Based on Mark Twain's *Adventures of Huckleberry Finn* and its anime adaptation *Huckleberry no Bōken*, the character known as Mme Douglas, or the Widow Douglas, is a kind elderly woman residing in St. Petersburg, Missouri. She becomes Huckleberry Finn's guardian after he acquires wealth, undertaking the task of "civilizing" him. Her efforts involve imposing societal norms, religious instruction, and strict rules, such as teaching Bible stories, enforcing table manners, and forbidding smoking or swearing. While well-intentioned, these attempts feel stifling to Huck, who resists them. She lives with her sister, the more severe Miss Watson. Unlike her sister, the Widow Douglas displays patience and occasional leniency towards Huck, defending him from Miss Watson's criticisms and showing pride in his small improvements. Concerned with societal expectations, she emphasizes Christian values like selflessness and charity, though Huck finds their practical application confusing. The Widow Douglas participates in the slaveholding society of the antebellum South, owning slaves including Jim. This stands in contrast to the biblical stories of liberation she teaches Huck, such as the Exodus, revealing an unconscious hypocrisy. She upholds "civilized" morality while accepting the systemic injustice of slavery, consistent with societal norms of the time, without exhibiting explicit cruelty. After Huck escapes his abusive father and fakes his death, the Widow Douglas believes Jim is responsible for Huck's "murder," reflecting her alignment with prevailing prejudices. Miss Watson’s will later frees Jim posthumously, but the Widow Douglas’s personal stance on this decision remains unexplored. Her role serves primarily to establish Huck’s initial conflict with societal constraints and motivate his journey toward independence.

Titles

Mme Douglas

Guest