A hallmark of my growing up was Hal Holbrook's one-man stage performance of Mark Twain Tonight! I recently stumbled on a 10-part compilation of one of those performances on YouTube. I have embedded part 5 of 10, below. After the first few minutes, "Twain" launches into a recitation of Huckleberry Finn as young Huck.
Holbrook as Twain as Huck ignites the text. He inhabits the words to make them real. I post it because the performance illustrates so clearly Huck's dilemma about being "good," especially in regards to Jim and slavery. The bewitching language of the novel becomes transparent even as it is laden with meaning and conflict.
(You will want to watch part 6 of 10 to see the conclusion of this segment.)
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