Huck Finn Morals Essay

Only available on StudyMode
  • Download(s) : 1392
  • Published : March 20, 2007
Open Document
Text Preview
Along the path of self-discovery, challenges constantly present themselves as opportunities to grow intellectually and as a chance to succeed. Often times, the use of personal judgment and self-understanding is necessary in order to overcome these challenges. In Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck experiences difficulties which compel him to use his moral judgment. Huck, a young boy in search of freedom, is accompanied by a runaway slave named Jim as he embarks on a treacherous journey down the Mississippi River. During his adventure, Huck must determine the fate of the runaway slave. However, as his relationship with the slave deepens, he comes to realize this task is far from simple. Huck faces this life-defining yet complicated situation as he must choose between society's pre-defined standards and his conscience. As demonstrated in the escape to freedom of the runaway slave Jim, Galileo's opposition to the Church's beliefs, and a soldier's animosity to fight, society influences individuals to the extent that they experience conflict between societal conformity and individuality. Throughout Twain's Huckleberry Finn, Huck struggles to follow his moral conscience for fear of abandoning the societal values that he had been taught to abide by. When he first travels with Jim along the Mississippi River, he considers it a sin to help an escaped slave because he is breaking the laws of Southern society. While contemplating his ethical conflict he is reminded of Miss Watson, his pessimistic caretaker and Jim's owner. Huck asks himself, "What had poor Miss Watson done to you that you could see her nigger go off right under your eyes and never say one single word? What did that poor old woman do to you that you could treat her so mean?" (Twain 88). Even though Huck feels that Jim deserves to live freely, Huck is apprehensive toward assisting him because he fears violating societal principles and treating Miss Watson disrespectfully. Nevertheless,...
tracking img