Examples Of Corruption In Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain exposes the corruptions of the society in contrast to the setting on the Mississippi River in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The novel begins with Widow Douglas attempting to “sivilize” Huck in the proper, etiquette manner fit for the sophisticated society. During Huck’s escape on the river, he actually experiences the true freedom where he is able to make his own decisions, such as the moral choice to go to hell in return for Jim’s freedom. Twain emphasizes that the “uncivilized” way Huck lives on the river proves to be more desirable and morally superior, contradicting the “civilized” society.
From the beginning of the novel, Twain introduces Huck in a constant search for an opportunity to escape the restrictions in the

widow’s house. In the society, Huck struggles constantly to meet the expectations and acceptance of the people. Huck, also known as Sarah Williams and many other names, frequently adopts different identities to be received and adapt to the people’s life styles. Down the river, Huck meets the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons where he becomes part of the Grangerford family and adopts their custom; however, Huck considers these ways of life as stiff and uncomfortable. Exposed to the rancorous feud between the families, Huck sees the evil side of human nature in his involuntarily involvement in the duke and king’s deceptive scam. Huck realizes their greed for money as they created unscrupulous plans and relentlessly robbed the girls. The adventures Huck had with the duke and king uncovered the dark side of society that Huck has to deal with on land. Rather on the Mississippi River, Huck experiences the real freedom, where the moral civilization lies.
Huck finds the auspicious setting of the river a break from the hypocrisy of the world. Life on the river gave Jim and Huck complete freedom act according to their ways. Sometimes naked on the raft, Huck escapes the strict rules of the widow and Miss Watson. The relationship between Huck and Jim enhances and is only possible on the river because it contradicts the expectations of the real world. The surrounding of nature and river symbolizes his individuality as a white man. Huck decides the way his true feelings speak especially when risks his salvation to help Jim run away. Without the ideal influences of the society, Huck can treat Jim the way his morality dictates and Jim naturally represents a fatherly figure to Huck although a black man. Only on the river is Jim comfortable to express himself as he speaks of his plans to buy his wife and steal his children to Huck whenever there is a need. The river symbolizes an oasis from a racist, fraudulent society. Yet, the river is only a transitory safety, because the novel concludes with the Aunt Sally’s plans to civilize Huck.
The days off the river portrays Huck’s search for identity; hence, Huck understands the good and evil of the imperious civilization. Contrastingly, the river is where Huck can live in innocence and away from the constraints of the culture of society. The once “plain and simple” outlook on life Twain satirizes the institutions of society views through the maturation of the independent personality of Huckleberry Finn.