The Role of Female Characters
The world represented in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is largely male; the main characters are all men and boys, and the novel is primarily focused on an American experience of boyhood. Twain does include some minor female characters in his novel, such as Miss Watson and Mary Jane Wilkes, but their roles are limited and small in comparison to central characters like Huck, Jim, the King and the Duke, and Tom Sawyer.
Hauptman and Miller elaborate upon the role of females in the world of Big River, to give modern audiences a more gender-balanced representation of St. Petersburg and the towns along the Mississippi river. From the start of the play to the end, many female characters are onstage as townspeople and slaves, taking part in many of the musical numbers. In this way, it is apparent to the audience that women are an important and influential presence in their societies.
Hauptman and Miller elaborate upon the role of females in the world of Big River, to give modern audiences a more gender-balanced representation of St. Petersburg and the towns along the Mississippi river. From the start of the play to the end, many female characters are onstage as townspeople and slaves, taking part in many of the musical numbers. In this way, it is apparent to the audience that women are an important and influential presence in their societies.
MISS WATSON
The first prominent female character who appears in the musical is Miss Watson, one of Huck's guardians. Just as in Twain's novel, she represents strict religion and civilized behavior for Huck. The song “Do Ya Wanna Go to Heaven?” features Miss Watson, as well as the Widow Douglas, and elaborates upon their comical misunderstanding of Huck's perspective and behavior. They scold Huck, reasoning that, "You better learn to read and you better learn your writin' or you'll never get to heaven 'cause you won't know how" (Hauptman 3). This song also extends Miss Watson's point of view in the novel to other characters in St. Petersburg, as characters like Judge Thatcher and Tom Sawyer join in singing about Huck's lack of education. In this song, and in scene one of the musical, Miss Watson is characterized as a significant, although mostly negative, influence on Huck's life before he leaves St. Petersburg.
The first prominent female character who appears in the musical is Miss Watson, one of Huck's guardians. Just as in Twain's novel, she represents strict religion and civilized behavior for Huck. The song “Do Ya Wanna Go to Heaven?” features Miss Watson, as well as the Widow Douglas, and elaborates upon their comical misunderstanding of Huck's perspective and behavior. They scold Huck, reasoning that, "You better learn to read and you better learn your writin' or you'll never get to heaven 'cause you won't know how" (Hauptman 3). This song also extends Miss Watson's point of view in the novel to other characters in St. Petersburg, as characters like Judge Thatcher and Tom Sawyer join in singing about Huck's lack of education. In this song, and in scene one of the musical, Miss Watson is characterized as a significant, although mostly negative, influence on Huck's life before he leaves St. Petersburg.
MARY JANE WILKES
Mary Jane Wilkes is another female whose role is expanded in Big River. Her voice and perspective is featured in three songs during the musical. "You Oughta Be Here with Me" and "How Blest We Are," sung by Mary Jane and her sisters, express the sorrow they feel over the loss of their father, Peter Wilkes. These two musical numbers characterize her as sincere and innocent, similar to her counterpart in Twain's novel. Mary Jane sings another song later on in the musical with Huck and Jim called "Leavin's Not the Only Way to Go." As expressed through the lyrics, Mary Jane seemingly joins Huck and Jim on their journey of life and learning: "People reach new understandings all the time, they take a second look, maybe change their minds" (Hauptman 83). This deepens her character to more than just a sincere girl; she is also learning to appreciate the people around her, and find friendship with Huck in an alienating world.
Very much unlike the novel's representation, the relationship between Mary Jane and Huck in Big River adds romantic intrigue to the story. After Huck confesses to her that the King and the Duke are frauds, she remarks that "If you were to stay, I should be your truest friend", revealing a more committed relationship between them (Hauptman 82). After promising to pray for Huck, Mary Jane also kisses him on the lips-- an act that did not occur in Twain's original story and implies a romantic connection between them in the musical. The song "Leavin's Not the Only Way to Go" also suggests the idea that Huck and Mary Jane regret their separation: "Did the morning come too early, was the night not long enough, does a tear of hesitation fall on everything you touch?" Huck and Mary Jane both appear to mourn for the relationship they could have had, an antidote to the loneliness that they both feel. Although this romance is short-lived and ends in sorrow for Huck and Mary Jane, it adds an interesting subplot to the story, and gives Mary Jane a more important role in Huck's life and journey.
Mary Jane Wilkes is another female whose role is expanded in Big River. Her voice and perspective is featured in three songs during the musical. "You Oughta Be Here with Me" and "How Blest We Are," sung by Mary Jane and her sisters, express the sorrow they feel over the loss of their father, Peter Wilkes. These two musical numbers characterize her as sincere and innocent, similar to her counterpart in Twain's novel. Mary Jane sings another song later on in the musical with Huck and Jim called "Leavin's Not the Only Way to Go." As expressed through the lyrics, Mary Jane seemingly joins Huck and Jim on their journey of life and learning: "People reach new understandings all the time, they take a second look, maybe change their minds" (Hauptman 83). This deepens her character to more than just a sincere girl; she is also learning to appreciate the people around her, and find friendship with Huck in an alienating world.
Very much unlike the novel's representation, the relationship between Mary Jane and Huck in Big River adds romantic intrigue to the story. After Huck confesses to her that the King and the Duke are frauds, she remarks that "If you were to stay, I should be your truest friend", revealing a more committed relationship between them (Hauptman 82). After promising to pray for Huck, Mary Jane also kisses him on the lips-- an act that did not occur in Twain's original story and implies a romantic connection between them in the musical. The song "Leavin's Not the Only Way to Go" also suggests the idea that Huck and Mary Jane regret their separation: "Did the morning come too early, was the night not long enough, does a tear of hesitation fall on everything you touch?" Huck and Mary Jane both appear to mourn for the relationship they could have had, an antidote to the loneliness that they both feel. Although this romance is short-lived and ends in sorrow for Huck and Mary Jane, it adds an interesting subplot to the story, and gives Mary Jane a more important role in Huck's life and journey.