Like everyone else, this is too irresistable a topic for me not to respond.

I'm currently teaching a month long into to lit course where we're going to
be discussing Twain and Huck Finn next week.  But, of course as the Twainian
that I am, I have not been able to resist mentioning him during every other
class.  This discussion fits right in with all that we are discussing--issues
of identity in literature, duality, etc.

The comment:
<<
 Twains juggling of Huck's character as good example/bad example is pure
 magic to me. He never drops the ball. It is that balance, in part, that
 makes Huck so human to me.
  >>

clarifies some of this for me and reinforces my beliefs and studies.  Just as
Twain 'juggled' Huck's character  as 'good example/bad example,' didn't he do
the same with his own character/identity?  He magnificantly juggled the
Clemens/Twain personas throughout his life and career.  HE WAS HIMSELF THE
GOOD EXAMPLE/BAD EXAMPLE--just as he was himself both Tom and Huck, both the
acceptable good, bad boy and the unacceptable bad, bad boy.  But who was the
authentic persona?--ah, back to Pudd'nhead Wilson.  You can't shoot half a
dog and have any dog left!

Carolyn Richey--SDSU & NU