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It is a cute name for a child in a children's story. The name itself makes me think of foraging for berries and fish, which suits Huck since he is a survivor who fends for himself. Since the other characters have very expected and of the time names like Tom and Betty, Huck sticks out as unusual and doesn't fit in, which is also true of his character. He is also someone who experienced a lot of neglect and had parents who weren't present. Huckleberries are a roadside plants that comes up by itself and thrives in the wild, so his name also seems to reflect the character's social standing and the lack of nurturing that he experienced. It is very much a name that serves to convey information.

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To me, Huck has a similar literary waif like appeal to names like Oliver, but, while Oliver is winsome and pitiful, Huck has more spunk and self-determination. Huck sounds very youthful, so I don't picture it on a grown man.

This message was edited 7/28/2022, 9:09 AM