Huckleberry Finn: Christianity
In Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain satirizes many problems in white society during the period leading to the Civil War. Twain highlights a number of institutions in southern white society and emphasizes how much of these institutions stem from the many traditions and customs that Huck is forced to grow up believing. Unlike Huck, many people do not question these traditions and customs, and grow up believing these ideas that contradict reasonable thought. One of these harmful institutions that Twain denounces is Christianity, which he believes is harming society by stripping self consciousness and individuality from those who follow it. Twain satirizes the followers of Christianity by comparing
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them to the equivalent of a lynch mob, whose motives are based purely around peer pressure and lack of any individualistic qualities. According to Twain, the mob mentality of the Christian followers results in a hypocritical, skewed belief system that can no longer be classified as religion. Twain expresses his comparison of the followers of Christianity to a lynching mob after Colonel Sherburn shoots Boggs in the streets of Arkansas.
A mob of townspeople forms immediately following the killing and storm Sherburn’s residence. When the mob threatens to tear down Sherburn’s fences, Sherburn responds and addresses the mob with, “‘You didn’t want to come. The average man don’t like trouble and danger. You don’t like trouble and danger. But if only half a man - like Buck Harkness, there - shouts ‘Lynch him, lynch him!’ You’re afraid to back down - afraid you’ll be found out to be what you are - cowards’” (Twain pg. 162). Through Sherburn’s speech from his balcony, Twain is able to present a commentary on the idea of mob mentality and how people tend to conform to their surroundings as a result of the fear of disapproval from peers, which in this case is the fear of being labeled a coward. Twain’s commentary on mob mentality also applies to his opinion that the lynch mob is made up of the same people who claim to be Christians. During this time period, it is expected that people follow the Christian belief system, and in most cases they have no choice but to accept Christianity into their lives. It is pounded into people’s minds from the day they are born, and no one dares or thinks of questioning this belief system, simply because it is ingrained in southern white society. He continues by saying, “‘The pitifulest thing out is a mob; that’s what an army is - a mob; …show more content…
they don’t fight with courage that’s born in them, but with courage that’s borrowed from their mass, and from their officers’” (Twain pg. 162). Twain describes the followers of Christianity as only a mob of conformists who have no “‘man’”(Twain pg. 162) to lead them. The only thing leading them are the words of a man who has been dead for many years. Huck experiences the same upbringing as everyone else, but unlike the others, he questions religion and refuses to fully accept Christian morals because he is able to easily pick up on the blatant contradictions within the system. Because Christianity is the backbone which makes up a majority of the traditions and customs of southern white society, it becomes a problem where people incorporate the Christian belief system into their lives because it is accepted by everyone and not because these individuals actually believe in the moral values. Twain illustrates the hypocritical nature of the followers of Christianity by arguing that many people abuse the religious system as a result of the lack of legitimate belief in the system. During the beginning of the novel, Huck exposes his teacher and mentor, Miss Watson, for her use of tobacco: “‘Here she was a bothering about Moses, which was no kin to her, and no use to anybody, being gone, you see, yet finding a power of fault with me for doing a thing that had some good in it. And she took snuff too; of course that was all right, because she done it herself’” (Twain pg. 15). Twain is able to convey his dissatisfaction with the religious belief system by comparing one of the most religious figures in the novel to the mob of Christian followers through her hypocritical practices. According to Twain, Miss Watson is only another member of the religious mob who possess no genuine interest in the word of God and are only interested in how they are perceived by others. Twain is not arguing that religion is wrong and that Christianity is a lie.
