The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Analysis

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Morals and ethics, which are founded on views of what is right and wrong, explain how people make decisions in their lives. In one’s developmental stage, the community and those around you have a lasting impact upon the basis in which people establish what is right and wrong. So, opposing society’s ideas and values would definitely be a challenge for many. However, Huckleberry faces this task head on during his journey with Jim. In his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain was able to illuminate beliefs society held in such a way to make them laughable and ridiculous by using satire, irony, and an especially lovable and relatable character, Huckleberry Finn. Ignorant, though intelligent in his own way; uncivilized by nature and habit; grubby, inadequately fed, yet still possessing a “heart of gold”; is the essence of a rebellious rapscallion and a lovable underdog, Huckleberry Finn. Throughout the story he wishes to run away from his homes and flee his lives. Both Pap and the widow (his guardians at the time), while diametrically opposed in nature, do not really listen to him, appreciate the intelligence he has, or respect his wishes. “The Widow Douglass, she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize me…” (Twain 5). Throughout the beginning of the novel, the widow and Miss Watson attempt to reform him, and rather he behave as a miniature adult. Huck doubts their abilities and resists growing into a civilized member of society every chance he gets. From the other side of the spectrum, Pap does the exact opposite, but still without considering Huck’s feelings. As children or teenagers, it is safe to say that we have all had a rebellious streak and have experienced an oppressive authority figure, parental ... ... middle of paper ... ...s as far as saying he will go to hell if that is the cost to be a true friend to Jim, his loyal companion and even a father figure. With this, he acknowledges that he is an evil person and that society has the correct answers when it comes to being ethical. His moral crisis near the end illustrates that he desires to be “good”, but he is unsure of what that entails. By society's standards, 'being good' would mean sending the letter informing Miss Watson of her runaway slave. In his heart though, being good means protecting those you care about, despite violations of any rule or law. So his choices are turning Jim in, or to help Jim escape from his captors, the latter being is the choice he makes. Society hinders and disrupts the development of his strong moral compass, because he believes that he is going to hell, even if he also believes he made the right choice.

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