Huckleberry Finn is a young boy in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) who has traveled half the country with a slave named Jim. At this time, slaves are not considered humans so it is interesting to see the relationship of Huck and Jim throughout their journey. Influences have a strong effect on one's character to do the right thing individually or do what society claims, as the right thing. At the beginning of the book Huck is immature and strongly influenced by society; but by the end he is an independent human separate from society’s forceful nature. Huck’s individual and societal influences cause him to feel he is doing the wrong thing which shows the hypocrisy of his intentions.
At this point, Huck is living with Widow …show more content…
Pap is very abusive towards Huck and only wants his money, which he found in a robber’s cave. Pap has various views that go with or against society. One view that goes with society is that African Americans should be slaves because they are inferior to white humans. Pap is angered when he hears that an African American is free in Ohio. He states “why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?” (27). His statement shows that he believes African Americans are only good as property. This is an influence on Huck because he is constantly hearing his father’s opinions and they are the only ones he is hearing. Therefore, he does not get to experience other influences to develop his own opinions. At this point, Pap has kidnapped Huck and keeps him trapped in a hidden cabin. At first Huck is satisfied with his care, he gets to smoke, cuss, and be dirty. Eventually, Huck decides his care is not ideal and plans an escape. After he gets all packed up and ready to leave, he fakes his death. “They won’t ever hunt the river for anything but my dead carcass,” (34). Huck knows it is improper to run away because the widow taught him that, but he does it anyway. Running away helps Huck embrace his individual freedom by being experiencing his own adventures and not being influenced by society’s
At this point, Huck is living with Widow …show more content…
Pap is very abusive towards Huck and only wants his money, which he found in a robber’s cave. Pap has various views that go with or against society. One view that goes with society is that African Americans should be slaves because they are inferior to white humans. Pap is angered when he hears that an African American is free in Ohio. He states “why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?” (27). His statement shows that he believes African Americans are only good as property. This is an influence on Huck because he is constantly hearing his father’s opinions and they are the only ones he is hearing. Therefore, he does not get to experience other influences to develop his own opinions. At this point, Pap has kidnapped Huck and keeps him trapped in a hidden cabin. At first Huck is satisfied with his care, he gets to smoke, cuss, and be dirty. Eventually, Huck decides his care is not ideal and plans an escape. After he gets all packed up and ready to leave, he fakes his death. “They won’t ever hunt the river for anything but my dead carcass,” (34). Huck knows it is improper to run away because the widow taught him that, but he does it anyway. Running away helps Huck embrace his individual freedom by being experiencing his own adventures and not being influenced by society’s