Instead, he recognizes that the source of the problem behind the religious system is that people are conforming to their own values and not the actual set of religious beliefs. When Huck is confronted with the difficult decision to admit to helping Jim run away from Miss Watson, he ultimately decides to tear up the letter and accept that he will go to Hell as a result of his actions. Although he recognizes that he will go to Hell for not admitting to his sins, he realizes that, “It would get all around that [he] helped a nigger to get his freedom; and if [he] was to ever see anybody from that town again, [he’d] be ready to get down and lick his boots for shame. That’s just the way: a person does a low-down thing, and then he don’t want to take grace” (Twain pg. 222). After attempting to save his good friend, Jim, the idea of going to Hell for the sin he committed barely causes him to rethink his actions, but when Huck imagines how society would react if they found out about his actions with Jim, he immediately fears for his life. Huck’s reaction to his own deeds reflects his upbringing, and how everything he was taught as a child by Miss Watson was taught ingenuinely. Twain demonstrates how the disapproval from a society of religious followers carries more weight than the religion itself, and appeasing God is only an afterthought. Like the lynch mob that showed up in front of Colonel Sherburn’s
house, the Christian followers are only putting on a false facade, which does not actually demonstrate their faith in religion. Although Huck fears the possible public condemnation from society, Huck makes the decision to go against the moral values taught by Miss Watson as well as his own instincts that involve his personal image in society. Huck defeats the entire concept of mob mentality because of his individualism and ability to rationalize good moral values. Twain shows how a single rational mind can completely undermine a mob made up of people that cannot think for themselves. Although Huck spends the entire novel juggling Christian values with his own personal values, he has always possessed individualistic qualities which set him apart from the mob mentality and allow him to remain unaffected by the pressure to conform with typical southern white society. In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain defines the idea of being religious as less of an actual relationship with God and more as a means to escape ostracization from society. Christianity holds power over people not because they are afraid to go to Hell for their sins but because it is what is accepted by society. The lack of genuine faith in God causes the actual moral values of religion to shift towards what appeases the mob of followers. Twain’s argument is not that the belief in God is harmful to society. He believes that it is the corrupt followers of Christianity, who put on a false facade of genuine faith, that are detrimental to society. Just as cowards join ranks in a lynch mob in order to give themselves a false sense of courage.
Together, Huckleberry Finn and a runaway slave named Jim head south along the Mississippi during one summer. During their adventures, Huck has trouble with his conscience—he knows Jim is a runaway, and that the socially correct thing to do would be to turn him in and get him sent back to his owner. However, whenever the opportunity to do so arises, Huck finds it impossible to do. Near the end of the book, when Huck is out meandering and Jim is still on the raft in the river, Jim is captured by an old man as a runaway and gets sold for $40. It is here, at this point, that Huck has his largest moral dilemma. Should he let Jim remain captured, as he is legally the property of Miss Watson, or should he rescue the true friend who has stayed steadfastly and unwaveringly by his side? Huck does not want to remain “wicked,” as he himself calls it, so he writes a letter to Miss Watson informing her that her slave is being held by a Mr. Phelps down south of Pikesville. He cannot, though, bring himself to send the letter. He winds up ripping the letter to shreds, with the comment, “All right, then, I’ll go to hell” (p. 207). He is willing to sacrifice his soul, and do a deed he believes he will be damned for, to save Jim, the runaway slave. It takes a character of great moral strength to do what he did.
The act of Christian men and woman, such as in the Catholic faith, is often contradictory as to how they believe they should live their lives. In the book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain strikes a parallel between two feuding families, and the contradictory patterns of the Church they attend. This parallel is first grazed on when upon attempting to explain to Huck why the feud started, Buck Grangerford declares that "Oh, yes, pa knows, I reckon and some of the other old people; but they don't know what the row was about in the first place" (Twain 108). From this it is evident that the two families have no idea what they are fighting about.
Upon arriving at Cairo, Huck must decide if he should go along with society and turn Jim in as a runaway slave, or keep his promise to his friend, and see him through to freedom. Huck feels guilty not turning Jim in when he hears him talking about hiring an abolitionist to steal his family. He does not think it is right to help take away slaves from people that he doesn 't even know. To turn Jim in for these reasons would be the influence of society on Huck. Huck 's decision on this matter marks another major step in Huck 's moral progression, because he decides not to turn in Jim on his own. This is the first time he makes a decision all on his own based on his own morality. They stop at Grangerford’s Farm, in Tennessee, after the raft is temporality destroyed. With Huck busy with the Grangerford family, Jim was able to rebuild the raft. Huck just met the Grangerfords, but fits right in immediately. He later feels that someone should take the time to write poetry about Emmeline Grangerford, recently deceased, since she always took the time to write about other people who died. He even tries to write the poetry himself, but it doesn 't turn out right. Then he also sees people shooting at each other makes him sick to his stomach. He sees it as an act against humanity and he simply cannot relate or understand how humans can treat each other in such an uncivil
Huck has been raised in a high-class society where rules and morals are taught and enforced. He lives a very strict and proper life where honesty and adequacy is imposed. Huck being young minded and immature, often goes against these standards set for him, but are still very much a part of his decision-making ability and conscience. When faced to make a decision, Hucks head constantly runs through the morals he was taught. One of the major decisions Huck is faced with is keeping his word to Jim and accepting that Jim is a runaway. The society part of Hucks head automatically looks down upon it. Because Huck is shocked and surprised that Jim is a runaway and he is in his presence, reveals Hucks prejudice attitude that society has imposed on him. Huck is worried about what people will think of him and how society would react if they heard that Huck helped save a runaway slave. The unspoken rules th...
