The quote, “It is not what an author says, but what he or she whispers, that is important” means that every story has a deeper meaning then what it appears to be on the outside. For the reader to truly absorb and learn from the book, the reader has to explore a little bit deeper than just the obvious. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and The Jungle by Upton Sinclair are both pieces of literature that support the above quote, because in order for the reader to truly understand the meaning behind these two pieces of literature, the reader must really tune in on what the two authors are try to get across to the reader. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Huckleberry had a lot of personal obstacles that Huck is forced to overcome, as did Jurgis in The Jungle. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Huck is not just a boy that ran away. Huck is a boy that many times was forced to go against the crowd when it came to certain decisions with slavery. An example of when Mark Twain had a hidden meaning in his literature is on pages 249 and 250:
“It was a close place. I took . . . up [the letter I’d written to Miss Watson], and held it in my hand. I was a-trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: “All right then, I’ll go to hell”—and tore it up. It was awful thoughts and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more about reforming.”
In the quote Mark Twain is not just telling the reader that Huck is deciding not to sell Jim back into slavery, but Mark Twain is also hinting toward the turning point in Huck’s development. This quote is an important quote in the development of Huck because it is the beginning of Huck realizing that it is okay to not always listen and follow what other people are doing. Mark