Introduction
In the novel “The Adventures of Huck Finn”, the writer portrayed the theme of ‘racism and slavery’ in South America during the end of civil war. As he was writing this novel, race matters which had appeared to be an optimistic course during the period subsequent to the civil war, once more became stressed. In this case, he purposely brought to concentration human being’s frequent hidden inadequacies. On the other hand, the main themes in the film ‘Catch me if you can’ are of broken homes, troubles one goes through during childhood and money fraud (Twain 15-350).
Main body
It can be argued from the film ‘catch me if you can’ that; street smarts sometimes outweighs book smarts as Frank could forge educational degrees, proficient attachment, occupation histories, checks as well as his name despite the fact that he had no relevant schooling. From this it is clear that, he was street smart to forge school and professional testimonials to prove to people that he was a ‘pilot, physician or a collage professor’. This indicates that even though one is not much learned, he can use his inborn smartness to be successful in life (Redding & Abagnale 50-200).
On the other hand in the novel, the writer portrays Huck as someone who was very intelligent despite his young age. In this case, Huck makes mature decisions which very few people of thirteen years of age could. For instance he contrasted the ideas of the society and jeopardized himself going to hell for his intimate relationship with Jim. Based on this, Huck’s street smartness is influenced by the society and his relationship with Jim. In this novel, street smarts outweighs book smarts; as we can see Huck was an outcast who never went to school but his reasoning was more than anyone else’s in the book. In general, both Huck in the novel and Frank in the film used their reasoning and not education to be successful in life and to evade being caught. From the two incidents it can be seen that, street smarts outweighs book smarts in both the novel and the film as evident by the acts of Huck and Frank respectively. In the film it is well indicated that, Frank was well skilled in checking forgery to the extent that the FBI police after arresting him could use him to help in the arrest of other forgers (Twain 15-350).
From the film it can be seen that, there were instances of childhood troubles and marriage breakages within the family especially when Frank realized that his mother was having extra-marital relationships with his father’s pal. Ultimately, the family was forced to break and Frank disappeared from the home using forged cheques; which he had been given by his father. After a while, the money Frank had; got finished and from there he started forging cheques and educational testimonials. On the other hand Huck was an outcast and poor thirteen years old child. Since he went against the society’s views, he risked going to hell by releasing and following Jim. It can be argued that, Huck’s father was a drunkard, poor and abusive which made Huck to be taken by Widow Douglas; to her home where she tried to educate him. Eventually, Huck ran and coupled with a band of burglars who performed ridicule fights. It can be seen from the novel that, there were family conflicts especially when Douglas wanted to adopt Huck. From both the novel and the film, there are instances of child ran-away from home because of conflicts in the family (Redding & Abagnale 50-200).
From the two works it can be stated that, there was differences in the family backgrounds. In this case, Frank was born in a well-up family while Huck was born in a poor familial background. On the other hand, the novel ‘The Adventures of Huck Finn’ portrays the theme of racism which is indicated as characters features; on the varying society and alternatives involving what were correct to an individual or society. Based on this, Huck is faced with incidents where racism thrives in the society especially when he was taken by Widow Douglas, and when he befriended Jim. According to the society’s view, Huck was supposed to treat Jim as a slave because he was black; despite what the society and religion stated, Huck made a decision to free Jim after observing that Jim was caring for him. In the novel, Huck said that, “I would see him standing my watch on his instead of calling me”; which would result to “my continuing sleeping….” (Twain 215). Further, incidences of racism are evident in chapter six where drank Pap condemned the administration for permitting blacks to cast their votes. This can be seen from where he uttered, “There was a free nigger there”, asking, “Why couldn’t he be sold” (Twain 27). On the other hand, in the film ‘Catch me if you can’; racism is not clearly portrayed but the theme which is clearly portrayed is that of hiding individuality, theft and money fraud. From the film it is clear that Frank’s father was a cheque forger and later; after Frank ran away from home he learned about forgery and became an expert in it (Twain 15-350).
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that there are a lot of similarities between the novel ‘The Adventures of Huck Finn’ and the film ‘Catch Me if you can’. From the above discussion, it can be said that street smarts outweighed book smarts among the two works.
Works cited
Redding, Stan & Abagnale, Frank. “Catch Me if You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake”, Later Printing Edition. New York: Broadway Publishers. (2000): P, 50-200.
Twain, Mark. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”. London: Penguin Classics Publishers. (1986): P. 15-350.