Huckleberry Finn Notes | Chapter 5

Huck's father is all worn out. He looks old, his clothes and shoes are rags, and his face is a sickening whitish color. They talk for a while and Pap gets angry. He is mad that Huck can read and is better than his own father now that he is educated and wears nice clothes. He wants Huck's money because he heard that Huck is rich, but Huck swears he doesn't have any money. Pap makes him give him the only money that Huck has in his pocket ($1).

He goes and gets drunk. Pap tries to get the money from Judge Thatcher, but the judge refuses to give it to him. The judge and the widow try to get custody over Huck, but the court (with a new judge) rules against it; the court doesn't want to separate a family.

Pap gets thrown in jail and when he comes out, he goes to live with the new judge. The judge gives him new clothes, food, and a place to sleep. He tries to reform Huck's father, but it doesn't work. He sells his new coat for money to buy alcohol, falls out of the window, and breaks his arm.