Huck wanted to smoke in the house, but Widow Douglas strictly forbade it.
Widow Douglas's Disapproval of Smoking
When Huck expressed his desire to smoke, Widow Douglas quickly denied his request. She viewed the practice as both "mean" and "unclean," instructing him to cease the habit entirely. This incident highlights the clash between Huck's frontier upbringing and the more refined, disciplined lifestyle Widow Douglas attempted to impart.
Reasons for Widow Douglas's Prohibition:
- "Mean Practice": This suggests her moral disapproval of smoking, perhaps seeing it as uncouth or indicative of poor character.
- "Wasn't Clean": Beyond moral objections, she also found the act of smoking to be physically dirty, likely due to the smoke, ash, and smell it produced, which would certainly not be permitted in her orderly home.
This interaction sets the tone for the early chapters of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, illustrating Widow Douglas's attempts to "sivilize" Huck, often met with his internal resistance and longing for his previous, unrestrained way of life.
