Huck Finn Vs Society

Improved Essays
“In his own way each man must struggle, lest the moral law become a far-off abstraction utterly separate from his active life”(Jane Addams). Huckleberry Finn toils over his personal moral laws actively over the course of the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Huck Finn is a young boy who has ostracized himself from society in an attempt to escape the ‘sivilized,’ which leads him to a controversial adventure that test his beliefs. In his adventure, he exposes himself to perplexing situations and people that ultimately affirm him in his convictions. These convictions are what drive Huck Finn’s constant duplicity, unique engagements, and strong judgments that create a divide between him and society. Huck Finn and this society …show more content…
In the midst of a circus, a horse is nearly injured and among the laughter of the other attendees, Huck Finn “Was all of tremble to see his danger”(164). Huck Finn does not fall into the ruse of cruelty and amusement and instead stays loyal to his principles. He has a mind of his own that he uses to differentiate between right and wrong with and without the input of the general public. Even with the influence of the Duke and the King, when they start to con specific people Huck Finn admits that he has “never see anything so disgusting”(178). These are people that Huck Finn holds in high regard and he is still quick to judge, unaffected by their relationship because Huck Finn has strong opinions that he stands by. Huck Finn unashamedly reacts to his acquaintances that have done wrong because they have done wrong and their wrongs need to be realized. This unwillingness to relent to the popular or easy opinion ostracizes Huck Finn from …show more content…
Where Huck Finn evaluates his own morals and contemplates his actions based on proof, others in this society base their morals and beliefs on what they’ve been told and what other people believe. This system is black and white with no room for personal thought and does not allow for instances that are in the shades of gray. The ideals that this society has are based off a formula. This creates situations where innocent people are portrayed as bad, like Jim, and cruel people aren’t, like Tom Sawyer. Therefore, the society’s ideals are misjudged, and unquestioned which can only lead to blind compliance or

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    This all shows systems of rules that have negative consequences when they are followed blindly. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn show that we should not base our morals off of rules and definitely should not follow any rules without analysis and investigation. Huck is an individual fighting all the rules that have been shoved down his throat since birth, so that he can figure out his own morals. Huck is clearly a prime example of an individual fighting society and shows us that we should all think for ourselves instead of letting the rules of society control…

    • 1493 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    1 English 2326 Mrs.Briscoe Oswalt,Jordan In Class Writing Huck Finn in the beginning of the novel has no morals or any intellectual connection to anyone besides Tom. Throughout the whole novel Huck Finn lies and does things that he wouldn’t get to do if he was “sivilized”. When he becomes friends with Jim it makes him become attached to him and he enjoys having Jim’s company.…

    • 260 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a timeless American Classic by Mark Twain, yet its ideas and philosophies are debated to this day. Many did not like the morals present in the book, along with the language, ideals, and actions of the main characters. The book targeted the controversial topics of the day and would forever be surrounded by that controversy which originated from the very backbone and attitudes of the everyday man. For Mark Twain in his novel, Huckleberry Finn uses Pap's caustic tone, and Huck's assertive tone to condemn the unfair treatment of others.…

    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the book Huckleberry finn, it it is evident that there is a lot of alcoholism throughout Hucks adolescent stage of life. This brings out a possible theme that is, “ the choices others make do not have to deter the choices you make.” Huck demonstrates this throughout the novel by not conforming to his paps ways, by gaining mutual respect for the runaway slave, Jim, and learning how to survive despite his rough upbringing. The Novel Huckleberry Finn serves as way of learning from mistakes and to not follow in others footsteps but rather make your…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One example of when Huck disregards the judgment of others is when he finds Jim on the same Island as him and he asks Jim what he was doing there. At first Jim was hesitant to tell Huck the story of why he left the widow’s residence, but when he does tell the truth he asks Huck to promise not to expose him. Huck responds by saying, “I said I wouldn’t, and I’ll stick to it. Honest injun, I will. People would call me a low-down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum-…

    • 793 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Huck Finn Corrupts Society

    • 1851 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In fact, Huck does not challenge anything that the King and Duke do, even if it degrades Huck. For instance, Huck follows the King’s outrageous demands, including ““g[etting] down on one knee to speak to him, and always call[ing] him “Your Majesty,” and wait[ing] on him first at meals, and [not] s[itting] down in his presence”. Huck has lost any sense of self worth and worth for others and wishes to merely stay out of trouble, something that Twain condemns. Even Jim, who previously had the valiance to stand up to Huck, the white boy who could easily turn him in, becomes submissive again. After Tom scolds Jim for not listening to their preposterous requests, Jim merely says “he was sorry, and sa[ys] he wouldn’t behave so no more.…