In Chapter 22 during Sherburn’s speech to the mob Twain suggests that mob mentality is detrimental to the social system of America and that the average man is a coward by directly addressing the faults of a mob and connecting the idea of a mob to the cowardly theme of hiding from conflict. During Sherburn’s speech he explains to the members of the mob that “you’re afraid you’ll be found out to be what you are-- cowards -- and so you raise a yell, and hang yourselves onto that half-a-man’s coat tail”(Twain 167). In this passage Twain directly address the motives of a mob in order to show its shortcomings. Twain shows that being in a mob is just a form of cowardice disguised as brave action. The direct address serves to call out the individual in the mob and address this individual rather than the group. This rhetoric shows that Twain views the mob not as one group, but a collection of weak individuals. Twain further shows his disdain for
Initially, religion is appealing to Huck when the Widow Douglas tries teaching him: "After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers; and I was in a sweat to find out all about him" (220). Salvation seems possible to Huck, but he prefers to go to the "bad place" instead of spending eternity with Miss Watson (221); also, he abandons the concept of morality as a result of Miss Watson imposing it upon him. "I couldn't see no advantage about [helping others]...so at last I reckoned I wouldn't worry about it anymore, but just let it go" (226). Huck does not realize that he is not a selfish person, but resolves to sacrifice salvation instead of living selflessly simply because of the source and c...
While traveling together down the river Huck and Jim, accompanied by the king and duke, came to a stop after passing their original destination, Cairo, during the night. While at the stop Huck overheard the king and duke put out a reward for Jim. Huck knows that if Miss Watson finds the reward notice, he will return back with Miss Watson.Therefore she will sell him elsewhere. When faced with this difficult situation Huck decided to write a letter to Miss Watson, however, after finishing his final sentence he realizes how Jim contains similar emotions and feelings as him and other caucasians. Huck yells after tearing up the letter “All right then, I’ll go to Hell” (Twain 31). This action supports the individual's right to think differently from mankind and express their free will or ability to choose how they interact with others. Huck treats a person of color equally when Jim discusses his relationship with his family and his past. While listening to Jim talk about his family, Huck understands that Jim cares about his family as much as a white person does and so he says “I knowed he was white inside” (Twain 30). This interaction between Huck and Jim signifies that Huck sees Jim as equal despite the racial bias set forth by mankind's stigma around different races. This scenario accurately supports Twain's idea of equality and fair treatment for all
Towards the end of chapter thirty-one, Huck composes a letter to Miss Watson, telling her where Jim is. After writing it, he feels conflicted on whether or not he should send the letter. He does not know whether to follow his conscience and southern society’s ideals of civilization or if he should follow his what his heart knows is right and continue helping Jim become a free man. When Huck reflect on his friendship with Jim he decides to tear up the letter. The plausible consequences of Huck’s action, rather than the lessons southern society has trained him to believe, prompt him to help Jim. He decides that going to “hell,” even though it is not ideal is worse that following his gut and not society’s deceptive and brutal ethics. Huck’s
In nature, on the journey down the river, Huck decides to help Jim obtain freedom from slavery. In that time period, it was frowned upon to think of blacks as more than slaves, but Huck does not conform to that idea, befriending Jim, a slave. As soon as the bond between the two sparks, Huck wants to help him escape slavery. Huck thinks to himself that he should write a letter to Miss Watson explaining how the Phelps family is keeping Jim, but then he quickly decides against it. Thinking about the repercussions of what would happen to Jim and himself he ponders, “And then think of me! It would get all around that Huck Finn helped a nigger to get his freedom; and if I was ever to see anybody from that town again I’d be ready to get down and lick his boots for shame” (223). If word got around that Huck helped Jim, he would receive negative remarks for going against the common belief. With the use of Huck’s inner dialogue, Twain is able to express his opinion of how society causes conformity. Huck has knowledge that his going against the beliefs of society would have great consequences and Twain emphasizes its impact with Huck’s indecisiveness towards this situation concerning Jim. At the end of the novel, once Jim gains freedom for risking his own freedom to help nurse Tom back to health, the discussion over who Huck is going to live
Mark Twain’s masterpiece The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through much criticism and denunciation has become a well-respected novel. Through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old boy, Huckleberry Finn, Twain illustrates the controversy of racism and slavery during the aftermath of the Civil War. Since Huck is an adolescent, he is vulnerable and greatly influenced by the adults he meets during his coming of age. His expedition down the Mississippi steers him into the lives of a diverse group of inhabitants who have conflicting morals. Though he lacks valid morals, Huck demonstrates the potential of humanity as a pensive, sensitive individual rather than conforming to a repressive society. In these modes, the novel places Jim and Huck on pedestals where their views on morality, learning, and society are compared.
