prominence of Carrie Meeber and the fall from wealth and social prominence of George Hurstwood. Meeber's ascent is typical of many determinist principles -- she does not necessarily take action that improves her fate, an unusual series of events actually produces this effect for her. Additionally, she is considerably amoral -- especially for the time period in which Dreiser's work was first published -- and engages in extramarital sex which happens to aid her rise to wealth and power.

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Still, environmental factors that are outside of her control largely help her to become rich and powerful. For instance, she happens to meet a benefactor in Charles Drouet who considerably assists her move from a small town to metropolitan Chicago and provides financial necessities for her to become empowered and financially stable. Granted, she does accept his gifts (such as when he provides her a coat and a hat during harsh winter conditions) (Dreiser), but she does not actively seek them, which is highly indicative of determinism. This fact, along with Meeber's immorality and dissatisfaction with the material trappings of wealth, helps to characterize this….....

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