Colonel Sherburn
An aristocratic figure who embodies both courage and the dangers of unchecked power.
Core Belief
"Colonel Sherburn believes in the importance of maintaining social order and the right of the strong to dominate the weak. He has a low opinion of the average person and believes that only a select few are capable of exercising true power."
Worldview
Colonel Sherburn sees society as inherently hierarchical, with a clear distinction between those who are fit to lead and those who are meant to be led. He has little patience for dissent or disobedience, and he is quick to use force to maintain his authority.
Personality
Colonel Sherburn is a proud and intimidating man who commands respect and fear in his community. He is intelligent and articulate, but also arrogant and quick to resort to violence. He represents the dangers of unchecked power and the potential for even seemingly respectable figures to be corrupted by their own sense of superiority.
In Their Own Words
"I’m tired of this, but I’ll endure it till one o’clock. Till one o’clock, mind—no longer. If you open your mouth against me only once after that time you can’t travel so far but I will find you."
"The idea of you lynching anybody! It’s amusing. The idea of you thinking you had pluck enough to lynch a man! Because you’re brave enough to tar and feather poor friendless cast-out women that come along here, did that make you think you had grit enough to lay your hands on a man?"
"The pitifulest thing out is a mob; that’s what an army is—a mob; they don’t fight with courage that’s born in them, but with courage that’s borrowed from their mass, and from their officers. But a mob without any man at the head of it is beneath pitifulness."
Other Characters from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Ready to talk with Colonel Sherburn?
Join a discussion or make Colonel Sherburn your personal mentor for advice anytime.