Tom Sawyer thought up a robbery game and shared it with all his friends. But since “it would be wicked to do it [rob and kill people] on Sunday”(Twain 10), they decided to choose another day. To these naive children, it is only Sunday that they should virtuous and on the other days, they can be as evil as they want. In the same way, the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons went to church and they “took their guns along, and kept them between their knees or stood them handy against the wall”(Twain 109), ready to kill each other for every second. It is ridiculous that the feud between two families had been on for nearly thirty years while “everybody said it was a good sermon” which was all about brotherly love and free grace. The irony was that just on the second day, so many people were killed during a fight. Not only those truculent civilized Christian, but also benign townspeople like Miss Watson goes against the morality of religion. “Dat’s Miss Watson - she pecks on me all de time, en treats me pooty rough, but she alwuz said she wouldn’t sell me down to Orleans”(Twain 43). Miss Watson never treats Jim as a person and enslaves him like a cattle all the time. Christianity teaches them to love and help each other and slavery obviously runs counter to it. Furthermore, religion can sometimes be used to seize
... 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” (Twain 317). At this point in the novel, Huck realizes that he would rather go to Hell for doing what he believed to be right even if it is wrong in others’ eyes, including God’s. Although Huck knew it was wrong to help a runaway slave, he also knew it was what he had to do, it felt right to him. The inner turmoil that Huck experienced within his conscience was a constant battle, but Huck made the decision to follow his heart. Huck learns, from his own life experiences of befriending Jim and his own moral conscience and intuition, that standing up for what seems “right” isn’t always easy to do, but it’s the right thing to do. Huck made the moral decision to go against what he had been taught was “right” and do what he knew was “right”.
This essay will analyze the themes of religion, slavery, and democracy in the book Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. By exploring these themes that lie behind the book’s veneer, we can understand Twain’s objective for writing this book.
Mark Twain shows his personal beliefs on religion by using Huck and Jim. Twain obviously feels that religion is useless and ineffective, and the character Huck feels the same way in the novel. As widow Douglas tries to “transform” huck into a proper church-going young boy, he completely looses his interest in Christianity. He feels that it has no way to prove its self. While he is still living with widow Douglas, he tells the reader that, “Then miss Watson she took me in the closet and prayed, but nothing come of it. She told me to pray everyday, and whatever I asked for I would get it. But it warn't so”(Twain 8). Here Huck thinks of miss Watson to be a wonderful christian, but yet her theory on prayer does not work. He finds this “prayer” to be of no effect to him other than a waste of time. In the novel he tells the reader that miss Watson took out her Bible and read about Moses, he tells us:
The way Huck and Jim encounter each other on the island, draws parallels in their similar backgrounds. Huck is torn between a life of manners and etiquette and a dangerous life a freedom, and while Jim at an impasse because he is being sold into slavery farther away from his home and away from his family. Each choice, for both characters comes with a cost so they both decide to runaway, in an attempt to assert some control over their lives. After spending much time together, the pair establish a connection which at times Huck feels guilty about since it violates everything he was raised to believe. At a certain point, Huck considers turning Jim in by, writing a letter, but after recalling the goods times they shared, Huck exclaims, "All right, then, I 'll go to hell!” (Twain) and quickly tears up the letter. Twain depicts Huck and Jim 's eventually friendship as a source of emotional strife for Huck and Huck constantly has to decide whether to abandon Jim and turn him in or abandon his religious beliefs and stay with Jim. The ripping up of the letter that would have turned Jim in symbolizes the choice Huck 's has selected. For this moment onward, Huck is dedicated to keeping Jim from being sold back into slavery and has no intent on going back on his choice. While there are times, Huck pays attention to the color of Jim 's skin he believes that