    • 1851 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    These chapters establish components of Huck’s self that others hope to influence: his emotions, his intelligence, his fiscal responsibility, his spirituality, his social self, and his physical health and habits. To what and who does Huck conform and when/how does he reject conformity in these chapters? 6. The titles of the chapters are in third person, while the text itself is in the first person voice of Huck Finn. What does this literary device suggest about the argument that Huck and Twain are on the the same?…

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    He is shocked by the fact that people have a tendency to do incredibly kind things (like when he helps Jim) and the fact that people can do terrible things to hurt others emotionally (as shown by the King and the Duke's heartless ways to get money, which even include disrespect to the dead). Huck talks to his conscience in many of the previous statements. He talks with his conscience to find what choice is better, turn in Jim or help Jim, and when he decides to help Mary Jane. As a general whole, the human race is generally good and kind, but there are always some exceptions. Huck Finn undergoes many moral changes in this…

    • 1046 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Huck’s continuing journey, now undertaken with Jim, ultimately leads to Huck realize how twisted many elements of society are, and how he can choose his own path. As Huck and Jim are camping out on an island, Huck begins to wonder whether or not he is doing the right thing by helping Jim escape: “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 women do to you, that you could see her nigger go off right under your eyes and never say one single word” (Twain 110). Huck’s thinking at this particular moment comes from what he was taught all his life; slavery is good. The fact that Huck does not follow this conventional wisdom and is struggling against it in listening to his conscience, shows how he is distancing himself from the conformity of the society he grew up in.…

    • 1963 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One of the most noble and brave things Huck Finn does when not exposed to the hypocrisy of civilization is when he protects Jim, a slave, from a couple…

    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Throughout life one often finds themselves struggling with finding their own sense of self and determining what is morally right and wrong. Society often sets the standards for what people should be and do. In Mark Twain’s fictional tale, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, he explores how one’s conscience can determine how they are affected by society. Society is known for having a major influence on one’s life. Huck allows others to make decisions for him.…

    • 2861 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Twain uses moral complications and Huck’s personal perspective on the resulting internal conflict to demonstrate Huck’s evolution and changing mindset. Through Huck’s opinion of the duke and the dauphin, his qualms over aiding a fugitive slave, and his relationship with Tom, Twain gives a depiction of Huck’s maturing conscience and morals. Huck, who portrays the antithesis of societal standards, serves to convey the timeless message that society often expects ignorance from the very people who are proving it…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    “We have to acknowledge that adolescence is that time of transition where we begin to introduce to children that life isn’t pretty, that there are difficult things, there are hard situations, it’s not fair. Bad things happen to good people,” - Laurie Halse Anderson. The concept of adolescence is a universal phenomenon that includes the transition from a child into a young adult. It is the exact moment where a young individual discovers their newfound values and incorporate those principles onto their own way of living. In the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain demonstrates the concept of adolescents through Huckleberry Finn; a young adolescent who struggles on the development of his own values due to the influence of society.…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Yossef Elnaggar, Rohit Kothare Ms. Ciccone Honors English II-1B December 22, 2015 Violence and Greed Fuel Actions Greed often prompts people to commit violent actions that contradict society 's beliefs on acceptable and moral behavior. These actions, frequently performed blindly and without much thought, lead to many dramatic encounters between characters. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the protagonist, Huck, encounters individuals whose greedy and violent personalities dictate the actions Huck takes as a result of their ruthless nature. Greed and violence that motivated action ultimately lead Huck to realize the importance of honesty, morality, and reason. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain depicts several…

    • 1532 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Huck takes a major risk by asking Tom to help him steal Jim, which exhibits the extent to which Huck is willing to go to save his friend. The feelings that Huck has developed towards Jim have allowed him to neglect society’s standards and make decisions based upon his intuition for good. Therefore this is a large step for Huck in terms of morality because he no longer relies upon society or religion to dictate his decisions. Huck also describes himself as "low-down", which gives us insight to the way Huck perceives himself and how he is fine with being low-down if it means saving a friend. Twain’s use of short and choppy phrases in this text establishes an aggressive tone in Huck’s voice as thought he is defending his views.…

    • 1145 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays